In this time of economic turmoil, many people search far and wide for affordable training to get off on the right foot with a new career.  Job Corps just might be the answer for you!  Check out their website at Job Corps.gov.

Instead, a goal might read something like this: In 2010, I will get training to be a ____, or In 2010, I will update my resume and send it to ____ prospective employers.  Look how measurable those are.  It’s easy to tell if they’ve been accomplished or not.  They are also pretty much in my control.  It’ll be through my own effort if I succeed or not.  Resolutions often rely on cooperation from others, or luck, or other factors outside of your control.  Goals are completely achievable.

Finally, goals are generally easy to break up into manageable steps.  If you’re planning to get additional job training, you have to find the classes, figure out how to pay, get registered, do the tasks required, and so forth.  If you’re updating your resume, you need to gather your past information, choose a format, get it typed up, and so on.

The trick to changing your life, no matter what aspect you’re working on, is to set goals instead of making resolutions for big changes without an action plan that leads to accomplishment.

Happy New Year!

This year, change the pattern.  Instead of making a resolution, set a goal.  With goals, you can break them down into manageable steps and reward yourself for each achievement.  Even if you don’t accomplish the steps exactly on time, there’s still value in having those stepping stones to reach for on every new day.

The secret to writing good objectives for your goals is to make them SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.  When you write the objective, be very specific.  There should be no doubt about whether or not the task has been accomplished.  Make it measurable: count items or use percentages.  Achievable means that the matter is completely in your own hands.  For example, as a writer, I used to set goals about getting my work published.  One year I realized that the publication was not a matter that I was in charge of.  When I changed my goal to sending out the best queries I could muster, my publication rate went up and I felt more successful.  Relevant means that your goals and objectives must be meaningful to you.  Time-bound means that you set deadlines for yourself.

So give it a try!  Whatever changes you’re trying to make in your life, set some goals for the coming year.  Make sure each one is supported by SMART objectives, and you’ll be on your way to an outstanding 2010!

Happy New Year!

Basically, there are three common learning styles, and it’s quite possible to have a mixture of two or even all three.  Visual people learn best from seeing or reading things.  They like pictures, charts and graphs, diagrams, and so forth.  Auditory people learn best by hearing things.  They like discussions, lectures, oral directions, etc.  Kinesthetic persons prefer to learn by doing.  They like to move around, watch demonstrations, and learn in a hands-on sort of way.

Which type of learner are you?  Try the Learning Style Inventory and find out.  Then seek out experiences that will compliment your learning style!

IC3 is an organized way to show employers that you’ve got basic computer skills such as would be needed in an office or to utilize online trainings that have become so popular.  Many community colleges and some high schools are registered testing centers, and some offer inexpensive preparation courses.  There are also self-study books available, but you should avoid the temptation of purchasing an older edition to save money.  This is one area where the most current information will help you immensely.

The most comprehensive and yet inexpensive reference book I’ve found so far is posted below.  In the interest of full disclosure, this is an affiliate link to Amazon, and I do receive a small payment if you choose to order.

Where can you search for seasonal employment?  There are some obvious places, like stores that do more business during the holiday shopping season.   Restaurants also hire seasonal help, since the holiday shoppers are out and about over meal times and companies and other groups often have celebratory meals in the weeks that lead up to Christmas.

You can also check some out of the way places for seasonal jobs.  Many churches and meeting venues hire additional custodial staff to keep buildings looking ship-shape for the winter.  Businesses also hire extra security this time of year.  Hospitals, insurance agents, and banks sometimes need a few extra hands as they begin to get a handle on year-end paperwork.

Many places also step up the number of substitute workers they maintain as cold and flu season gets into full swing.  Try the schools-besides licensed teachers, they also hire persons for paraprofessional positions, custodial and secretarial jobs, and bus drivers.  With a minimum of extra training or licensure, you could add to your list of employable skills.

And schools aren’t the only entities that need subs on a spur of the moment basis.  Day cares workers, preschool teacherss, after school program leaderss, church music programs/organists, delivery drivers and many more are next to impossible to function without.  Can you imagine having to shut down an entire business because a key person wasn’t able to come in?

Pick a field, get equipped to do the job, and start with temporary or seasonal work.  Not only will it be extra money in your pocket for the holidays, it will also provide you with an “in” to a new collection of potential employers.

• Be Thorough

Fill out the application completely and fully.  Make sure you don’t skip any sections or leave any fields blank.

• Be Accurate

Check your spelling and your grammar.  If you can, have a friend or family member look your application over for errors or mistakes.

• Highlight Your Strengths

If at all possible, bring out the skills or experience you have that will impress your future employer.  Consider the position you are applying for and craft your application to fit that specific area.

• Follow Up

Unless instructed otherwise, make sure you follow up your application with further communication, like an email or a phone call.  This is especially important if you’ve not received a response after a week or two.  Ask for an opportunity to interview.

And for your convenience, here are links to online applications for larger chains:

• WalMart
• K Mart
• Walgreens
• CVS
• Target
• Meijer
• McDonalds
• Burger King
• Arby’s
• Starbucks
• Rite-Aid
• Aldi’s
• KFC
• Cinemark
• Bed Bath and Beyond
• Michael’s
• Hobby Lobby
• Kohl’s
• Old Navy
• Wendy’s
• Jimmy John’s
• Subway
• Applebee’s
• Kroger’s
• Gloria Jean’s

What are you waiting for??  Get clicking!

By my count, that’s still an awful lot of people who are unemployed or dramatically underemployed.  It will be a hard sell to convince my neighbors that better economic times are on the way when they are still relying on charity to feed their families.

The reality is that those low-skill, easy money manufacturing jobs just aren’t going to be coming back in the numbers to match the people that want them.  Workers are going to have to retrain for different careers.  For many, that means heading back to school or other training.  It also will mean a diminished standard of living, because many of the ‘new jobs’ that our political pundits refer to are in the service sector, and those simply don’t pay as well as the old manufacturing jobs. 

There has never been a better time to jump ship, as it were, and get into a training program.  You may qualify for various government aid to cover the costs, and for better or worse, our economy IS changing.  Don’t get caught unawares!  Build your skills now while you have the chance! 

Need some guidance about finding those grants and financial resources for going back to school?  Check out the State-by-State Guide for links to information about your state’s programs!

The answer is networking.  When you are considering a job change or looking for a new position, your best strategy may lie in making friends and getting to know people.  I don’t care how many resumes you send out or how many applications you complete; your best chance for a job comes when you have connection to the people who are hiring.

Make yourself more attractive to employers and more well-known by volunteering or doing pro bono work in your field or in a related field.  Show people how valuable of an employee you can really be.  Get passionate about your work, even if there’s not a paycheck attached, and sooner or later your dream job will open up and you’ll be right there to take advantage of it.