July 2010

Hi all

It's July and I'm happy - listening to some great music (Frank Turner), the sun is shining, just back from the gym and working on some interesting topics. I'm not always as happy as this and in the past I've had serious bouts of depression, but thankfully not for a long time. 

Depression is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign that you have been trying to be strong for too long. It's mental health week and 1 in 3 of us will suffer, at some point in our lives.

I'm always conscious of times I may slip so I look after myself, have people who love me and have learnt ways of coping with the things that can pull me down, which included having in-depth counselling to address things in my past.

We never know what the future may bring, however healthy we are things can strike us down, so I try and strike a balance between sensible plans for the future and living for the moment. I enjoyed the film The Bucket List recently which has Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman write a joint 'bucket list', what they want to experience before they kick the bucket and then go about doing the things on their list. 

I personally think that a list is not just about travelling to places and e.g. going sky diving but also thinking about what you can do for others, the memories you leave behind. not just big things, but the smaller things too. It's those things we remember when someone is gone.

I'm now a director of ZoomInterviews and will be telling you more details as the company develops it's UK presence. In the meantime I'm looking for some help from ex military people (UK based) so if you fit the bill, or know someone who does can you contact me.

In this months issue:

• Article 1: Dealing with confrontation in the workplace
• Article 2: Get a cybersafe CV
• Books by Denise
• Using LinkedIn for career development and job search
• In the media in June
• Twitter
• What Denise did last month
• In the Blog

This newsletter is being sent to 2277 subscribers. Thank you for reading. Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you would like to discuss working with me or if you have any suggestions for my newsletter.

I look forward to talking to you again next time.

Kindest regards,

Group Job Search Programmes

I know a lot of people are out of work and finding it hard to find a job. I've been looking for cost effective ways to help people, hence writing my 1st book - How to get a job in a recession.  I've mooted running group sessions before, but there was little interest so maybe the time wasn't right, but I'd be happy to run group sessions, just need you to let me know if it is of interest. So if you would like to know more do tell me.

Article1: Dealing with confrontation in the workplace

Conflict is a natural part of the workplace. Confrontation may be seen as negative but it can be a catalyst for change, if handled well, leading to better decisions and improved relationships.

There are 5 different ways for handling conflict in the workplace and these are based on assertiveness and cooperativeness.  No one approach is right in every situation but understanding different options can make you more flexible and better able to deal with different situations.

Competing is when our goal is to win, using what ever it takes to get the better of the other person. You tell the other person what to do and expect it to be done.

Collaborating is when you seek a win/win working with the other person.

Compromising finds something you can both live with, allows you to get past the conflict and move on.

Avoiding is useful when you are feeling angry or upset and gives you time to calm yourself, can also be useful to gather more information. Also useful when it is just not worth the effort.

Accommodating allows the other person to get what they want and leads to harmony, but is this at personal cost to you?  It usually worsens the situation as they expect even more from you next time. 

In any conflict situation think of at least 3 things you could do and write 3 pros and 3 cons for each, helps you to think of specific activity for a specific situation.  The following scenarios may help

Your colleague is lazy and you always end up having to do not only your own workload but the other persons too, you don't want to go and tell your boss about it but no one else seems to be noticing. 

• Why are you doing this, if you carry on like this he or she will let you.  Maybe in the past you have wanted to be seen as helpful – you must learn to say no and to put yourself first. What sort of things are they not doing? 

• Do they work at a different pace to you? Could be they have a more relaxed attitude to tasks and would do the work eventually and you are taking away their chance to do it?

• If it really is joint work then you can try this sort of approach “Shall we plan what we are going to do this week – why don't I sort out this task and you work on that one, or the other way around? And then you could list the weeks tasks on a whiteboard with your names against it

• Or you could say – “I currently feel that I am doing far more work than you, and its making me feel resentful.  Can we discuss how we apportion our work?”

Whenever things go wrong at work a certain colleague always says you're to blame even though it's barely got anything to do with you, how can you stand up for yourself without coming across as aggressive?  

• You might be being treated as a scapegoat. People often look for someone to bully, if you are less assertive that person could be you. So don't let them get away with it anymore.

• You need to challenge them and this is likely to be hard for you, but once you have done it once, each time it will get easier.  Say something like “I don't agree that it’s my fault, what makes you say that?”

• Then be helpful – “it isn’t my fault but if there’s a problem shall we work together to solve it?”

