Want to Make a Move? It’s Who You Know © Cici Mattiuzzi

I grew up in a small mill town where everyone knew everyone. I was the third generation of my family to live there. I knew the doctor, the plumber, the jewelers, the baker, the butchers, the librarian, the postmaster, bank tellers, the telephone operators, the auto mechanics, and most of the teachers. Chances are someone in my family went to school with them or their kids.

A Bad Boss Needs to be Fired. Period. © Cici Mattiuzzi

There was a particular line from Kamala Harris’ VP acceptance speech that resonated with me, “I know a predator when I see one.”

I get really upset when I see someone being abused.

Time to Define Yourself and Move Up! © Cici Mattiuzzi

For years I have worked with candidates to help them define who they are, find the best places to apply, and then create the documents that move them to the next level and show them in the best possible light – resumes, project descriptions, portfolios, cover letters and applications; interview notes, salary and promotion justifications.

9 Steps to Secure Your Job in a Pandemic © Cici Mattiuzzi

If there is a silver lining in the midst of this awful time, it is that people are reinventing their jobs and creating options for how they work, when they work, and where they work.

Five Offers on the Table: A Recipe for Job Seeking in a Pandemic © Cici Mattiuzzi

I am used to helping people get jobs, change jobs, and choose between jobs. It has always been about finding
the best fit.

The End of the World © Cici Mattiuzzi

The world as we knew it has ended. The global pandemic we are now living through is a shared crisis of loss and challenge. Things will never be quite the same. This is the grim reality for people all over the world. As of today, over 30 million people in the United States have lost their jobs and more than 70,000 Americans have lost their lives. The bleeding is not over.

Managing Your Career During the Coronavirus Crisis © Cici Mattiuzzi 3.29.2020

Things have changed in the most extreme way over the past few weeks. Nothing will be the same for a very long time. Now is the time to protect yourself and your career.

Can We Contact Your Current Employer? © Cici Mattiuzzi

When you apply for jobs, potential employers will want other people’s opinions about you and your work. “Can we contact your current employer?” is a checkbox needing a mark.

Your Job is Killing You and You are Letting it Happen! © Cici Mattiuzzi

Your career affects your quality of life in multiple ways. It gives you purpose. It fuels your imagination. It supports your lifestyle and it supports you and your family. If it is good it makes you happy and life is good. If it is bad not so much...

Why does your career happiness matter? A bad job affects everything in your life – your health suffers, your relationships suffer and your career future suffers.

Curing the Presentation Jitters © Cici Mattiuzzi

Giving effective presentations is essential to the career success of many, if not most, people in professional careers. Twice, in the recent past, extremely talented professionals at fairly high levels told me they are nervous about public speaking. They wanted to know if I have any advice to share.

Surviving the First Day on The Job! © Cici Mattiuzzi

I have spent a lot of time getting people to the finish line - "Wow! You made it! Good Luck!"

You are on your own ... nervous about making it though the first day on the new job... You can do it!"

USPTO is the Best Place to Work for Engineers!!! © Cici Mattiuzzi

Do you have the skill to recognize ingenuity? Clear your calendar!!! The US Patent & Trade office is looking for you! They are hiring electrical, mechanical, computer engineers for Patent Examiner positions in San Jose, CA.

A Small Engineering Firm Might Just be a Great Move! © Cici Mattiuzzi

Thinking about making a job change? Maybe being a small fish in the big ocean is wearing on you… I recently spoke with - the principal of KASL Consulting - a small water resources engineering and surveying firm in Sacramento. The firm is currently looking for civil engineering talent. The continued positive growth in the economy and expanding population is creating tons of opportunity for engineering firms.

Siemens Mobility is hiring tons of people at their two facilities in Sacramento © Cici Mattiuzzi

This is an exciting time for Siemens in Sacramento! They are looking for engineering, business and trades professionals across the spectrum! Siemens is a market leader in the manufacture of rail systems in the US. If you love trains and have ever thought about building trains this is the perfect environment for you!

Goal Setting and Time Management, Why It Matters © Cici Mattiuzzi

Goals are set by us or they are set for us. In the early stages of life goals are set by parents and teachers. Later we set them for ourselves. You have actually been setting goals since you were very young. Walking, talking... Climbing up to get a cookie. Learning to ride a two wheeler. Learning to skateboard. Learning to ski. Mastering the latest computer game. Building a computer.

