New Job Blues ... Now What?

You've landed what you thought was the job of your dreams. Each stage of the interview went smoothly - you sold them on your skills and expertise, and your prospective boss sold you on the position and benefits of joining the company. He/she seemed excited about extending an offer. And then, with offer in hand, it was thrilling to give your notice (or tell your friends you're finally employed after a long stint of unemployment!). All seemed right with the world.

You've now been on board a few daysЕ a weekЕ perhaps even a month. Suddenly you're not so sure you've made the right decision. The job that seemed like a dream is starting to feel like a nightmare. Perhaps the position isn't what you thought it would be; it's either too narrow, too broad, not challenging enough, or more of a stretch than you imagined. Maybe the company isn't measuring up. Or, perhaps your boss isn't the caring, supportive mentor you thought he/she would be.

In a state of confusion, you wonder what you should do. Stick it out? For how long? Leave? Then what? The decision to stay or leave a new job is a personal one, with no right or wrong answer, as everyone's situation is unique. And most people, at one time or another, have been faced with this dilemma. To help you think through your next move and determine what's right for you, here are some questions you may want to ask yourself:

Is it just the newness of the job? Changing jobs can be an unsettling experience. In your previous job, you knew your way around - you knew what was expected of you; you knew your job; you knew the players; you felt like you belonged. In a new job, however, it takes time to learn the ropes and feel like you're truly adding value. Sometimes it's best to give yourself time to get over the newness and then decide if the job is right for you.

Can you live with your boss? Hiring managers sometimes put their best foot forward in an interview, then do an about-face when a new employee arrives. Even though your boss isn't the supportive manager you thought he/she would be, can you live with the change? If so, it may be worth staying. If, however, you experience a nauseous stomach on Monday mornings or a rise in blood pressure every time he/she walks into your office, it may be wise to consider leaving.

Can you navigate the politics? Office politics can be the bane of many employees' existence. If you've been hired into a political crossfire, it will be important to assess your political skills to determine if you can make it work. If politics aren't your strength, you may want to leave before you find yourself failing without even knowing why. If you're good at developing relationships and working with differing styles, as well as managing up, you may want to consider staying and seeing if you can make a tough situation work.

What will you learn if you stay in this job? Sometimes a seemingly wrong job can turn out to be a terrific opportunity to learn new skills, become exposed to new technologies, and gain valuable experience. Is it possible this job could be a stepping-stone to a better, more satisfying job down the road? Could it ultimately propel your career forward? If so, and you can tolerate everything else, it may be worth staying.

If the scope of the job has changed, can it be renegotiated? If the actual work turns out to be far different from what you thought it would be, you may want to speak with your manager to see if aspects of the job can be changed. If the scope is too narrow, can more responsibilities be added? If the workload is too great, can you get some assistance? If the job ultimately represents a step backwards and/or you're doing work you didn't feel like you signed up for, it may be worth looking elsewhere.

Can you afford to leave without another job to go to? If your boss, or the job, or the politics are so bad it's beginning to affect your health and personal life, then leaving sooner rather than later may be the best move. But can you afford it? Carefully evaluating your financial situation prior to jumping ship will help alleviate regrets later on. Consider also the momentum you had in your job search prior to starting your job. Can it be easily resurrected so your time of unemployment is minimized?

The decision to stay or leave an intolerable new job is a tough one. How long to stay is also a dilemma. Many have left after two weeks, never to look back. Others have stayed, only to regret staying too long. And still others have stayed and managed to make everything work out. Only you can decide what's best for you and your situation.

If you answer the above questions honestly, you will surely make the right decision for you. Pay attention to how you're feeling and what the job is doing to your health and self-esteem. Recognize that the longer you stay, the greater the requirement to add the job to your resume. Know that it's always an option to stay and look for employment on the side. If you do that, it may be valuable to evaluate your job, boss, team, and culture requirements so you can develop some insightful interview questions to ask the next time around.

Talking with a trusted friend or colleague can be helpful during this challenging time. Whether you choose to stick it out and hope for the best, or leave right away and cut your losses, trust that you've made the right decision. And know that regardless of the outcome, the experience has presented an excellent opportunity for learning and personal growth that will be invaluable in helping you manage the rest of your career.