You're on a social event and everyone's had a few too many drinks, you and a colleague who don't particularly get along end up telling each other what you think of each other, how do you handle it when you're back in the office?  

• Remember we often dislike things about others that are personal traits in ourselves

• I think I'd take this quite light heartedly “Gosh, we do talk without thinking after we have had a few drinks don't we, I do respect the work you do and want us to have a good working relationship, deal?”

• If you don't respect their work say about how you both said more than you should, but we have to work together so let’s be professional.

You get the feeling that a colleague is saying negative things about you to other people at work about you. What should you do about it?

• I wouldn’t act on a feeling; you want to have something specific you could challenge. You also want to understand why s/he is saying this – could be jealously?

• If you have something specific you can challenge, but can you handle this? Sometimes it is better to let it go

• If it is affecting you badly, you must challenge, and you could do so with a witness, possibly you union rep

• This could be work place bullying

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Know someone who needs a job? Books written by Denise Taylor



Subscriber offer

Buy 'How to get a job in a recession' and get all the forms included in the book as a downloadable PDF for free, Worth £6. You just need to forward me your Amazon receipt. The workbook means you don’t need to write in your book, and you can print out as many copies of each form as you need.



 

Now you’ve been short listed – My 3rd book

This is doing really well and has reached the no 1 position under interviews

Could you help Denise?

If you have read any of my books I'd appreciate you taking the time to write a review on Amazon. A short one is fine, people make decisions based on the reviews that have been posted so I'd like to increase the number that I have. Thanks in advance.

 

Article 2: Get a cyber safe CV

On line methods to find a job, and posting our CV and personal information on job sites is now common.  I've previously written, in my 'how to get a job in a recession book'  about the need for an online CV where you don't put all your personal details to keep yourself safe.  We all need to be wary of identity theft.

Amongst the many job adverts online are those which have no job and are purely there to capture your details. I've spoken previously about how some employment agencies will advertise jobs that don't exist so they can add your CV to their database, but there are worse things that can happen.

Websites can be set up with fake jobs.  You apply to an 'agency' and they say that they want you to have your CV revised before they will put you forward. You agree as they tell you how much you meet the criteria for the job (so if your CV is great, why do you need the rewrite?) and give them your credit card details which could be misused.

It may all seem so legitimate - just like the scammers who rip off music fans with their fake sites to 'sell tickets' which are almost identical to reputable ones you may find that companies such as Toyota have been ripped off and a scam version of their recruitment section created. Again you may find yourself asked for money, but is it likely that a legit company would ask for this.

You may find yourself paying £50 or more that you can ill afford.  Worse is how your CV containing so many personal details can be used to get credit cards and loans in your name.

You may also be thinking of paying up for a training course, some of these will lead on to worthwhile qualifications but beware, as many companies will suggest that you will be guaranteed work at the end of the course, but this may again be a way to deprive you of money.

It's always worth checking online such as a search via Google, you are unlikely to be the first and if someone has been ripped off so there are probably posts about it.

Of course you are going to need to post your CV online, to stay safe you need to follow

Why not consider having a cyber-safe CV?

• Remove your standard contact details and replace them with a web based email address such as hotmail, yahoo, or Gmail.

• Change your current company name to a more generic company description.

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Using LinkedIn for career development and job search

I've been recommending LinkedIn to clients for months, but most don't want to take the plunge, or do it half heartedly.  So I've put together a comprehensive 24 page workbook to explain firstly why you should be on LinkedIn and also a straightforward guide on how to create an effective LinkedIn profile that will be of real benefit to you in your job search.

The audio version is now available

'Denise has made this guide very accessible and seems to have pinpointed all of the key areas. My LinkedIn profile has certainly been boosted by following her steps' Charles, Gloucester

Too many people have a partly completed profile without even a photo.  It gives a very poor impression and no wonder people think LinkedIn isn't worth pursuing.  You wouldn't send a half finished CV when you apply for a job, so make sure you get an 'almost completed profile' before you start approaching people.  To get 100% complete you need to also have at least 3 recommendations, everything else should be done first.

'As with all social networking sites, the key to getting the best from LinkedIn is to use it smartly. Denise's practical guide takes you from basic user to savvy networker, combining technical tips with sound advice. Denise takes the view of the outside world and helps you to see things from an external perspective, enabling you to maximise the impact of your profile, activities and networking. A very effective navigation tool for today's career managers'. Sarah, London

I'm going to guide you through exactly what you need to do to make LinkedIn an effective part of your job search campaign.