Wasting Your Time is Wasting Your Life - Focus! © Cici Mattiuzzi

Procrastinating is an affliction shared by a lot of people. The energy required to achieve one’s life goals is something that not everyone has. Making a change from one level of career acquisition to the next is daunting. For individuals nearing graduation from college, graduate school or a professional degree means that you are in a crucial time for your educational and career acquisition.

Finding Lists of the Best Employers! © Cici Mattiuzzi

This week I received email from a former student asking me how to find a list of the best companies to work for in Sacramento. His wife is looking for a new employer.

Get the Title if You are Doing the Work or Get a Move-on! © Cici Mattiuzzi

I cannot tell you how many people I have worked with lately who tell me, "I am working as a manager but I don’t have the title." This is a problem. It happens when there is a sudden change due to departing upper staff members. The economy is humming… it seems like a great move up. But then you wait. And wait. And nothing happens. I hear it all the time, "They told me that I would be promoted with the new title later..."

Caltrans is Hiring Big Time!!!

https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/the-state-worker/article218170925.html

Is Your Career Souring?

Your career is like a carton of milk. It has an expiration date. If you fail to move up after a reasonable length of time in your position, or if you do not get a job within a certain amount of time after graduation it may never happen. It is a pretty harsh reality.

Things are not impossible but you make it a lot harder on yourself if you just sit there and age in place. Growing your career takes a lot of effort on your part! A good economy helps – but it is most definitely not enough.

The Time to Make a Move is Now

The economy is great! There are jobs out there and people are getting hired. Companies are bullish and the unemployment rate is the lowest it has been in over a decade.

Cyber Security Demand Far Outstripping Supply

Want a career that will never stop giving? Want a career that will be increasingly important and give you opportunity to grow your career and increase your income while challenging you to learn new things constantly?

CA Dept of Business Oversight Hiring PM!

I received a note from a former computer science student who wants me to share information about current plans to hire a Project Manager under the Sr ISA classification. The Department of Business Oversight is recruiting for one (1) permanent full-time Senior Information Systems Analyst (Specialist) in the Executive Division's Information Technology Office located at 1515 K Street, in downtown Sacramento. The link to the job is https://www.jobs.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=86611

Caltrans Hiring Tons of Engineers - Here's How to Apply!!!

CalTrans is hiring 1100 professionals! They are seeking mostly civil engineers, electrical engineers, surveyors, right-of-way workers and environmental planners. Caltrans also has 250 openings for blue-collar maintenance workers, mechanics, and heavy equipment operators. Some jobs will include apprenticeships.

Defense Microelectronics Activity - DMEA Sacramento is Hiring Computer Science Intern

I received this job posting from the DMEA in Sacramento. They are hiring an intern for a really interesting position!!!

DMEA Hiring Interns - Deadline Short

Want to get a job with the federal government in Sacramento, CA (McClellan Park) in one of the most interesting and challenging engineering areas? If you said yes and you are an electronics engineering student in your sophomore or junior year in an accredited college or university and you have US Citizenship - apply immediately through USA jobs! There are 13 positions at the Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA) at this location. Your application will take time and the deadline is July 8th so get on it now!!!

State Tech Hiring Event Today in Roseville

Sacramento Bee reporter, Jon Ortiz, shared in his column today that 23 state agencies are hosting a hiring event.  The state is hoping to hire experienced IT professionals recently laid off from HP and Intel.   In his column, THE STATE WORKER, Ortiz reported that the state has $3.3 billion worth of high tech projects in development.

Choose Your Major Wisely… It Affects the Rest of Your Life! © Cici Mattiuzzi

Picking a college major is one of the most important decisions a person ever makes. It is one of the first steps in finding your purpose in life. The choice of a major will significantly affect your career options and life satisfaction - what job you will have and how your life will unfold.

Federal Hiring for Students, Recent Grads & Experienced Professionals © Cici Mattiuzzi

The Federal Government employs just over 4 million people throughout the US according to the Office of Personnel Management’s most recent data reported in August of 2015. (About a million people fewer than in 1969 when the military was double it’s current size). The executive branch employs 2,663,000 civilians; there are 1,459,000 uniformed military personnel; and the legislative and judicial branch personnel number 63,000 - for a grand total 4,185,000 Federal personnel when the last count was taken.

As Effortlessly as Breathing

I believe that a career counselor’s job is to give people permission to do what they want to do. When I ask, “What do you really want to do?” or “What do you do when no one is telling you what to do?” - most people can describe things that they enjoy. That is where we start.