"Executive Job Search: 3 Jobseeking Ways to Find a Job Faster"

Got a difficult problem in your job search?

Say, a lack of networking contacts? Or trouble answering interview questions?

Well, you've got company. Problems in a job search are as common as mosquitoes in July.

But ... have you ever written your problem down on a piece of paper?

I'll bet you haven't.

Because, when you write problems down, you take an immediate, huge leap towards solving them. Think about it: Every great invention or solution, from the atomic bomb to the Xbox, was first worked out on paper.

Why not solve your employment problems the same way?

Here's a three-step method that will help you do it ...

1) Start by asking the right questions
Most folks put themselves behind the eight ball in their job search by asking questions that are depressing and demotivating.

Questions like, Why won't anyone give me a job? or How do I network when I don't know anyone?

Ack. Pass the happy pills.

Instead, start asking questions that motivate and inspire you.

Better questions to ask are:

* How could I give people a reason to call me with job leads?
* How did my 10 closest friends find their current jobs? How could I brainstorm with them and use their methods in my job hunt?
* What worked in my last job search? The job search before? How could I do that again?

Important: Ask questions that you yourself can solve. Never depend on the government, your school, parents, family -- anyone else -- to do this for you. Because, once you give up responsibility for solving problems with your job search (or anything else), you become a prisoner of outside forces.

When you ask the right questions, however, you're halfway to the answer. So write down at least five empowering questions about your job search, right now.

Then, you're ready for step two ...

2) Brainstorm at least 20 possible answers
After you write down five good questions, circle the one question that looks most promising. You're going to use it to get hired faster.

Let's say you write the following question down atop a clean sheet of paper:

How could I give people a reason to call me with job leads?

Write a number 1 below it. Write a possible answer next to that number. Then move on to number 2, 3 . and don't stop until you have at least 20 answers to your question.

Not 15 or 19, but 20 answers -- or more.

There's a reason for this: Left to its own devices, your brain will pull a Homer Simpson after two minutes and try to talk you into going out for donuts or beer. Brains hate to think. Like bench pressing, thinking is strenuous work, no matter how good it may be for you.

But don't let your head off the hook. Don't stop until you get 20 possible solutions. Brainstorm as if your career depended on the outcome. Because it does.

Now. Most of your 20 answers won't be very good -- that's OK. Your best answer may come right after the most hare-brained. By forcing yourself to write out 20 answers, you're flushing the creative pipes while going deep into your subconscious mind to dredge up a winner.

Don't knock it until you try it!

3) Take action on one solution today
Choose the most promising from your list of 20 answers. Then, get started -- today -- to make it happen. No excuses.

Let's say the most actionable of your solutions is to throw a networking party where you can meet friends, family and acquaintances, and let them know about your job search.

Now. What do you need to do to make this party happen?

Well, you have to make the guest list, send invitations, get the food, etc. So write down all the sub-goals necessary for the party to be a success. Check each sub-goal off your list as you complete it. Before you know it, your networking party will be a reality.

After that, take the next most-promising solution from your list of 20 and make that one happen. Repeat until hired.

Here's why these 3 steps work when it comes to solving problems -- clear thinking plus continuous action equals results.

If you're struggling to find a job, write down clear, empowering questions of your situation. Then, brainstorm at least 20 possible solutions and take action on the best one today. When you do, you'll be that much closer to getting the job you really want, faster.

Now, go out and make your own luck!

Engineering Job News: Tips To Survive Offshore Outsourcing

The cheap labor costs of Southeast Asia are like a siren call to more and more US employers seeking to lower support costs and improve profits. The increasingly common trend toward outsourcing labor to countries such as India, Malaysia, and Pakistan means jobs are leaking to a part of the world where workers fresh out of college or technical school will work for pennies on the dollar compared to American workers. For the American workers, that means the bar for entry-level positions is rising or the same positions are disappearing off the map completely. What can you do to avoid losing out to offshore outsourcing??

Don't become a target.

What should you do if you find yourself facing joblessness due to outsourcing? Many would say make yourself indispensable, but is anyone ever really so valuable that they are indispensable? What makes someone indispensable in a company that has 1500 employees? Few things, but some key skills can give you an edge. Skills such as bilingualism, abilities with key or rare equipment, skills with software that is either so cutting-edge or so old that only a few can manipulate it well ј skills that will make you stand out in an ocean of other employees.

