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Q & A with Dr. Shaquille O’Neal

By Job Journey on Friday, August 26, 2016

Earlier in the year, Movin’ On Up caught up with television sports analyst and 15-time NBA All-Star Dr. Shaquille O’Neal to ask his advice on job searching, overcoming failure, and achieving goals. We hope you enjoy this Q & A with Shaq.

Movin’ On Up: What is your best advice for job seekers?

Shaq: Go for the gusto. Have drive and be innovative. Be willing to take on other opportunities. Not everyone in life has the dream job they want, but take a job and gain experience. The more experience you have, the more jobs you can get. Get another job and you will have two types of experience. Get another job and you will have three types of experience. The next time you see a job you want, you will have much more to put on your resume. Getting to that dream job is about gaining more experience.

Movin’ On Up: What advice would you say to young people starting out in their career who feel like they may have failed?

Shaq: You don’t get anywhere focusing on the problem. Focus on the solution. You have to memorize that solution and put it in the solution part of your brain, because you never want to make that mistake again. Abraham Lincoln lost eight times in his attempts for public office before he became President of the United States. In basketball, Jerry West, who retired from a career with the Los Angeles Lakers, went to the NBA finals nine times before winning an NBA championship. Use failure as motivation.

Movin’ On Up: What would you tell job seekers about achieving goals?

Shaq: Everything in my life I have pictured. I have started something in my life I call “dreams full of attraction,” similar to the law of attraction. My mother told me early in life to dream about what I want and go for it. There are two things in life that are going to happen: 1) it is going to happen or 2) it is not going to happen. If you quit and give up, the chances of your dream happening are slim. If you keep going, there is a 50-50 chance to achieve your dreams. In my case, it is an 80-20 chance because I have the mentality that I will never, ever be denied.

If you have advice you’d like to share about a successful job search, overcoming a failure, or how you achieve an important milestone in your career, please share it with us in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

At Work

Check In on Your Summer Job Performance

By Job Journey on Monday, July 18, 2016

We’re now about halfway through summer in the United States, and for many that means reaching a halfway point in their seasonal job. With a few more weeks to go before summertime wraps up or you head back to school, now is a great time to reflect on what you’ve accomplished in your summer job so far.

To help you check in on your summer job performance, we’ve compiled a few tips below.

Look back
If you set goals for the summer, now’s the time to see where you’re at on those. Do you think you’ll accomplish them by the end of your summer job stint? Do you need to adjust the goals at all? Take time to evaluate yourself and determine how to best move forward.

As you look back, also take note of the things you accomplished! Did you hit any goals sooner than you planned? Was there a project you took the lead on? Keeping track will come in handy as you interview for jobs in the future and will also help you identify strengths and weaknesses you may not have focused on before.

Focus forward
As you continue your mid-summer self-assessment, make plans for the remainder of the season. If you haven’t achieved the goals you set at the start of the season, focus on how you’re going to accomplish them in the coming weeks. If you have already achieved your goals, set more! Now is not the time to slow down or become complacent. You can continue to focus on your goals, build important relationships, and develop your skills.

Finish strong
For the remainder of the summer, as you think about heading back to school or start looking for a more permanent position, do your best to stay committed on the work at hand. A summer job can be a great stepping stone toward a more permanent position within that company or industry and you don’t want your hard work from the first half of the summer to be tainted by a lack of effort in the second half. It’s important, now more than ever, to keep pushing forward with tenacity and commitment to delivering your best work.

How is your summer job going? Do you have any tips for assessing your own job performance? Share with us in the comments section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

The Job Search

Developing a 4-Year Plan This Leap Year

By Job Journey on Monday, February 8, 2016

At the beginning of the year, businesses are working on their strategic plans and refining their goals. They are evaluating both short- and long-term goals and where they want to be in the future. In the spirit of leap year 2016, it might be a good time for you to develop a four-year plan.

A Look at the 2020 Workplace
A leap year occurs every four years because an extra day is added to the calendar in February to keep it aligned with Earth’s revolutions around the sun. By the time we experience the next leap year in 2020, the opportunities for advancing your career are endless.

There is no better time than the present to start planning what you want to accomplish by 2020. And to help you with career choices, here’s an overview of what the employment landscape will look like by the next leap year. The workplace will be more mobile and flexible, with more than 7.6 million people working in on-demand jobs, according to a study by Intuit Inc. and Emergent Research.