I Totally Disagree!

I’m a hiker. I am not intrepid or rugged. I just love hiking. I love reaching a peak and looking out on the long view - Yosemite Valley, Lake Tahoe, or the Shenandoah Valley. I’ve trudged all along the Pacific Coast Trail and along the Appalachian Trail - at great effort and with a lot of help from fellow hikers. I can always count on someone crossing a stream or heading up a steep trail before me to turn around and pull me up. We all help each other. I believe it is important to turn around after you’ve made it and give a hand to the person behind you. Especially since I am frequently the person bringing up the rear…

Time for a Raise? Salary Negotiations Require Leverage!

If you want to be paid more money to do what you do well, you will probably have to ask for a raise or change jobs. There are so many reasons to keep up with salary increases: inflation is eating up your earnings faster;  you need more money to survive in a high cost of living area; you deserve a raise because you are delivering innovations that drive company profits; the guy sitting next to you is doing less and making more; or the men are being paid more than you are for similar work … to name a few.

Who is Hiring? ©Cici Mattiuzzi

I have recently been inundated by email from long time friends asking me if I have any people who might be interested in working at three of the most prestigious tech firms.  A pedigree from any one of these companies would set you up for your career life.  Anytime you can get in with a large- big name firm you get an extra bust for any future job applications.

So who is hiring in my world?  Google, Netflix, and Facebook.

Timing for Job Shift is Strategic

The American labor economy is very good right now. The unemployment rate is at 4.9%- the lowest it has been in almost 8 years. The latest report from the US Department of Labor shows 5.6 million job openings. A lot of great companies are hiring. That could change with current global uncertainty.

When the Music Stops, You’d Better be in a Chair!

Tuesday and Wednesday were really bad days on Wall Street. Yesterday was a good day. Today looks great. It has been like that since the beginning of 2016. The stock market has been gyrating wildly. Economists cite a number of reasons for the volatility – fear and uncertainty mostly.

Your Career Depends on How You Tell Your Story

I have visited hundreds of companies and met tons of top managers in technical and business environments.  It is always easy to tell who is in charge.  The people in charge have excellent communication skills.  They are smooth, smart, and confident.  They speak well and they share a clear mission.

The Scandal of Pay Inequality

On April 29,2015, Pope Francis spoke in support of pay equality for women, saying:

“Why is it expected that women must earn less than men?”
“No! They have the same rights.  The disparity is a pure scandal.”

When women are paid less, not only women suffer - families suffer.

Push Hard to Get The Best Offer

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there were 5 million job openings in the United States in January 2015, the highest number of openings since January of 2001.

Serious job seekers are getting interviews and job offers in record numbers.

Networking to your Perfect Job

The vast majority of people who attend job fairs are uncertain about what to do next.  They connected with interesting possibilities, but they are at a loss about how to close the deal.

Job seeking is a contact sport.  You have to interact with people to get hired.  It is not easy for the timid.  It is not something that comes natural.  No one really tells you how to do it when you are growing up. Job seeking for the first time is like jumping off of a cliff… You have to throw yourself out there.

Get Licensed!

If your profession has a licensure requirement or option associated with it- get the license, even if it is not necessary for the organization you currently work for. It is a no brainer and it is an insurance policy for the inevitable ups and downs of the economy. You will have more options if you get the license. You can always set up a home office in the backyard and go after business.

First Day on The Job

Your first day on the job is a very exciting day. It is a day that is important for your career future. Do it right and you are in. Do it wrong and you may find yourself back in the job market so fast that it gives you whiplash.

Managing Your Career

Wouldn’t it be nice if everything in life just fell into place? It would be so much easier if you could just relax and not think about your career. Imagine going to college, having a perfect job waiting for you, keeping on track for 40 or so years, and finally retiring in comfort. There are a few souls for whom this is possible. They were born into their destiny. For those of us who were not descended from royalty or didn’t inherit the farm, it is a bit more difficult.

Reputation, References and Recommendations

Your good reputation is one of the most important assets you have. Reputation is about the beliefs or opinions that are held by others about your character. It takes a lifetime to build a good reputation and it must be managed daily.

Turkey Gravy for Job Seekers

Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday - family, friends, and food. Since it falls on or near my birthday, my husband does the grocery shopping and cooking. I make the menu and the list of ingredients. Then I stay out of the way as he turns the kitchen into a disaster area.