Move up the ladder rapidly.

Another way to deal with outsourcing is avoidance. Jobs that are outsource-able are not key positions in the first place. Therefore, the key is to rapidly move out of entry-level positions into positions that are less likely to be outsourced. Look around you. If you are in a company in an entry-level position that has 50 to 100 other people doing the exact same tasks you are doing, you may very well be in a Danger Zone for having your position outsourced. Make it your mission to get out of that huge fish barrel of low-skilled fish and into a position that can only effectively be done on home turf as rapidly as possible. Get promoted, get higher training or education, or go for a position that is more specialized.

Go smaller.

Consider changing jobs to a company that is smaller or more niche-oriented. Smaller companies generally do not outsource due to decreased cost effectiveness and often because they have a closer relationship with their customers. While offshore outsourcing may save dollars and improve stock prices, it often has detrimental effects on customer relations. Small companies cannot afford to lose customers because of poor customer service or language barriers and are therefore less likely to outsource offshore.

Go where the jobs are.

Displaced garment and textile workers in the Carolinas and other Southern states were left jobless almost overnight in the nineties when their employers moved operations to Central America or Asia. Those who did not have transferable skills or were unwilling to relocate were left floundering. Workers who thrived were the ones who learned new skills that were in demand or who were willing to move to areas where their current skills were needed.

Stay on the cutting edge of your field.

Work that is outsourced is generally grunt work that requires a labor force that is broadly skilled in the most common tasks, works with the most common applications, or can handle minimal communication coupled with heavy, repetitive-type work. There is always demand for skilled professionals who can work easily with the latest and greatest technology, who do not fear risk-taking and enjoy the challenge of development and innovation.

Will offshore outsourcing suddenly cease? Not a chance as long as the American consumer continues to demand high-end technology for rock-bottom prices. The race to maintain market share while maintaining profits, demands cheaper and cheaper labor costs. Offshore outsourcing is a solution to that problem. It behooves American engineering and information technology workers not to be a part of the problem to begin with by pursuing education and training that sets them above their offshore labor competitors and takes them out of the fish barrel of low-end, low paid support type positions. America has always been the leader in innovation and development and engineers who concentrate on those areas will always have a place in this economy.

Easy Tips To Land A Job Speaking In Public

You can make it easy if you really want to. Although there are those who would give the usual advice of attending a meeting with the famous Toastmasters in order to hone your impromptu speaking skills, this is not as necessary as being aware of yourself and the skills you could objectively define as good, better, best, or needs improvement.

If you know the level of your ability and if you feel you are ready for an actual job speaking in public, the following could be a convenient and effective means to land that speaking job you have always wanted.

Search, search, search and search

Google and Yahoo search is there to help anyone and everyone so make use of it. It is free and is also a quick and efficient way to find what you are looking for. You could enter the words, speaker jobs, or wanted speakers, in the search bar and click search.

Wait for a few seconds and opportunities will be right there at your feet in your easy beck and call. Note down the companies, organizations, or seminar conferences that you are interested in. Or follow the links. There is a definite pot of public speaking job gold to anyone who seeks it.

Patience is the key

Sometimes it happens that there are few websites that teems with jobs in public speaking. Do not lose hope. There may be an instance where you will hit a jackpot and get lucky. There is a forum for speakers that is available on the internet. You could also try to check them out. What you would call a usual good fortune might actually be your perseverance paying off.

Take notes of schedules of conferences

Usually, there are organizations who annually or semi-annually host a seminar or conference where a lot of speakers are needed. This is the perfect occasion to put your foot inside the public speaking door. The typical search for speakers normally begins about six months or eight months in advance. The best thing to do is to check out their schedules and call or communicate with the organization at that time.

Try your hand at training companies

It wouldn’t hurt if you try or at least apply. There is such a company named CareerTracks which hires speakers on a contract basis. The job requires a bit of traveling as well as the skill to be able to sell products to audience attendees. For speakers who are just starting out, this experience is a good one to actually take a crack at.

