Looking for work in tough times

I received an email today from a job seeker who read my article for MilwaukeeJobs. She was hoping that I could give her some advice in her job search. I got the sense from reading her email that many of my readers might be suffering from the same problem. I'd like to share a story that you might be finding all too familiar.

This job seeker has been out of work for a little over 6 months and is getting discouraged. From the sounds of her letter, she is doing everything right, but getting no positive results. After sending out hundreds of resumes, she came away with a dozen or so interviews and no job. She widened her job search and her salary requirements, but nothing seems to be helping.

I could tell from her email that she is an intelligent person who has good written communication skills. I'd bet that in a normal economy, she would have no trouble finding a position, but sadly, these are not normal times.

My best advice to her? Network as much as possible, both in person and online. These days, the phrase "it's who you know" rings truer than ever. Since there are roughly 6 people for every open position and hundreds of applications, many jobs are being filled through referrals.

Make sure your business network as well as family and friends know that you are on the job hunt and what kinds of positions that you are qualified and looking for. The more people who can share your story, the better chances you have of finding the missing link between you and your next position.

Good luck and never give up! Your next job is out there, you just have to find it!

Do you work for a younger boss?

A new survey from CareerBuilder revealed that 43% of workers who are 35 and older have a boss who is younger than them.

According to the survey, 20% of workers ages 35 to 54 have trouble taking direction from a person who is a younger than them. They commonly list complaints like micromanaging or playing favorites as reasons why having a younger boss is a challenge.

Do you have a younger boss? If so, what are some of the pros/cons to it?

Share your stories!

Quick Tips for Your Job Hunt

I've written another article for MilwaukeeJobs.com! I always enjoy being a resource, and I hope the knowledge that I've gained in the staffing industry over the last few years can help others.

Click here to view my second article, "Quick Tips for Your Job Hunt."

Thanks as always for being such loyal readers!

Happy Fat Tuesday!

Ahh, Fat Tuesday! Who doesn't appreciate a day of over-indulgence??  :)

Just remember that if you go out tonight with your co-workers, follow my rules for after work happy hours!

Let the Mardi Gras celebrations begin!

Love is in the...Workplace??

As we approach Valentine’s Day, I figured it would only be appropriate to talk about love in the office.

CareerBuilder conducts an annual survey that asks workers about their experiences with workplace romance. 37% (nearly 4 in 10) workers said that they have dated a co-worker at some point in their career.

12% said their romantic involvement started off the clock at one of the following places:

• Happy hour
• Lunch
• Late nights at the office
• Company holiday party
• Business trip

One-third reported that they went on to marry the person they dated at work.

My thoughts?

Before you get involved, weigh out the consequences. Know your company’s policy about workplace relationships and make sure you follow any rules it states.

Remember that you WORK together. Save the PDA for off-the-clock encounters.

Know that it might end badly. As much as we want to believe in true love, we still have to be realists. If the thought of facing an ex everyday at the water cooler is enough to drive you crazy, just steer clear of inter-office dating.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

It's all about customer service

I usually try to stay positive and upbeat when I blog, but I wanted to tell you about a recent experience I had with my wireless phone service.

Let me start out by saying that I worked in retail from when I was 16 to 22. I understand that often times when people are complaining about an issue, 8 times out of 10, the problem is not your fault. I get it.

I got married about a year and a half ago and before we were married, we shared a wireless plan with him as the primary user, and me as a second line. My wireless company (which shall remain nameless) still has me listed under my maiden name. I have been trying ever since to change my "authorized user" status since September of 2008 with no luck.

I completely understand all the headaches that come with a name change. The County Courthouse, the DMV, the Social Security Office, my bank-- all places I have successfully been able to change my name with minimal stress.

I would write this off as just another hoop to jump through, had I just not gotten a new phone in November and been with my husband in person at the wireless store asking them to change my name. So when you tell me today that my husband has to ok changing my name in person at a retail store, I get a little frustrated. 

Bottom line: We all need to remember that in our jobs, we use customer service every day. If you say you are going to do something, make it happen. If you run into an issue, explain it the best you can and offer everything possible to fix the situation. If you promise something, deliver it.

There are many customers who are far more willing to badmouth your company by name than I am.

Does your company have a social media policy?

According to a new survey by Manpower, only 20% of companies around the world have social media policies. What I found to be most interesting was that two-thirds of those who have policies mostly focus on the restrictions of usage for employees.

Does your company have a policy? If so, what is it?

Looking for work close to home?

A new survey by Challenger, Gray & Christmas of Chicago showed that only 7 percent of job seekers surveyed (which was 3,000 nationwide) are willing to accept job positions in different towns from where they currently live.

These results are not that surprising to me. Job seekers have to consider how the move would affect their family, as well as taking the housing market into consideration.

Are you surprised that so few people are willing to move when unemployment is so high?

Super Bowl Sunday- the Day After

I hope Monday afternoon finds you well rested and recovering from last night's Super Bowl party!

Did you watch the big game last night? In an article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Nielson Co. estimated that 106.5 million people tuned it to see the Saints defeat the Colts.

If you are anything like me, you didn't leave the couch during the commercials. They are the priciest spots of the year, but are also watched by millions of people.

What were your favorites this year?

QPS in the News!

I can't believe how fast this work week has gone by! I feel like I just blinked and it was already Thursday, and here we are on Friday morning, just working for the weekend.  :)

When you get a chance, check out QPS' latest article in the Business Journal. You can find it here. And while you are there, check out a few other QPS media mentions.

Nothing like a little shameless self-promotion on a Friday morning!!

Have a great weekend and we'll see you on Monday!

Resolutions: One Month In

Well, I've got one month in on my New Year's Resolution. For those of you who need refreshing, I was going to prioritize better and make lists of what needed to be done at work.

I'm doing pretty well at it so far! Each night, I review my list and see what is left to be done. The next morning, after sorting through my emails, I add urgent items to the list, but keep working on my list from the night before.

How are you doing on your work resolutions?