This is, by far, the best American Holiday! The entertainment value of it alone is worth the effort. How often do you get to see the whole bird parked on the table? You can debate a lot about what tastes best - the white meat, the dark meat or the drumstick. And snicker as your prim cousin drips cranberry sauce down her chin.

There is also a hidden job market right there under the turkey wing.

Want a Job at Facebook? Fail Harder

Dave Ferguson spoke in my career planning class a while back. Dave is an alumnus of the Computer Science Department at CSU Sacramento. He works as an engineering manager at Facebook. That alone was a magnet - more kids showed up than are registered... Facebook has cachet. It is a company that hires technical talent and exudes fun.

The Facts: Paid Internships are Critical to Your Career Success

For college students, getting experience is absolutely essential to career success.   Working teaches you the basics: show up on time, have a good attitude, and do your best work every single day.  You also learn commitment, how to meet expectations, and appropriate work place behavior.   It is about conforming to the expectations of someone who is paying you to be there and delivering your best – your expertise, and your talent.

Don’t Count on Karma - Ask for a Raise

Last week Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, won’t soon forget an interview he gave at the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing conference.  Maria Klawe of Harvey Mudd College asked him how women should ask for a raise. His answer was:

Life Lessons from Sesame Street: 5 Elements of a Good Career Plan

I recently had surgery on my nose. I thought it would be no big deal but the minor surgery to remove a little sunspot on my nose ended up being a major disruption.

After toughing it out for 6 hours, I took a pain pill and settled into a short, blissfully pain-free space. In my diminished state I sat back in the recliner and turned on the TV. A furry Sesame Street character, named Murray, was interviewing a rock-climbing instructor, named Stephanie, and two ten-year-olds about rock climbing.

5 Characteristics of Good Leadership

Rarely is the resignation of a leader as warranted as is today’s departure of Julia Pierson, the director of the United States Secret Service. The utter incompetence displayed by the Secret Service Presidential security detail is appalling and distressing to say the least. The fact that a disaster was avoided was shear luck. Who was in charge? Who was leading the Secret Service?

Salaries and Employment Up!!!

The August 2014 Regional and State Employment and Unemployment report of the US Department of Labor (DOL) shows the largest one-month increases in employment occurred in California (+44,000), Florida (+22,700), and Texas (+20,100).   The largest one-month decrease in employment occurred in Michigan (-9,500), Arizona (-5,400) and Massachusetts (-5,300).

Job Seeker Rip-offs and Scams

Job seekers are a particularly vulnerable group of people.  People need a job to survive and many will do just about anything to get a job… 

Companies that want people who will work without pay target students, particularly engineering and computer science students.  Unpaid internships… Really?  The demand is high, the supply is low, the skills are sought after – why would you work for free?

Interviewing and Dining Etiquette: You Are Being Judged!

A meal, dinner, lunch or even breakfast might easily be the first stage of your interview. You will need to traverse a minefield of dining mistakes that could cost you the job. Even after you get the job, you will profit or suffer because of your manners. Good manners are always in style. Never forget that!

In life it’s the little things that matter, the little things that make an impression: a smile, a door held open, a thank you note, and nice table manners. These are the things that get noticed and that make you stand out. Or maybe it is the absence of the little things that make an impression. Good manners mean that you have good judgment. That is really important to potential employers.

Spring 2014 Techie Salaries and Demand

The National Association of Colleges (NACE) and Employers released its Spring 2014 Salary Survey report for starting salaries of new college graduates. Approximately 400,000 employers were included in the survey. The data are collected from private as well as public employers across the US who have hired new college graduates in all disciplines. This is the first salary data for the Class of 2014 according to NACE.

Things No One Will Tell You

As a career counselor, I encounter all kinds of job seekers with barriers to employment.  It is frequently the case that people do not know why they are being passed over or rejected.  

When diagnosing a career problem I ask a lot of questions, I listen, and I observe - just like an employer will do.  The difference is that I will tell you if you have a problem you need to fix.

Resilience

Resilience is a gift in life.  It helps us recover quickly from the inevitable ups and downs that occur – a failed interview, the loss of a job, an illness, or worst of all - the loss of a family member.   We all need to learn resilience to regain the happiness and joy in life after something bad happens.

Webster’s defines resilience as the property of material that enables it to regain its original shape after being bent, stretched or compressed.   So it is with humans.  Everyone has disappointments in life.  It is how we recover our shape and balance that really matters.