An article from U.S. News and World Report indicates that fields more likely to flourish in 2020 range from data crunching to computer engineering to management and finance. Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects an increase in employment by 14% during the 2010–2020 decade. By 2020, more than half a million new jobs are expected for registered nurses, retail salespersons, home health aides, and personal care aides. The BLS expects the fastest growth to be among healthcare, personal care, and community and social service occupations.

Although the World Economic Forum, through its report on “The Future of Jobs,” states that five million jobs will be replaced by robots in 2020, there is still great opportunity for honing one’s skills in technology and automation.

Questions to Get You Started on Goal Setting
Knowing where the jobs are is only part of developing a plan. You will need to establish goals to guide you if you want to be successful. However, if you don’t know where to start developing your goals, here are a few questions to consider asking yourself:

Where am I now in my career or education?
How well do I know my job?
Where do I want to be in four years?
How will I get there?

Developing S.M.A.R.T. Goals for Your 4-Year Plan
Now that you have an idea of where you want to be in four years, it’s time to develop specific goals to get you there. Numerous businesses use the concept of SMART Goals and encourage their employees to use them for personal development. These are goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and possess a time-frame.

“S” means the goal is Specific. It should answer the question, “Where am I going and how will I know when I get there?” It qualifies or quantifies so that there is no room for misunderstanding.
“M” means that there is a quantifiable way of Measuring the goal. Some examples of measurement may include: time, percentage, quality, money, or quantity.
“A” means that the goal can be Accomplished and that you have control over the outcome.
“R” means that the goal is Relevant to the person creating the goals. It should be meaningful and relevant to your current growth and development.
“T” means that the goal is bound by Time. It determines when the goal will be completed and includes checkpoints or milestones along the way. In this case, the deadline for completion is February 2020.

Now that you are ready to start developing a four-year plan in honor of the leap year, we’d like to hear from you as to where you see yourself in the next four years in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

The Job Search

New Year, New Career

By Job Journey on Friday, January 8, 2016

For many people, a new year means new beginnings, new goals, and new opportunities.

We all start off with the best intentions and lofty resolutions, but the University of Scranton reports that only half of goals are kept past the six-month mark. For the job seeker, this fizzle adds to an already stressful situation of trying to find that perfect job or improving a current job position.

Do you have a plan for 2016? Do your goals include finding another job or improving your career skills? We have a list of ways to make sure you have a great year with tips on how to start 2016 off on the right foot.

New Year, New Job
If you are looking for a new job, treat your job search like one. Seeking that perfect position is a full-time job in itself, so create an action plan and follow it. Don’t spend an hour a day working on your job search – spend several. Look at the search as a full-time position. Businesses wouldn’t succeed if they operated only a couple of hours a day, and neither can you.

You should also focus on being more involved. The more people you know, the better your chances of hearing about a new position or being recommended for a job. Try to attend professional networking events, chamber of commerce gatherings, or other social outings. Don’t be shy about telling people you are on the job hunt, and remember, the majority of positions out there are never advertised, so keep your ears open when attending events.

Take this down time to spruce up your resume, research new trends, proofread applications, and freshen up your personal references. Also, keep a copy of your resume with you in case you run into a potential employer.

New Year, New Career Goals
Do a self-assessment and be honest. Look at both your soft and hard skills to see if you lack training or education for your desired career path. Ask supervisors or colleagues what you can do to improve, and make a plan to put those improvements in place. Besides becoming more efficient, you’ll have the added bonus of showing initiative and ambition.

Consider improving your professional presence in 2016. This year, work on your personal image and brand. Have the ability to communicate confidently, dress appropriately, and act executively. An old saying, “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have,” is a famous saying for a reason.

New Year, New Degree
Is this the year you should go back to school? Many universities, community colleges, and technical schools offer short courses ranging from public speaking to new technology. Even a creative writing class can help improve communication skills, so make a goal to invest in your career by boosting your skills. Online courses also help those juggling work, family, and education, so be sure to explore your back-to-school options.

If you’re a full-time student, treat it like a full-time job. Like job seeking, getting an education or training should be considered your top priority. Make a goal this year to study just a few minutes longer, take another course, or improve your grades.

Consider internships. While some internships are unpaid, the payoff can be additional training, connections in the industry, a nice addition to your resume, and a possible job offer. Talk to your school’s career center about available internships and be aggressive about pursuing those.

