Are You Career-Focused?

January 2013, Issue 31

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12 Ways to Be Career-Focused in 2013
By Trish Freshwater, Senior Communications Manager

The following is an abridged version of an article originally published on the Student Branding Blog, where students can find a wealth of information about preparing for their future career. Click here to read the article in its entirety.

Did you make any New Year's resolutions? I'm not one for listing specific things I want to change or do in the upcoming year. Instead, I prefer to come up with a theme so that I can use a number of mini-successes to meet my resolution goal. So, if my theme is "health," actions that improve my diet or increase exercise will count towards my resolution without feeling guilty if I don't complete a specific task. There are lots of paths to success!

As we dive in to 2013, why not make it the year to focus on your future career? Being career-minded this year might be the best way to lay the foundation for your career after graduation. There are lots of things you can do to keep your resolution all year through. Here are 12 suggestions – one activity for each month.

1. Write or Polish Your Resume using keywords.
2. Update Your Social Profiles. Another tip: Review your Facebook page from a recruiter's perspective. Should anything be hidden from public view? Use your privacy settings to control who sees updates, pictures and links on your page.
3. Get Involved! Volunteer or Get a Part-Time Job.
4. Get an Internship.
5. Get a Mentor or someone who can guide you as you develop your career plans and gain experience.
6. Brush Up Your Speaking Skills.
7. Gain Leadership and other Transferable Skills.
8. Network Online.
9. Attend Networking Events – Even in our digital world, there's nothing better than face-to-face networking.
10. Prepare for Interviews.
11. Research Potential Companies.
12. Use Social Media in your job search.

Whether you accomplish all 12 items or you focus on three or four, making 2013 career-focused isn't that hard to accomplish. For once, you have a New Year's Resolution you can keep!

What Motivates You to Work?

Money will De-Motivate Employees!

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I read a posting last night that asked the age old question, “Does money motivate employees?” After the vein in my temple subsided (full disclosure I didn’t wait, I began my response immediately but did some thorough editing afterward) I typed back, “why in the world is this still a question?” Every HR poll in the history of HR polls has laid this question to rest. Money does NOT motivate employees. In fact, I’ll go one step further and state that money actually can DE-Motivate people. Don’t believe me? Well, stick with me a second and see if I can persuade you…

I read a posting last night that asked the age old question, “Does money motivate employees?” After the vein in my temple subsided (full disclosure I didn’t wait, I began my response immediately but did some thorough editing afterward) I typed back, “why in the world is this still a question?” Every HR poll in the history of HR polls has laid this question to rest. Money does NOT motivate employees. In fact, I’ll go one step further and state that money actually can DE-Motivate people. Don’t believe me? Well, stick with me a second and see if I can persuade you…

You work your butt off all year long, implement (successfully) 5 elements of a Talent Management System (or feel free to pick your own project), your LMS is now extremely active and because of your efforts, training costs are down 40%, test scores rise 18 points and training time is reduced by 20 hours for your most critical program. You’re an unqualified super-star, have been rated as a HiPo and receive the top performance rating of OUTSTANDING earning you an amazing (and in our current reality improbable) 10% merit increase (more likely 5-6% with a really great company). But what do you think to yourself? Do you think…. “wow, 10%!!! That is so much more than I deserve and I will work even harder next year to do that again!” Or, perhaps the more realistic thought of, “darn straight Skippy! I worked my tail off all year long and I absolutely DESERVE that 10% increase!” I’m going to go out on a limb and say the latter.

Now let’s change the scenario. Same hard work, same impact, but instead of the well-deserved 10% you instead receive a 4% increase much like that of your colleagues. Due to the economy, planned merit budgets or just internal policies, top performers can only receive that much of an increase (I’m guessing most of you are nodding in agreement here). So, NOW what do you think? I’ll let you know what most rational people think; “I worked my @$$ off, saved the company money, did more than my peers and I’m ONLY getting a 4% increase? There is NO way in the world I am going to do that again!!!”

So, to recap, scenario 1 = I DESERVE the increase. Scenario 2 = I am now DE-Motivated by the increase. In neither scenario did the money MOTIVATE us to do anything positive. In fact, if you want to argue that money is a motivator, I would counter that it only motivated us to do less next year.

We can also argue if it is even our job as leaders to motivate others or if employees should be self-motivated. I won’t pick that fight today but I will say I do believe it is our responsibility to ensure that we do not de-motivate employees by our actions. But how can we provide an atmosphere that is motivating?

• Clear organization vision & values
• Well-articulated responsibilities
• Clear goals aligned with the business
• Development opportunities
• Access to resources and information
• Collaboration 
• Relevant, timely and candid communication
• Insert many many more here:

Today we have the advantage of systems that can help align our business goals with our employees who, by the way, are the ones we actually need to achieve these goals. By providing the clear strategy, direction, resources and opportunities, we can set the stage for a unified workforce that has the passion and ability to exceed your goals.

