Career Advice

Posted by Paym Bergson

I’m thinking of changing careers. It’s that time again – and it’s déjà vu all over. Those who know me and previous columns might remember my diatribe with spiders. Well, I’ve moved, and d-mned if the things haven’t followed me, or sent out a telepathic message. “C’mon over to this house! It’s warm, and the household does not believe in killing insects! Ya just get thrown out, and so ya come right back in!”

Mind you, the spiders are different. Bigger. Just what I needed.

So I need to become a Spider-Buster. Any help on this mid-life change in career would be greatly appreciated. So far I’ve called a few exterminators, but all they offer is to fumigate IF the house is over-ridden. And I was told I’m too squeamish to bother training as an exterminator. So cross that off the list of career choices.

Maybe I should offer a reward to the one who is able to guide me – yeah right. I can see it now – Mr. Spider comes to my door, rings the bell, is dressed with a baseball cap, armed with papers under three of his legs, and two reaching out asking for the money.

Guess I’ll go to a Coach. At least it will be an even match – for me.

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Copyright May 7, 2008. Paym Bergson and Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use of this material will constitute an infringement of copyright.

Posted by Paym Bergson

I'm really getting tired of online job sites - so many just post scams or old postings. To be fair, the job sites should not have to verify that the postings are real. But to not archive old postings (let's say six months or more) is just false advertising that the site has more postings than reality.

Monster's new look is a real pain. Now I have to figure out which of the myriad of categories I think an appropriate job might be listed under - as I am limited to a max of 20 categories per search. I tried this a few times, then gave up. It was a frustrating experience which yielded no perceptable gain on results due to my efforts.

My favourite (um, my OLD favourite) is now a site to be avoided. Craiglist is a free posting site, and I (and others) used to be able to pick up some good contacts, work, etc. Now, it is filled with "earn while you sleep" type of ads. Yep, I did answer one of those, to see what it is about. Anything where you pay a "start-up fee" and get money for "signing others up" is a scam, no matter how many times someone tells me they made money on it. Yeah right, you made money by signing other suckers up.

So, anyone have a good job site out there? Feel free to vent about your own personal experience too!

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Copyright April 21, 2008. Paym Bergson and Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use of this material will constitute an infringement of copyright.

Posted by Paym Bergson

I remember when I first awakened to the fact that you can be judged by your shoes. Working backstage, I usually wore my capezio's as they were quiet but had enough grip so that I would not slip - but still easily and without any noise run errands between stage right and left. One professional told me he trusted me, because of my shoes. I was shocked, and asked what he meant. "They are neat and appropriate for your work". I looked at his shoes - black, shiny, patent leather, pointed, and polished to a hilt. While the person was a pain, I always remembered his words, and they do apply.

Messy shoes mean you did not take the time to really look yourself over. You'll miss details. Old shoes show you want comfort, or resent change. Quick repairs you've done yourself (and it shows) means you'll do patchwork to keep something going. Those 12" stilettos - you're there for the look, not the work.

And black, pointed, shiny, patent leather shoes? You are fastidious, pay attention to detail, but can still be a pain! Or is this getting a bit thin?

So, what do your shoes say about yourself?

Read the article that prompted this blog - Putting Your Best Foot Forward.

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Copyright April 16, 2008. Paym Bergson and Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use of this material will constitute an infringement of copyright.

Posted by Paym Bergson

Keeping up a weekly blog has its limitations. Too much and it becomes an article; too little and it is just a passing comment.

I think Cover Letters and Resumes often face a similar dilemma. How do we know when enough is enough? If there's too much we take the chance of turning off the employer if it is not about what s/he wants to read; too little and we get passed over as we still haven't hit the magical words.

Yes, sometimes I do think it is a game, where we kinda know the rules, in a general fashion (we need to send a Resume and Cover Letter), but the specifics of the game change with each person who reads our Resume/Cover Letter. So, we try each time to find different ways to catch the attention of the prospective employer - or at least we should.

More on this in upcoming articles.

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Copyright April 1, 2008. Paym Bergson and Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use of this material will constitute an infringement of copyright.

Posted by Paym Bergson

Microtrends came across my desk awhile ago, and I started reading it just when I was studying/learning the different statistical methods used in research. Talk about coincidence! In class, we are trying to make sense of the numbers we get, as well as how to get them. What I loved about this book was its joining of quantitative and qualitative analysis/methodology. This in itself is a growing trend in research - especially in Distance Education. The book actually helped me see a real-life, applicable research scenario not related to my own field .

I was surprised at some of the scenarios - I knew the numbers, but not a proper interpretation. More importantly, the book touches on something I deeply feel - we are turning to others to interpret the world around us, but forget it is THEIR interpretation, limited to their own biases or personal agendas. When looked only in context of what is happening to what happened, you can begin to see and understand the trend.

Great book! Dare I even say fun to read, even on its own.

Read my review in this week's article

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Copyright March 24, 2008. Paym Bergson and Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use of this material will constitute an infringement of copyright.