'I've been on LinkedIn for 18 months and never really saw the benefit. Within an hour of reading Denise's clear, comprehensive guide to LinkedIn, I was beginning to use it as a powerful aid to help me get my dream job. Apart from revising my own page to make it more relevant and attractive, I was actively using LinkedIn to seek out those working in my field of interest and to ask and answer questions about my chosen career, and the steps I need to take to get me where I want to go. Denise's guide is simple, easy to understand, and straightforward. It may sound silly, but after reading it and following her suggestions, I felt that I was taking charge of marketing myself and working towards a better future'.  Neil B, Oxford

Read more >>

P.S. I'm happy to connect with you on LinkedIn, but please send a personalised message. I don't connect to people I don't know or who don't explain why they would like to connect with me.

Why I'm different

• I don't make you sign up for months of coaching, choose a programme or 1 or more sessions, whatever is right for you. You remain in control and only pay for what you need.

• I focus on your budget, and will never encourage you to spend more than you are comfortable with. I'll then develop a programme to meet your budget. If it is small then it will mean you do much more of the work yourself.

• Years of practical experience, I've worked with well over 1000 clients from a range of industries and at different levels from students to directors. Read on my website some of the comments from satisfied clients.

• Focused on results and effective processes alongside creative techniques

• An expert in all aspects of job search - I have years of experience in recruitment, assessment and in helping clients create effective CVs, wow companies at interview and support you in an effective job search campaign

• Extensive academic qualifications to back up my practical experience - 2:1 in psychology, MSc in occupational psychology, MBA, Diplomas in coaching and counselling.

• Winner of 2 national career awards - for The Gold Career Programme (2007) and The Job Search Support Programme (2009).

• Author of 3 career books - 'How To Get A Job In A Recession', 'Now You've Been Shortlisted', 'Winning Interview Answers' and 10 eBooks including 'Using Linked In To Find A New Job' and '10 Steps To A Job You Love'.

In the Media in June

• Shortlisted (mens magazine), quoted in the 8th July edition - Master every mınute of your meeting (page 47)
• I recorded an interview with Alvin Hall for a Radio 4 programme 'Generations of Money'. I'll be featured on Wednesday 11th August at 3pm

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Twitter

Here are a few of my interesting tweets - why not check them out? And why not 'follow me' on twitter or book mark this link so you can keep up to date with interesting short links

• http://punkrockhr.com/summer-interview/ for details on what to wear at interviews in hot weather
• Interview tips – my answer to a question on The Guardian Forum, http://bit.ly/cK0ofu
• So busy, shortlisting actors for phone interviews ready for interview coaching filming - it's a lot of work!
• Women's clothes are getting bigger! I'm a size 16, have size 18 trousers from 14 years ago, they measure smaller than my 16s, vanity sizing?
• I've now created the audio version to go with my eBook on using LinkedIn for job search. Read more at: http://lnkd.in/jxpfP6
• woop, woop. On the scales this morning and I've lost 70lb since October, that's 5 stone! 30lb to go, to the round 100
• Interesting video - http://lnkd.in/cYHRJG . It's a palindrome and won 2nd prize in a competition "u @ 50" Do watch.

http://twitter.com/amazingpeople

What Denise did last month

• Went to Sunrise and Rockness Festivals
• Became a grandmother to Evie, nearly 5 weeks old
• Created the audio version for my LinkedIn book
• Hosted a large party in our back garden
• Undertook 20 client sessions, individual one off sessions, career programmes and job search coaching
• Undertook some casting sessions for ZoomInterviews
• Queued from 6am to buy a new iPhone, contract was up, I was awake so why not?
• Wrote 19 entries on my blog
• Wrote lots of Tweets

In the Blog

http://www.amazingpeople.co.uk/blog/

You can subscribe to the feed using this link:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/AmazingPeopleBlog

Here's a selection from what was on the Blog in June

• What’s it like to take the Highlands Ability Battery?
• Interview tips – advice from the career coach
• How to nap (tell your boss it will help your productivity!)
• Career Coaching Client Feedback – from 3 clients
• Why using recruitment consultants can never be the main method of finding a new job?
• If you have to apply for your own job …