Networking to Your Perfect Job is a Contact Sport!

The vast majority of people who attend job fairs are uncertain about what to do next.  They connected with interesting possibilities, but they are at a loss about how to close the deal. 

Job seeking is a contact sport.  You have to interact with people to get hired.  It is not easy for the timid.  It is not something that comes natural.  No one really tells you how to do it when you are growing up. Job seeking for the first time is like jumping off of a cliff… You have to throw yourself out there. 

Solid Hiring Demand for Engineering and Computer Science

88 engineering or engineering-related companies attended the Engineering and Computer Science annual Career Day, on March. The annual event is always the most productive hiring event of the entire year for the College.

Managing Your Career

Wouldn't it be nice if everything in life just fell into place? It would be so much easier if you could just relax and not think about your career. Imagine going to college, having a perfect job waiting for you, keeping on track for 40 or so years, and finally retiring in comfort. There are a few souls for whom this is possible. They were born into their destiny. For those of us who were not descended from royalty or didn’t inherit the farm, it is a bit more difficult.

12 Action Steps to a Job!

When the semester is over and your finals are done, it is going to be time to kick into gear with a well thought out job search. There really is no time to waste. The market is improving and the people out in front of this train are going to be the ones who get hired first.

Engineering Salary Report 2013 NACE

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), Summer 2013 Salary Survey was just released. It includes salary data for bachelor’s degree candidates and for master’s degree candidates.

The Summer 2013 report shows continuing salary increases for new college graduates overall, running 2.4% higher than 2012 salaries. According to NACE, the average salary for 2013 bachelor’s degree graduates now stands at $45,327. The economic recovery continues in a positive direction across most academic disciplines.

Thanksgiving … For All Members of Our Family

Thanksgiving is an American family holiday. We celebrate it to mark our gratitude for the blessings we receive. Individually we express our thankfulness for family, friends and food. It is also a time we gather to catch up on our busy lives.

Substandard Job Offer?

A number of people have contacted me over the past few weeks with questions about job offers they have received. The economy has picked up and companies are hiring. Several people are receiving multiple offers to choose from.

The Autopsy

Disaster rarely occurs without lots of inside people knowing it is coming. The faulty bolts on the San Francisco Bay Bridge, the California Unemployment Insurance payment debacle, and web site disaster of the new Affordable Care Act known as Obamacare are a few glaring examples of huge system failures currently in the news.

Caught in a Lie

I recently had a job seeker tell me he had been caught in a lie. During a job interview he had been questioned about something that was on his resume. The time didn’t add up - there was a glaring discrepancy that the employer was trying to clear up. The question was asked - there was no answer. The candidate was like a deer caught in the headlights. He froze. He knew he had been caught in a lie.

Job Search – Finding the right needle in the haystack

The US Department of Labor announced today that there are 3.9 million jobs waiting to be filled in the American labor market in their Job Openings and Turnover Rate report. They further reported that 4.5 million hires and 4.4 million total job separations occurred in August 2013. That is a lot of movement! Companies across the spectrum hire and shed workers constantly.

Target Practice

From the time I was age 10 until I was 15 - I went to summer camp where my favorite activity was archery. It was a skill that I was determined to master. When you first attempt archery the arrow misses the mark completely. Arrows fly over, around and into the dirt in front of the target. Over time, with focus and practice I got better. Each day I got a little closer to the target until my arrows started hitting the hay bale, then the rings on the target and finally the center of the target.

Bid Leveling Your Job Offers © Justin Reginato, PhD

Justin Regionato is a professor of Construction Management at CSU Sacramento. He posted this article on Facebook and I think it is sage advice. In the article he compares negotiating the terms of employment to negotiating a bid for a construction project. Many professionals have to estimate the cost of doing a project whether is is a construction project, a consulting project, a solar power system, or a software project. If you are in the job market right now with hiring heating up you are going to be considering offers from potential employers. Many candidates are choosing between multiple offers. (I had one student last semester who had 9 offers on the table for summer internships!). Negotiating your salary is the first example your potential employer will have of your ability to estimate and bid a project. This first bid is one of the most important ones you will do - setting the tone for your career. Cici

Salary Data Summer 2013 from National Association of Colleges and Employers

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), Summer 2013 Salary Survey was just released. It includes salary data for bachelor’s degree candidates and for master’s degree candidates.

Climb On!

