Job hunting Dont get your hopes up; it could make your search longer

Job hunting Dont get your hopes up it could make your search longerJob hunting Dont get your hopes up it could make your search longerThe long-term unemployed are overly-optimistic in their outlook that theyll find a job soon, according to a November study from theNational Bureau of Economic Research called Job Seekers Perceptions and Employment Prospects.Whats more, even when they dont find work and remain unemployed, those sunny outlooks do not adjust - which can keep job-seekers out of work longer.Individuals who overestimate their employment prospects will be overly selective and inefficiently prolong their unemployment spells, the study reads.While no one likes to hear that you should take the first decent job you can get to exit unemployment as fast as possible, perhaps thats one lesson to be taken from this study.The long-term unemployed generally have a too-rosy view of a job when they are finally hired, it was discovered.For example, using a survey of unemployed workers in New Jersey, which surveyed a large sample of people receiving unemployment benefits in 2009-10, researchers found that out-of-work people reported a 26% probability that theyd find a job by the next month.The actual probability of them finding a job in a month was 10%.In fact, in the New Jersey group, people generally got 2% more optimistic theyd find a job with each month they were unemployed.Perhaps it can be chalked up to a coping mechanism to combat job-search depression.

Understanding Goals and Objectives in Business

Understanding Goals and Objectives in BusinessUnderstanding Goals and Objectives in BusinessAsk a group of business professionals to describe the difference between goals and objectives and you are likely to walk away no smarter than when you asked the question. These two popular and important terms are perhaps the two most misused and confused terms in all of the business. And theres no wonder, the distinctions between the two are subtle. Goals and Objectives A goal is a broad, over-arching destination. We want to achieve 50% market share in two years, or, I want to compete in and complete a triathlon within 18 months.It does notlage define how you will achieve this market share it does not describe a strategy to get there or offer the specific tasks necessary to achieve the strategy. It simply is out there as a destination or target. An objective is a specific, measurable activity you will take to work towards a broader goal. For example As part of our goal to achieve 50% marke t share in two years, we will introduce a new product in each market segment every six months. Or, To achieve my goal of completing a triathlon, I will engage a running coach to help me improve my cardio conditioning, pacing, and running technique. In both cases, the objectives are capable of being broken down at a more detailed and measurable level called tactics. However, theres a missing link between goals and objectives strategy. Where Does Strategy Fit with Goals and Objectives The strategy connects objectives with goals. Business leaders and managers strive to create strategies and supporting actions that help them move towards an overarching company goal. In our example above, in order to achieve the goal of 50% market share in two years, the firm must adopt a strategy and then define the specific sets of actions necessary to realize the strategy which will propel them to the goal. This high-level strategy anschauung identifiesthe approach the firm will take in growing ma rket share. It frames the major actions but stops short of describing specifically how those actions will be implemented. As mentioned above, the objectives will focus on particulars, including bringing a new product to market in each market segment every nine months. The objective can further be broken down into a series of tactics, including researching customer needs hiring additional engineers and product managers and adding production capacity to support manufacturing the new offerings. Making Goals and Objectives Personal In many organizations, the performance appraisal and planning process involves identifying goals and objectives for an upcoming period. Individuals struggle with the differences between the two just as their senior managers often conflate the terms and concepts. A helpful approach is to break down the goals and objectives using the following template Define one to three statements that describe a destination for your professional development in the upcomi ng year. These are your goals.Support each goal statement with a description of the high-level approach you will take to get there. For example Goal? My goal for this upcoming period is to strengthen my effectiveness as a manager by delivering improved and more frequent feedback. To measure the change in my performance, we will rely on my teams assessment via a 360-degree survey compared to this years results, as well as my groups measure of engagement and their overall achievement of corporate goals.Objective ?To achieve my goal of strengthening my effectiveness as a manager during the upcoming period, I will seek and complete training within three months on delivering constructive and positive feedback and maintain and review a daily log of all of my feedback exchanges and the outcomes. The goal is clear and in this instance the path to improving the goal via the objective is clear. Both the employee and manager understand what the employee is striving for, how progression will b e measured and how the goal will be reached. The Bottom Line Focus on the goal as the destination and the objective as the action(s) needed to get to the destination. Resist the temptation to use these terms interchangeably, and importantly, teach your team members how to define clear goals and objectives.

Do You Need Job Retraining

Do You Need Job RetrainingDo You Need Job RetrainingConsidering going back for more education? Make sure the scope of the program is right for your goals.Unemployment figures may mask opportunities Even if employers are laying off employees at a furious rate, those same companies are seeking to hire in other areas of the company.They often have to look outside the company, not transfer employees internally, because current workers lack the skills required for those jobs. For example, although the Boeing Co. plans to layoff about 10,000 employees this year, it also has 1,500 open positions.Some fields like bio technology, alternative energy, health care and education are expected to experience explosive job growth in the coming years. This expansion will create a need for chemists, engineers, programmers, nurses and those who manage teams of these professionals.In light of that, does it make sense to go back to school to acquire the skills needed to fill the types of jobs that are in demand?Going back to school full- time to change careers or to take your current career to the next level is a major decision involving a significant commitment of time and money.ExampleJohn Mone, a management consultant in Randolph, N.J., held a senior operations position for a large trading company when he decided to pursue an executive MBA at Wharton. For him, this turned out to be a good decision, leading him into a successful career as a management consultant.However, returning to school full time is not for everyone. Mone suggests that you should have a specific purpose and destination in mind before making what can be a substantial investment in time and money pursuing additional study. If you have a passion for what you want to study, returning to school may be exactly what you need to take your career in the right direction. That passion will enable you to find a way to use what you learn to build a career in your field of interest.Dr. Karen Boroff, dean of the Seton Hall S tillman School of Business in South Orange, N.J, points out that, depending on your employment situation there are many different educational options available.parte time. If an individual is employed, taking courses on a part time or ad-hoc basis may be a good option.Continuing education. Enrolling in courses offered through a continuing- education or certificate program is an excellent way to develop or enhance specific skills that will keep you marketable.Full time. If an individual is unemployed, studying on a full-time basis becomes a more attractive option.According to Dr. Boroff When an individual is pursuing an advanced degree in order to transition back into the work force, a part-time graduate program is an option worth considering because it allows the student to network with working professionals.A competitive edgeSuccess in todays rapidly changing world requires continuous learning. If you do not stay current with what is happening in your field, sooner or later, you a re likely to find yourself unemployed and unmarketable.Everyone can benefit from updating their skills, and learning new ones, by taking courses at a local college or online, or by attending seminars. Understanding the latest technology and its potential uses in your job will help you stand out from a crowded field of candidates. Most potential employers will view your efforts to stay abreast of developments in your field as a major plus when they are making hiring decisions.You need to be strategic in pursuing job retraining and educational opportunities. If you go back to school simply because you dont know what else to do, you are likely to be disappointed in the results. Caroline Ceniza-Levine of Little Silver, co-founder of the SixFigureStart, a career -coaching firm, summed it up well when she stated Many students mistakenly use a return to graduate school as a way to escape a bad job market, not realizing that they will likely graduate into just as weak a market, and this ti me with a big debt load.