Do you have your career goals for 2016 planned out? If so, share your top three goals with us in the comments section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Workplace Relationships

Building Important Relationships Through Mentorship

By Job Journey on Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Mentorships have been around for centuries as a way to build personal development and growth. According to Mentoring.org, mentoring “guarantees young people that there is someone who cares about them, assures them they are not alone in dealing with day-to-day challenges, and makes them feel like they matter.”

In fact, research confirms that quality mentoring relationships can help young people in various areas of life, including personal, academic, and professional.

Key Factors for Positive Mentorships
Since mentoring relationships are so beneficial, it’s important to understand what goes into a successful mentorship. According to research, most of the mentors in failed mentoring relationships hold a belief that they should reform, or fix, their mentee. Alternatively, almost all of the mentors in successful relationships believe their role is to support the mentee, or help them develop and grow.

The Hamilton Fish Institute, a research organization for safer schools, revealed 10 important features of successful mentors, including:

Be a friend.
Have realistic goals and expectations.
Give the mentee a voice and choice in decisions.
Be positive.
Let the mentee have control over what you talk about.

In order to better prepare yourself for a mentoring relationship, whether you’re the mentor or mentee, let’s dig a little deeper into three of those features.

Be a friend.
Mentors can be anyone of any age, gender, ethnicity, education or professional level, or background. For example, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America helps volunteers connect with youth in need of guidance and support. The key to being a great Big Brother or Big Sister is being a friend first. Leadership, guidance, advice, and trust come much easier when a friendship is already established.

If you are looking for a mentor or already have one, it may be difficult to build trust initially. But, if your mentor’s intentions truly are to help you grow and develop, trusting their advice and action plans can help you get where you want to be in your life, education, or career. And remember – it’s important to look at your mentors as friends, but it’s equally important to respect them as authority figures.

Have realistic goals and expectations.
As with all new ventures and relationships, it’s important to set realistic expectations. If you go into a mentorship with the goal of changing your mentee, but your mentee’s goal is to stay on the same path they’re already on, there are going to be disagreements and frustrations. Mentors should focus on establishing a positive relationship built on trust and friendship first. From there, the mentee and mentor can set expectations together.

Mentees should also approach the relationship with realistic expectations. If your mentor is a business leader, it may not be realistic to expect you’ll land a job with their company because of your connection. Instead of facing possible disappointment in the future, discuss your expectations up front. That way, you’ll be on the same page and you can set goals that will help you develop and grow.

Be Positive
Compliments and positive attitudes can go a long way. As a mentor, it’s important to offer praise and encouragement to help build your mentee’s self-esteem. Instead of criticizing mistakes, try to be supportive and ask how you can help the situation. According to the Hamilton Fish Institute, “One of the most important things you can do as a mentor is to help your mentee develop self-esteem and self-confidence.”

Likewise, being positive applies to the mentee as well. If you have a mentor, always be courteous and appreciative of their time and advice. You may not always agree with their suggestions, but it’s important to remain positive when you explain your opinion. When both people in a mentorship are positive and respectful, much more can be accomplished.

How do you build successful mentorships? Do you have a mentor? Are you a mentor? Share your story in the comments section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

The Job Search

7 Ways to Set Goals for Your Job Search

By Job Journey on Friday, December 11, 2015

As the year comes to a close and New Year’s Day approaches, resolutions and goal-setting start to become a priority. For those searching for a job, goal-setting can be an empowering and valuable tool in finding a new career. After all, numerous studies prove that setting achievable and measurable goals leads to success.

Setting distinct goals allows you to identify what you want, how you can accomplish what you want, and what it takes to get there. Incorporating goal-setting into your job search process has a lot of benefits, so check out these tips below:

Be clear on what kind of job you want.

If you can describe the specific kind of job you want, then you know exactly what kind of job openings to pursue. If you apply for every job you see, you may get bogged down and frustrated. By creating a list of target companies and positions, you save time by not applying for the jobs that aren’t the right for you.

Make a list of long term goals, short term goals, and immediate goals.

Take time to consider what you want in the next five to 10 years. After that, set up goals for the next month that will help you reach your long term goals. Lastly, figure out what you need now to reach your monthly goals and how you can meet those needs. Think of it as a business plan for your career.

Customize resumes and cover letters.

Set a goal to target your resume and cover letter in a way that shows off your relevant skills, but also targets each specific job for which you’re applying. Learn to identify key words in job postings and include those words to help you stand out to recruiters.

Use your goals to schedule your daily activities.

