Boss:"We need to talk.... it's not good news...... I am sorry to say this, BUT (the infamous BUT) it's not you it's the economy, we will do everything we can to make it easy..........."
Employee: - "??????????"
A conversation similar to the above can trigger what is known as the Kubler Ross personal model of change; firstly we can experience denial, then anger, followed by bargaining and depression, eventually a form of acceptance. It is fair to say some people experience all elements for longer periods than others, whilst it is possible to move quickly through to acceptance and then move on, however varying all the time depending on the individual.
When presented with such personal change, hearing the news that our job is gone, we are no longer required, and we are being paid to the end of the month, we start to ask a lot of questions, such as;
Why me? (Johnny Logan syndrome)
What am I going to do now? ("silly Mc Donalds ads")
How do I tell my family and friends? ("they do'nt talk to me anyway")
How can I survive without a salary? ("silly Mc Donalds ads")
We can spend a lot of time engineering very creative answers to the above questions and potentially keeping ourselves in the lower end of the Kubler Ross change model.However, what about if we were to add some new questions?
What do I want to do now? - "not sure"
What are my goals? - "maybe get out of bed early every morning"
What would EXCITE me? - "get revenge on the boss"
How? - "Hmm that's a good question"
The neurological response to something like "hmm that's a good question" is believe it or not thinking.....Instead of revenge, what about if we thought about all those things that excite us and how we may be able to apply our skills and knowledge to that end.
To help with the "What would excite me?" question here are a couple of suggestions;
Dublin City Enterprise Board are running a coffee morning for those considering starting a new business - check out http://www.dceb.ie/news/do-you-know-someone-made-recently-unemployed-and-thinking-of-starting-a-business
I met Brian from the Digital Hub today, he mentioned they are working with Enterprise Ireland to provide support and office space for ITC/Digital Media start up's in the Digital Hub, keep an eye on their website for details (I will post information as and when I receive it) http://www.thedigitalhub.com/
Coming up with ideas can be difficult, we sometimes need to learn how to play all over again. There is an event taking place in http://d-lightstudios.com/ on Tuesday 6th of May at 6.30pm, it is called Playgroup - A Creative Get Together. I think this is a really unique idea and well worth a visit.DCEB have some more details http://www.dceb.ie/news/playgroup-~-creative-get-together
I am no exercise guru, however I do believe getting out in the fresh air can have such an impact on our state of mind and overall performance. I have mentioned this group before, I will personally check it out tomorrow and report back http://everydayisasaturday.info/
Some of you may have heard of Robin Sharma, he has written amongst other books, "The monk who sold his Ferrari" and "The Greatness Guide". He will be in Dublin next week, Thursday 7th May, check out http://www.celticguru.com/ . A tad pricey if you are on a budget, however he certainly is inspirational (personal opinion having followed successnation.com and read The Greatness Guide).
Just remember -
"Minds are like parachutes – they only function when they open."
– Lord Tomas Dewas
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Learning Slot
Each week at the network meeting, we have a 10 minute 'learning slot' which is designed to encourage ideas and creativity, new ways of thinking and working - in short, an opportunity for personal development and growth. During the first couple of meetings, I took the easy route for the learning slot by showing a couple of inspirational videos. I have posted them here for your interest and reference.
Ken Robinson at TED on Creativity
Richard St. John (self described average guy) on Success
Ken Robinson at TED on Creativity
Richard St. John (self described average guy) on Success
I've got "skills" .....they're multiplying!!!
When it comes to skills and competencies, the ultimate buzz word in today's job market is "transferable". A thorough understanding of your skills and strengths is essential; moreover, demonstrating how those skills and strengths can be applied in various situations is vital. Dr. Martin Seligman's website is the ideal tool to enable you to develop your insight, both concerning yourself and the world around you. More on this in later posts...
Visit www.authentichappiness.com
Visit www.authentichappiness.com
Monday, April 27, 2009
It's a walk in the park!!!
I came across this group a few days ago online. It's basically a walking group for those whose careers have been 'reduced'. They meet every day at 11 in the Phoenix Park so I am heading to meet them tomorrow come rain, hail or whatever. All possible in our lovely Irish climate. I'll keep you posted!