Posted by Paym Bergson

This week Career Advice will concentrate on answering your questions. Each day one letter will be highlighted, and each one pertains to an area you might be interested in reading. Each one is short and is only part of a larger scenario. There are many reasons you may not get an interview, or get the job you want. All I can do is guide you to better performance. Most important though, is your attitude. So be confident (or at least practice in the mirror to look confident) that you WILL get a job you want, and that it does take time. Be patient with yourself!

I'm thinking of devotiing one day a week to posting your questions (with answers of course), but would like feedback on what day you readers would prefer.

So let me know via the discussion board or drop me an email! Don't forget to add in your own advice to any of the situations/questions this week!

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Copyright March 17, 2008. Paym Bergson and Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use of this material will constitute an infringement of copyright.

Posted by Paym Bergson

When do you think you get/give a first impression to a potential employer? At the telephone interview to set up an appointment? At the first contact interview?

WRONG!

Your first impression is your Cover Letter! Even your Resume is second, not first! It does not even matter if you are sending via snail mail or email - the first impression the employer or recruiter gets is from your Cover Letter. (see this week's article on Cover Letters) Remember - in sending via email your Cover Letter is (or should be) in the body of the email; the Resume is attached.

So why do so many people NOT take the same time on their Cover Letters as their Resumes?

I get the interview because I am able to interest the recruiter/employer in what I have to offer - and I make sure I do have all the skills mentioned, AND I mention all the skills. So often I have found that the employer really is only looking for one or two specific skills - I have them, so I get the interview - often over more experienced colleagues who are just lacking that one skill.

Don't leave the interview to chance - make a good impression the first time!

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Copyright March 3, 2008. Paym Bergson and Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use of this material will constitute an infringement of copyright.

Posted by Paym Bergson

This week's article is a book review of Brian Kurth'sTest-Drive Your Dream Job. While an excellent guide and easy reading, Mr. Kurth also confronts another touchy subject - that of Career Coaches. Nowadays, so many people think by hiring some kind of personal lifestyle trainer or Career Coach, that their life will turn around for the better. But people do not bother to put into FINDING the right coach or trainer as they do even in buying a car - they go by price, or convenience, or "I like this trainer".

Mr. Kurth cautions readers to do the same amount of research for a Coach (if you feel you need one or will do better with one) as you would a Mentor, or even your plan! (see review).

I can't emphasize enough how right he is - always check the credentials of the person you are taking (or thinking of taking) advice from. And if it does not feel right FOR YOU - don't take the advice. This doesn't mean to discount everything. Only you can decide what is best for you - be it on your Resume, at an Interview, or on the actual job. Read about new ideas, but don't just take someone's word for it - check out their credentials, and see if it does fit you. Try it, but don't keep doing it if it does not feel right, or feel like you.

This Topic may be called "Career Advice" - but I think of it as Career Guidance - articles that point out many different ways to help you help yourself. There is no one magical way to do a Resume or get a job.

Posted by Paym Bergson

It's interesting to see what comes across my digital desk. One of the Nursing Job Sites listed in my article this week sent a general announcement to my inbox here at Suite. This lead to this week's article. What I did not expect to find was the same amount of scammers in what I view as a high profession.

Often, I hear there is a nursing shortage. Whenever I hear there's a shortage of any kind of job, my radar sounds. WHY is there a shortage? What's wrong with the job? Is it pay? Lousy hours? Lousy working conditions? Or is a shortage due to people being steered away from that type of work in lieu of something considered more lucrative (or cooler to the younger generation).

There are shortages in many industries. The trades have fallen - although well paid jobs, often students looking into a profession view these jobs as somehow not as good as getting an MBA, or a law degree, or being a Doctor, or even working in programming.

The next few years will really tell us what to expect. Hopefully there will be a levelling of wanted jobs and open jobs.

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Copyright February 25, 2008. Paym Bergson and Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use of this material will constitute an infringement of copyright.

Posted by Paym Bergson

So many people just dismiss the Retail or Hospitality industry - saying "I can't cook" or "I don't wanna be a salesperson!" But Retail and Hospitality offer so much more - especially if you already have some education or experience.

Working in Retail like most University students, I saw many other part time co-workers gain full-time employment within my department - and they had already been approached for higher level work. And before you say that it happened a long time ago - my son worked part-time in a store he loved, getting more and more responsibility. He was asked/told he could work his way to top management, but he preferred to continue his education in the computer field. While he does not regret the choice, he does miss his co-workers and the sense of responsibility and accomplishment gained from that employment.

I've taught College students recently, who worked part time at the night desk, and gained full time employement upon graduation. I've heard success stories from Golf Management, where more experienced (read older) students came back to school for a diploma, and were immediately hired in a job of their dreams.

So take another look at these industries - your business experience, your enthusiasm, and maybe a bit of re-training could have you working at the job of your dreams, too!

Read the article this blog is based on:

Open Up To Hospitality and Retail Careers

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Copyright February 19, 2008. Paym Bergson and Suite 101. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized use of this material will constitute an infringement of copyright.