Having a plan for each day as a job seeker helps you stay on track and feel productive. For instance, you may schedule online job searching on Monday, applications on Tuesday, interview practice and networking on Wednesday, etc. Having a plan in place helps keep you focused on your goals.

Each week, create at least three goals for your job search.

Focus on actions that help you with your job search. Some activities could include attending at least one networking event, reaching out to a recruiter on LinkedIn, or applying for two positions a day in the field you want.

Keep your mind busy.

Your goals could also include ways to better educate yourself on job searching or the job you want. Read articles or updates, find new information about the positions you want, read job interview tips, and keep your mind busy on the business of finding a career.

Use technology to help your goal setting.

Today’s world offers software and apps to help you with goal setting and tracking your success. If you need a little guidance on setting up goals and tracking them, consider apps like Smart Goals, Any.Do, or Evernote. These apps help you identify what you want to accomplish and help you get there.

When it comes to your career and job search, goal setting will allow you to stay focused on what comes next. Defining your career goals will help you take powerful steps toward creating a satisfying and rewarding work life.

Do you set goals? Share your goal-setting process with us in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

The Job Search

Break Free From Your Job Search

By Job Journey on Wednesday, July 1, 2015

As our Canadian friends celebrate Canada Day, Independence Day is just around the corner in the U.S. While both of these holidays are a great time to get together with family and friends, enjoy a picnic, watch a firework show, and celebrate freedom, it’s also an opportunity to declare independence from your job search. If you’ve been looking for work for an extended period of time, you are probably well aware of the struggles a difficult job search can bring. In honor of the July 4^th holiday, we want to share some tips that may help you break free from your search and land a job.

Re-evaluate and consider your goals.
When it comes to your job search, there may be a specific job or company you have in mind. While it’s beneficial to have an idea of where you’d like to work or what you’d like to do, it’s possible that too much focus on a specific position may cause you to have tunnel vision. If you’ve submitted resumes and applications for the same type of job over and over, but haven’t landed an interview yet, take some time to step back and evaluate whether or not you’re on the right path. It’s possible that you don’t possess the skills or experience needed for a certain job, and you’re only wasting time pursuing it.

If that’s the case, assess what education or experience you may need to meet the position’s requirements and consider receiving the appropriate training before you apply for similar jobs.

Network both online and offline.
LinkedIn is a great way to make connections with people in the industry or company where you want to work. Making sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date with all of your skills, experience, and educational information to help you stand out to potential employers who find you online. Likewise, your other social media accounts may be visible to recruiters and interviewers as well, so make sure you keep your Facebook, Twitter, and other accounts professional at all times. You never know who is looking at them!

In addition to online networking through social media, it’s just as important to network offline. Consider going to industry events, joining a professional organization, attending local functions, or volunteering in your community. These gatherings give you the opportunity to meet new people face-to-face and network on a personal level. Often, employers don’t post their jobs online. They rely instead on employees or personal networking, so you don’t want to miss out on this unspoken opportunity.

Show excitement during your interview.
If you are asked to visit a company for an interview, there’s no doubt you’ll be excited. But, a recent survey from OI Global Partners reveals that 56% of interviewers think their interviewees don’t show enough excitement or interest during the conversation. While it’s natural to feel nervous during an interview, it’s important that you don’t let those nerves get the best of you. Make sure you show your interest in the job by researching the company before the interview.

When you research, look for something about the company that stands out or relates to you so you can share a personal story about it with your interviewer. This shows that you put effort into learning more about the job and that you’re excited about its purpose. And of course, go to your interview. A recent survey from Express Employment Professionals revealed that an alarming number of job candidates don’t even show up to their interviews. Remember, you can’t get the job if you don’t make the effort. If you’re going to be late, call ahead and let the interviewer know that you’re running behind, but don’t avoid going just because you’re late.

Consider short-term employment.
Even if your end goal is to find a long-term position at a company, you shouldn’t turn down any temporary roles that come your way in the meantime. There are a number of benefits to taking on temporary work while you’re looking for your dream job, including the ability to test out industries you haven’t worked in before. You may be able to find a job in an environment you’re interested in, but don’t have the experience necessary to land permanent work yet. Additionally, many temporary jobs can turn into permanent ones if they’re the right fit for you. If you decide to pursue temporary work during your job search, remember to showcase your work ethic, skills, and dedication every day. You don’t always know when the employer is looking to hire someone full time!

How did you break free from your job search and land the job? Share your stories in the comments section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.