I went rock climbing for the first time this past summer at my daughter’s insistence. I was not really into it… I had a lot of anxiety about it and I spent time thinking about a ton of ways to get out of it. My daughter, Elizabeth, said "you do yoga; it is just like yoga on the wall". It is not – it is way more challenging. I went up the wall once came down and hugged the floor and said to myself – "done that, moving on."

No Second Chance

In a September 12th interview on NPR, it was reported that second chances to make it are getting harder to come by in the age of real time information.  I like to think that this is not true, but more and more I see that people are being locked out of their first choice employer because of an indiscretion.

Sequestration is a Job Killer

The day I wrote this article a bridge fell in the Seattle area... Thousands of bridges built in the middle of the last century or before are at risk in the United States.

Not Knowing is OK – Not Believing is Not OK

Not knowing what you will do next in your life – whether it is at the end of the semester, at the end of your degree, or at the end of a job can be unnerving. Humans like predictability. They like to know what comes next. That is just not possible. No one can predict the future. No one really knows what will come next.

Momentous Week - Still Going Strong After 35 Years and 100,000 Pageviews!

I just want to celebrate!

This next week marks the 35th anniversary of my tenure at CSUS! After completing my BA in Psychology, I worked for the California Employment Development Department as an Employment Development Officer and an Employment and Claims Assistant from 1974 to 1978.

Breathe!

Breathing is the first thing that you do in life. It is so natural. Breathing in provides the essential oxygen that sustains us. Breathing out calms us. Long slow breaths…

Salary Data for Spring 2013 from the National Association of Colleges and Employers!

The market is definitely back on track! The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) released its Spring 2013 Salary Survey report for starting salaries of new college graduates. Approximately 400,000 employers were included in the survey. The data are collected from private as well as public employers across the US who have hired new college graduates in all disciplines. This is the first salary data for the Class of 2013 according to NACE.

Timing is Everything!

I recently had lunch with a friend whose daughter is going to graduate in May.  She said that her daughter is planning to take six months off before starting her job search.  Alarm bells went off in my head… REALLY?!

Job Seeking is a Contact Sport

The average length of time it takes to get a job is 3 to 6 months.  When it stretches out longer than that employers start to wonder what is wrong with you… no matter what the economy looks like…

Best hiring climate in 4 years

The demand for engineers and computer scientists is exploding. More than 80 engineering or engineering-related companies are expected at the Engineering and Computer Science annual Career Day, 8 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Friday, March 1st in the University Union Ballroom. The annual event is always the most productive hiring event of the entire year for the College.

Speed Dating – Getting the Most Out of a Career Fair

Approximately 80 companies will be attending a Job Fair at Career Day 2013 on March 1st in the University Union Ballroom (10 am to 3 pm) at CSUS.

Re-Shoring: Has the Hemorrhaging Ended?

For two decades the US has been hemorrhaging jobs to countries where labor costs were a fraction of the American costs – Mexico, South America, China, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Turkey and even Russia.

Salary Report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), Winter 2013 Salary Survey of new college graduate offers has just been released and it is very positive. This is the final overall report for 2012 hiring.

The Power of Clothes

Since the Garden of Eden clothes have had a tremendous power over humans. Clothes protect and warm us, but they also give us identity.

Drug Testing

Drug testing is the last thing you think about when you interview for a job but it is the first test you will take upon receiving an offer. The job market is heating up after a four-year recession. Companies are definitely hiring, and for some candidates, job offers are coming in much sooner than they expected. That’s a good thing, but there can be some speed bumps along the way.

Job Seeking is Hard Labor

Like babies, job seeking requires hard labor, sometimes for prolonged periods of time. The average length of time it takes to get a job is three to six months. That is in a normal economy. It takes longer when the economy is slow, which is the situation we are in right now… Although the recession is over and the recovery is under way job creation is lagging. If you want a job you are going to have to do a lot of hard work.

Conferencing for Newbies

Going to a professional conference can be intimidating. First you have to register for the event, get hotel accommodations, and then catch a plane to the city that the conference is being held in. That alone is daunting. It is not like going on vacation with family or going to see Aunt Hattie in Phoenix for a week. Aunt Hattie would be thrilled to see you and she won’t mind if you wear jeans and a Batman t-shirt.

Professionalism and Judgement Must Start Early

If you are in a profession people must be able to trust that you not only have the requisite knowledge and skills, but that you also have solid judgement.