If you want to join them or are interested in finding out more about them, visit
http://everydayisasaturday.info/
If you want to join them or are interested in finding out more about them, visit
http://everydayisasaturday.info/
So when was the last time YOU updated your CV?
A recent article in the Irish Times by the recruitment firm Hudson highlighted that an estimated 92% of CVs received go straight in the bin. Their research showed that a high proportion of CVs are discarded after barely a glance due to poor grammar, spelling, punctuation and irrelevant content. Another interesting fact to emerge is that an emloyer spends on average only 30 seconds reading a CV!
Many people who find themselves in a situation where they need to seek employment struggle to combine all those years of experience, achievments and accolades into a concise and impactful representation of their skills and experience (aka THE CV!)
Each week at our meetings we take time to critique and proof-read all our member's CV's with the red pens and highlighter treatment, and we mean business! This is not for the faint hearted, but remember: this is the single most important document you can and will ever produce, and is so much more than simply the sum of its parts.
We aim to provide some tough love; honest, open and simple feedback. If you follow our advice, your CV has a better chance of being in the 8%.
You may have heard about the greatest job in the world recently, ie the Island Caretaker Job. Essentially, the job advertised by Tourism Queensland sought the right person to look after a paradise island near the Great Barrier Reef. If you would like a creative and innovative approach to writing and designing your CV, take a look at the link below which shows the final 16 applicants from over 34,000 people who originally applied for the job. Each applicant had to produce a 60second video, take a look at the final 16.
http://www.islandreefjob.com/#/finalists
After viewing these, you may wonder what all the fuss is about trying to get your work experience onto two pages. Your job is to excite your reader and capture their interest: give them something to think about!!
Many people who find themselves in a situation where they need to seek employment struggle to combine all those years of experience, achievments and accolades into a concise and impactful representation of their skills and experience (aka THE CV!)
Each week at our meetings we take time to critique and proof-read all our member's CV's with the red pens and highlighter treatment, and we mean business! This is not for the faint hearted, but remember: this is the single most important document you can and will ever produce, and is so much more than simply the sum of its parts.
We aim to provide some tough love; honest, open and simple feedback. If you follow our advice, your CV has a better chance of being in the 8%.
You may have heard about the greatest job in the world recently, ie the Island Caretaker Job. Essentially, the job advertised by Tourism Queensland sought the right person to look after a paradise island near the Great Barrier Reef. If you would like a creative and innovative approach to writing and designing your CV, take a look at the link below which shows the final 16 applicants from over 34,000 people who originally applied for the job. Each applicant had to produce a 60second video, take a look at the final 16.
http://www.islandreefjob.com/#/finalists
After viewing these, you may wonder what all the fuss is about trying to get your work experience onto two pages. Your job is to excite your reader and capture their interest: give them something to think about!!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
"Handle with Care"
In his book, "The Element", Ken Robinson talks about the power of creativity. According to Robinson, creativity, in a nutshell, is about tapping into one's own individual strengths and passions, in order to successfully turn ideas into action. (my summary, not his!).
When a person loses their job in a difficult economic climate, (such as we have right now), it is crucial to think differently and to become more imaginative in order to generate innovative and creative ideas, which can make the most of the opportunity that has been presented to them. I use the word opportunity lightly for now as it can take some time to realise that great opportunity can arise out of redundancy and unemployment for those who are willing to take a risk and think outside the box. We all have our own Unique Selling Point after all so it's more important than ever to identify it and package it properly.
In "The Element", Ken tells the story of Beatle George Harrison whose solo album in 1988 featured a song called "This is love". At that time, all singles released from an album would typically feature an original 'b' side song. Harrison didn't have another song written which he could put on the 'b' side. However, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne happened to be hanging out in his LA home at the time, so these five rock legends got together in a casual setting with no major recording studio and produced a song for Harrison. This song was titled "Handle with Care" which became one of Harrison's most memorable songs. When his agent heard it, he wanted an album. What happened next is history. Five guys, with limited time and resources, with only their natural talents and abilities, got together and produced an album and this makeshift band became known as the " Travelling Wilburys". Their album became one of the top 100 best-selling albums of all time.