So the next time someone asks about how to motivate employees, ask them to instead consider what de-motivates employees. I think you’ll find it easier to address the numerous obstacles we can control than the individualized preferences of an increasingly diverse workforce. Because in the end, what really motivates me may be very different than what motivates you…let’s talk about removing obstacles than simply trying to throw money at the issue.

Written by:

Keith Meyerson

Keith is a Learning, Talent and Organizational Development Executive who has worked for such iconic brands as Polo Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co., and Neiman Marcus. He is a frequent contributor to industry magazines and a noted speaker on the use of social collaboration as part of an integrated talent management strategy. He has experienced several Learning and Talent Management System implementations and brings his unique perspective as a former user of these systems.

Updated Leads

In the midst of taking on this wonderful role as Director of Career Services, I have fallen behind on the blog--please accept my apologies. For those of you who count on these postings, please know that you will be equally successful by visiting websites such as indeed.com, pajobfinder.com, careerbuilder.com, and the list goes on. I encourage all of you to take control of your job search and be proactive.  That's why we are all here--to advance our knowledge and skills to better ourselves and experience lifelong happiness. 

QI Coordinator--APS Healthcare
Data Entry Clerk--Office Team
Secretary--Millersville University
Revenue Supervisor--City of York
Customer Service Rep--Miller Brother Staffing
Retail Supervisor/Assistant Manager--VisionWorks
Membership Associate--Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania
Bilingual Customer Service Rep--Highmark
Graphic Design Assistant/Social Media Coordinator--Hershey Creamery Co.
Accounting Manager--Arbol Group
Financial Counselor--OSS
Quality Assurance Analyst II--Exel
Help Desk Analyst--CNC Consulting
Coding Compliance Specialist--Penn State Hershey
Patient Account Associate--Penn State Hershey
Payroll Administrator--JFC Staffing
AP/AR--Penn Capital Motors

Recent Leads

Administrative Asst-WMG Information Services --Wellspan
Data Entry Operator--confidential
Customer Service Associate and Marketing Assistant--Health Supplement Wholesalers
Special Education Administrative Assistant--Connections Academy
Front Office Assistant--MedExpress
Patient Services Representative--Patient First
Customer Service Rep--Armstrong
Coordinator I, Sales Tax--Rite Aid
Plant Foreman--Aerotek
Field Services Tech--Aerotek
Tier 2 Desktop Support Tech-Randstad
Correspondence Representative--Select Medical
Help Desk--Global Data Consultants
Help Desk Analyst--Tech Observer
Salesforce Consultant--Reyna ITS
Field Technology Support Analyst--Open System Inc
Human Resource Generalist--Aerotek Professional Resources
Inventory Specialist Data Collections Associate--Crossmark
Customer Service-JFC Staffing
Secretary--JFC Staffing
Executive Assistant--JFC Staffing
Billing Analyst--JFC Staffing
Tax Office--JFC Staffing
Human Systems Regional Specialist--BB&T
Registration Clerk, Imaging--Pinnacle
ED Registraton Rep--Pinnacle
Senior Customer Service Rep--Pinnacle
Medical Assistant Team Leader--Pinnacle
Project Admin--Bernard Nickels & Associates
Rep 2 customer support--Rite Aid
Patient Financial Representative - Physician Billing Services--Wellspan
Physician Billing Rep--Wellspan 
Coding Billing Specialist--Wellspan
Physicians Office Clinical Assistant--Wellspan
Physicians Office Assistant--Wellspan
Physicians Office Clinical Assistant--Wellspan
Care Coordinator--Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute
Administrative Coordinator--Susquehanna Mortgage
Administrative Secretary--Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
AR/AP Clerk--The Phillips Group
Part Time Bookkeeper--UMHC
Legal Assistant - Workers Compensation--Cipriani & Werner PC

The Importance of Networking

Leave the Resume Alone! 10 Factors to Focus on First

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Hannah Morgan

There are many reasons many are unemployed for an extended period of time… and it has very little to do with their resumes.
Yet, this document is where many job seekers focus almost all of their effort. The resume is reworked, tweaked and manipulated to death.
Stop!
A successful job search is about knowing the right people and having them know you as a capable, hireable candidate. The resume is important, but it is secondary. The resume should serve as supplemental documentation – used only after you know what you are selling… and how to sell.
These are the top 10 factors a job seeker should focus on first, before touching that resume again:

1) Explore Options for Work Beyond a 60 Mile Radius

I hear job seekers talk about the fact that can’t relocate their families more than any other objection. Ludicrous. No one says you have to move your family. No one even said you had to relocate yourself. In today’s world, more and more jobs can be done virtually. You will never know what the options are unless you pursue them. The one, most obvious choice, is to expand your search territory. See what happens!