Yes, a professional is a person who possesses knowledge, skill, and experience in a field and understands standard practice, and methods but you also must instill confidence that you actually have the whole package - by your image – by what you project in your appearance, writing, speaking, and work product. People assess whether you are really a professional by observing you.

The 7 Biggest Job Seeking Mistakes

1. Hanging Around Other Unemployed People

The best way to find work is through people who are working. 80% of available jobs are never posted anywhere. That means that your full time job is to find your way to companies that interest you and contact them directly. Employees are most likely to know when their company is hiring. Sometimes a company manager hires because they notice a talented individual with incredible potential and they anticipate upcoming projects that need staffing.

The Naked Tell All: Career Suicide

It takes a lifetime to develop a good reputation. It takes a moment of indiscretion to destroy it. In a nano-second you can make yourself virtually unemployable… unattractive to potential employers. The prospect of hiring someone who has the bad judgment to share controversial opinions, racy pictures, or out right rants on the web is not someone that is a good candidate for a company that values its reputation. When a company hires you they are trusting that you will not offend clients or customers – that you have good judgment. After all you are the face of the company.

Where Are the Jobs? Here Are the Jobs!

In a report issued on October 3rd the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported unemployment rates were lower in August than a year earlier in 325 of the 372 US metropolitan areas. The US unemployment rate in August was 8.2 percent, vs 9.1 percent a year earlier - nearly a full percentage drop.

Are You Unemployable?

Are you unemployable? My husband Paul is. He has a hard time putting up with incompetence. He likes working alone. He has a home office and can shuffle to work in jeans and a t-shirt. He is not dinged for his appearance – except occasionally by me... He works 60 hours per week since his work is engrossing and deadlines require long hours. He has a reputation for delivering high quality reports and is well respected for his opinion in a very difficult area of practice. He is a criminal/ forensic psychologist. His work is the product of his labor and his expertise alone. He works for the hardest boss ever- himself.

Employers Demand Experience – How do you Get Experience in a Tough Economy?

The success of any company rides on the talent and experience of their employees. As the residuals of the recession grind on, it is increasingly obvious that employers are being picky about whom they will hire. You need to look really good to get the attention of employers these days. Companies want the most talented, and feel that they do not need to settle for mediocre. They are looking for candidates who have something to offer and don’t need to be babysat.

Only Yahoos Lie on Their Resumes

Lying on your resume is a disaster waiting to happen. On Sunday, May 12, 2012 it was all over the news: Yahoo CEO, Scott Thompson, was fired for lying on his resume, claiming he had a degree in computer science. He has a degree in accounting and that should have been good enough, but he embellished his resume when he applied to Yahoo and claimed to have slightly better credentials than he actually has.

Where The Jobs Are

Political, economic, social, and technological change can alter the employment landscape in a nanosecond, either creating or eliminating jobs. If you fail to keep your eye in the ball you are going to be smacked in the face by some new reality.

Facebook Dilemma: Good Companies Don't Ask You to Do Stupid Things

From the time you were old enough to talk you have been told not to give strangers your name, address, or phone number. You were not even supposed to talk to strangers when you were a kid.

Choosing Between Multiple Offers

Hiring has picked up significantly. Numerous individuals are reporting multiple offers. Yep, the economy is up! Several students are in a dither about what to do. As hard as it is to believe, several offers in hand creates a problem.

Saying Thank You is a Big Deal!

In life it is the little things that matter. The little things that make a difference in whether you are going to be successful or if you are going to fail. A smile, a kind word, or showing up on time, all make an impression.

Procrastination Wastes Your Time and Your Life

Delay, delay, delay… we all do it. We avoid doing what we should be doing, putting it off until later. Everyone knows someone from the neighborhood who is still sitting on the couch with their parents at age 35. Like in the movie Failure to Launch, they just never reach their potential. Procrastination disrupts your ability to be successful.

Are You at the Bottom of the Pool?

Why do some people walk into a burning building when everyone else is running away? Why to some people become fire fighters when others become teachers? What motivates an individual to become a doctor versus an engineer? It is part of the fabric of who they are – a combination of innate talent and early life experience.

Failure Analysis

When things are not working right it is sometimes good to do an assessment of the situation. It is time to call in the experts.

Start Your Engine With a Plan

There are certain indicators that I watch when I want to know which way the job market for engineers and computer scientists is going. I watch the reports from the US Department of Labor, car sales, technology hiring, state hiring, and Caterpillar sales. I think the job market is coming back faster than most people realize.