Do You Want One Of the Pharmacist Jobs?

There are more pharmacist jobs going round than pharmacists, an excellent scenario for job seekers. So how do you tap into this job market?

Different Kinds of Pharmacist Jobs

Pharmacists are needed wherever medicines are prepared or dispensed. Even storage of medicines should be under their supervision. The pharmacist is trained to dispense the correct dosages of medicines meeting the correct standards of purity. Non-pharmacists can make incorrect decisions on these matters, leading to serious health consequences, including danger to life.

So who stores, prepares and dispenses medicines?
 Retail Chemists selling prescription and over the counter drugs to the public
 Hospitals and Clinics dispensing medicines to their patients
 Healthcare and infusion facilities providing medication services at home or nursing homes
 Government and community centers offering healthcare and medication services
 Armed services that have their own medical departments and services


All the above establishments will thus need the services of qualified pharmacists.

Pharmacists are also needed to research and develop drugs for pharmaceutical companies, and in their sales and marketing departments. Thus the pharmaceutical manufacturers are a major employer of pharmacists.

Pharmacists work as retail pharmacists, clinical pharmacists, IV pharmacists, pharmacy managers, drug research scientists and so on. When dealing with the public, they have to be more than just medicine dispensers. They have to provide advice on the correct usage of the medicines. They might also be called upon to consult with healthcare professionals. Pharmacists thus need an ethical attitude and good communications skills in addition to technical know-how.

How Do You Become a Pharmacist?

It requires years of training to become a licensed pharmacist.

You start with about two years of study at college level in chemistry, biology, physics and other science subjects. Even after this study, you might be required to take a Pharmacy Colleges Admissions Test before you are accepted into a college of pharmacy.

Pharmacy colleges typically offer 6 year and 5 year curriculum equipping the pharmacist in formulating, preparing and dispensing medicines, as well as in other areas such as professional ethics, communicating with patients and healthcare professionals and managing a pharmacy practice.

Before obtaining the license to practice, the pharmacist will also have to undergo internship under a licensed pharmacist, and pass a state examination.

Becoming a pharmacist is thus a painstaking process, and it is no wonder that there are more pharmacist jobs going round than pharmacists seeking jobs!

The pharmacist jobs also require you to be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Illnesses requiring medication do not go home after "duty hours" (much as we might wish them to do)!

The Pharmacist

Pharmacists are trusted persons whom patients and healthcare professionals consult. They have access to confidential information about patients. Naturally, they need to be persons who can be trusted to behave ethically and considerately.

If you meet the bill, pharmacist jobs will come looking for you!

Do You Like Your Job?

I don’t know if there are any concrete numbers on this topic but if I had to guess I would say that less than 25% of people like their jobs. Most people continue to go to work because they feel they have no other options. They are either lacking in the educational background to improve their situation or maybe they have overextended themselves financially and they have to keep working at a job they hate to support their lifestyle.

Whatever the reason is that you continue to work at a job you hate I am here to tell you there are other options. The internet is continuing to become more and more a part of people’s lives. Older people, that are technologically challenged, are even finding their way on-line. It would make sense that the growing popularity of the internet would lead to career opportunities for people. After all, if someone is buying from the internet than someone has to give that person an avenue to make their purchase.

This is where the article gets to the point if you haven’t already figured it out. You can begin your own internet business for much less than if you were to open a store selling the same products. You don’t need liability insurance for slip and fall accidents, no worker’s compensation insurance for employees needed to man the store, etc… For an internet business you need a decent computer and preferably a quick internet connection, otherwise you’d go nuts waiting for the slow dial-up services.

Because the internet is relatively new, meaning within the last 15 to 20 years or so, not many people grew up thinking they want an internet business when they grew up. At the same time, people do not even consider it now that they are old enough to work. If you really think about it you are being held down by your employer, if you don’t like your job that is. You dread going to work. You painfully make it through each day. By the time you get home you are too emotionally drained to even think about changing your career. When you finally do consider it, it is only because things have gotten so bad at work you just need to get out the door.

The problem with this situation is that you end up going from one bad situation to another because you don’t think clearly when the offer comes. You are so desperate to get out the door of the current company anything looks good.