2) Use a Proactive Approach

Don’t wait for a company to post a job, identify potential employers and pursue them. Leave no stone unturned. Create a list of at least 50 employers that are likely to need someone who does what you do. Now you can follow these employers on LinkedIn, Twitter, in the news and see what they are up to.

3) Laser Focus

Be extremely clear on what problems you are great at solving (and enjoy solving). You cannot, and should not, be all things to all companies. Know what you are good at and sell it!

4) Sell Yourself

No, not in a slimy or spammy way, but with conviction and sincerity. When you introduce yourself, use language that everyone can understand and make it interesting.

5) Stop Saying You’re “Looking for any Job”

When you confess that you’re looking for “any” job:, you sound desperate. This makes most people want to run and hide. Even if they did have a job, they probably wouldn’t offer it to you. You are seeking information! Really, you NEED to learn about other companies and perhaps industries to see what they are doing and how they work.

6) Have More Conversations

Because most external hiring comes through referrals, spend more time meeting people and less time applying for jobs online. Your chances of landing a job because you know someone inside the hiring company are many times greater!

7) Really Research Your Industry and Occupation

Know what technology is being required. Know what the challenges are. Know the direction your occupation is headed in as well as your industry. Your goal is to be a walking encyclopedia on the topics facing your field.

8 ) Understand and Use LinkedIn

You don’t need to take a class – jump into LinkedIn and self-learn. Read blog posts, watch a video and start a “new users” group so you fully understand the best practices. This tool will be around for awhile and you’ll want to use it once you’re employed too.

9) Be Positive

Complaining, bad mouthing, lack of self esteem all work against a candidate. Fix this! I know how hard it is to be out of work, but you can and must control your attitude!

10) Be a Giver, Not a Taker

An overriding principle of networking and strong interpersonal communication is to be a good listener. Are you developing your listening skills? Are you making conversations more about the other person? Are you volunteering? What else can you do to help others?
Now, having said all this, I know that having a strong, accomplishment based resume is always good. The resume must be customized for every job you apply to. It must uniquely convey your strengths. It should be error-proof and truthful.
Yes, you have to have a good resume. But do these other 10 things first!

For this post, YouTern thanks our friends at Career Sherpa!

About the Author: Hannah Morgan brings over 10 years of experience helping displaced workers search for their next opportunity, and has developed and delivered workshops as well as managed the implementation of Career Navigator, a five-day intensive boot camp for professional level job seekers.
In addition to her blog, Career Sherpa, Hannah is honored to be designated as Job Search Navigator on Job-Hunt.org as well as a featured blogger on HerRochester. She also contributes to Career Collective, a community of expert career coaches and resume writing professionals who write monthly on job search topics, and guest blogs for Brand-Yourself.com on social media trends and tools. Follow Hannah on Twitter!
 

Week in Review

Happy Holidays! Below, are jobs posted between December 22-28th. With the New Year quickly approaching, now is the time to get your resume out there!

Service Center Associate-Segwick CMS
Patient Services Rep--Pinnacle Health CVIA Lingelstown Rd Phys Office
Medical Assistant--Pinnacle Health Family Care Colonial Park
ED Registration Rep--Pinnacle Health
Customer Service Rep, Credit & Collect--Pinnacle Health
Clinical Assistant--Pinnacle Health Med Surg Critical Care
Client Services Proc Ret Services--Fulton Financial Corp
Senior Payroll Administrator--Glatfelter        
Business Office Supervisor--Golden Living Centers
Personal Care Assistant--Staffing Plus
Patient Admin Service Specialist-Wellspan
Unit Secretary/Nursing Assistant-Wellspan
Office Clinician--Hanover Hospital
Financial Services Rep--Susquehanna Bank
Customer Care Specialist--Collabera
Supervisor/Legal Secretary--Abel Personnel
Lead Medical Records Specialist-Lancaster General
Dining Room Coordinator-Country Meadows
Bilingual Customer Care Specialist--Superior Technical Resources
Customer Service Rep--Reckitt Bencksier
Physician Office Clinical Assistant-Wellspan
Clinical Support Staff/Medical Records Tech-Family First Health
Associate Service Ops Spec--Coventry Health Care
Legal Secretary/Lead-JFC Staffing
Administrative Assistant--Childrens Home of York


More will be posted tomorrow. Stay tuned.....

A half dozen ways to use holidays to advance your career, internship

A half dozen ways to use holidays to advance your career, internship