I went to college and got my bachelor’s degree. I have completed half of an MBA program. While in the MBA program I questioned why I was doing this. The degree would only allow me to get a higher paying job I hate, where I still need to deal with corporate politics. As I write this article it is 70 degrees outside, which is good for April in Massachusetts. I spent the whole day playing outside with my 2 year old daughter. This kind of time spent with my daughter is possible because I made the change and now live off the internet.

You can do it too!

I was skeptical to make the leap to the internet too. One thing I read since I started my quest to live off the internet was, “If you continue to do what you have always done you will continue to get the results you have always gotten.” It just made so much sense to me and I live by that saying now. I went to college because I wanted to build a good life for myself. At 18 years old I saw my father get laid off from the company he was with for 25 years. I didn’t want that to happen to me and I thought a degree would prevent it. Well, I was let go from my company after 4 Ѕ years.

I am tired of getting up everyday hating my job. I am tired of being controlled by a company that could care less about me. So, I am doing something different than I have always done, hoping for different results than I have always gotten.

What is preventing you from doing the same thing? It is estimated that 500 million websites will be created between now and 2010. By getting your foot in the door now you are giving yourself the ability to become established before the levels of competition make it difficult to be successful.

My article is not designed to trick you into an MLM program. (multi-level marketing) I am personally against those. I am talking about affiliate and reseller programs. I personally participate in both and have success with both. I would normally give a few examples in my articles but the rules of most sites prevent affiliate links in articles. If you want to learn more do a search on your favorite search engine or feel free to contact me directly using the email address in my profile below. I would be happy to spend the time to help you pick the program best for you.

If you made it through this article there is a good chance you are looking for a way out of your current employment situation, or you need employment. The best part of this whole thing is you can do it part-time to start so you can keep your job until you establish a level of income you are comfortable with. I hope this article has given you the encouragement to take the chance and go for it. You deserve better, we all do.

Dos And Don’ts For Executive Job Candidates

Like any process, applying and interviewing for a new job carries with it an unspoken set of rules. Competition for top jobs is tough, so you need to be well prepared and avoid the common CV and interview pitfalls that could lose you a lucrative position.

DO . . .

a) Think about how you present yourself

Whether on paper, by email or in person, it’s important that you give a good impression whenever you communicate about the executive appointment you’re interested in. A professional image is critical to your success, and it is something that makes an immediate impact. It may seem unimportant to you, but every bit of contact that an agency or employer has with you informs their eventual decision on whether to offer the job to you or not.

b) Tell the truth

Apparently, we’ve all been tempted to lie about our qualifications or experience. This is always a bad move, particularly if you’re applying for an executive appointment. The company will be investing a reasonable amount of money in your appointment and on your salary, and they won’t be happy if they discover you got the position by being dishonest with them. An honest candidate is much more likely to get the job, and won’t have to worry about keeping up the lies once they start work.

c) Be on time

Lateness should be avoided at all costs. Make sure you leave in plenty of time to get to your place of interview 5-10 minutes early. If you are unavoidably caught up in traffic, make sure you have the company contact details with you so that you can call immediately and explain your situation. Once you get to the interview, don’t spend your time moaning about the delay.

DON’T . . .

a) Be offensive

Applicants for executive appointments are expected to have a certain standard of behaviour. Don’t make the mistake of being too informal with your interviewer, don’t tell rude or offensive jokes, or make comments that the interviewer may find distasteful. Limit your answers and questions to the subject and scope of the interview.

b) Be over-confident

Over-confidence in interviews is often the result of nerves, and an effort to appear self-confident for executive appointments can end up looking like arrogance to the interviewer. Sell yourself by all means, but do it in a manner that shows that you can also work as part of a team and accept ideas and criticism from others.

c) Put too much emphasis on salary

If an employer thinks that you only want the job for the money, you are unlikely to get it. Any talk about salary and benefits should come right at the end of the interview. If you begin by asking about pay and conditions, you run the risk of giving the interviewer the wrong impression. Salary is an important part of all executive appointments, so stick to your guns when negotiating salary, but don’t make it the focal point of the interview.

Executive appointments carry responsibility and agencies and companies are looking for people who have the skills, qualifications and experience. Careful preparation and planning can help you to succeed.