I suppose you might at this point ask what has this got to do with losing your job? Well, what this story proves, is that firstly, with a real understanding of our talents, we can create great things individually, but secondly and more importantly, when we combine our talents and skills with others we can create amazing things!
When a person loses their job in a difficult economic climate, (such as we have right now), it is crucial to think differently and to become more imaginative in order to generate innovative and creative ideas, which can make the most of the opportunity that has been presented to them. I use the word opportunity lightly for now as it can take some time to realise that great opportunity can arise out of redundancy and unemployment for those who are willing to take a risk and think outside the box. We all have our own Unique Selling Point after all so it's more important than ever to identify it and package it properly.
In "The Element", Ken tells the story of Beatle George Harrison whose solo album in 1988 featured a song called "This is love". At that time, all singles released from an album would typically feature an original 'b' side song. Harrison didn't have another song written which he could put on the 'b' side. However, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne happened to be hanging out in his LA home at the time, so these five rock legends got together in a casual setting with no major recording studio and produced a song for Harrison. This song was titled "Handle with Care" which became one of Harrison's most memorable songs. When his agent heard it, he wanted an album. What happened next is history. Five guys, with limited time and resources, with only their natural talents and abilities, got together and produced an album and this makeshift band became known as the " Travelling Wilburys". Their album became one of the top 100 best-selling albums of all time.
I suppose you might at this point ask what has this got to do with losing your job? Well, what this story proves, is that firstly, with a real understanding of our talents, we can create great things individually, but secondly and more importantly, when we combine our talents and skills with others we can create amazing things!
So what happens at a job network
When I first envisaged the Executive Job Club, the main focus was to provide a support network for those recently made redundant and the long term unemployed. Job club is not a new idea, nor is it mine: Nathan Azrin started the concept with a number of friends in a coffee shop in the US many years ago.
I believe that problems can never be solved at the level at which they are created. With this in mind, at each meeting we set out a desired outcome from the meeting both for the group as well as for each individual. This helps us to remain focussed and to make the most of the time we have together.
When redundancy or unemployment knocks on our door, we sometimes don't know what to do next. If you find yourself in that situation, then the best thing to do is to get together with others in a similar experience. We can help one another by providing access to valuable resources, leads, contacts and ideas. Another great source of information is your local Citizens Information Centre.
David Jones , who joined us at our first meeting, has written a book called "Oh no I've lost my job what do I do now". This is a useful resource for anyone experiencing unemployment. We have also spent time reviewing each other's CV's, discussed the best recruitment agencies, interview preparation and techniques and most importantly, we share the understanding that we are not alone in this, that it's not our fault. We recognise that we all have valuable skills and talents to offer future employers and encourage one another.
We have had some great guest speakers visit us. To date, Yvonne Farrell from Peak Achievement provided excellent interview technique advice, Maria Lynch from Motivated Joyful Living got us all ship-shape with her image consulting and life-coaching expertise, and Stuart Mc Laughlin from Business to Arts inspired us with his creative approach to life and business.
If you are wondering how it works, what goes on, or whether this is for you, please come along and see for yourself, the only cost is tea or coffee. Keep an eye on the up & coming events section for the next meeting time and venue.
I believe that problems can never be solved at the level at which they are created. With this in mind, at each meeting we set out a desired outcome from the meeting both for the group as well as for each individual. This helps us to remain focussed and to make the most of the time we have together.
When redundancy or unemployment knocks on our door, we sometimes don't know what to do next. If you find yourself in that situation, then the best thing to do is to get together with others in a similar experience. We can help one another by providing access to valuable resources, leads, contacts and ideas. Another great source of information is your local Citizens Information Centre.
David Jones , who joined us at our first meeting, has written a book called "Oh no I've lost my job what do I do now". This is a useful resource for anyone experiencing unemployment. We have also spent time reviewing each other's CV's, discussed the best recruitment agencies, interview preparation and techniques and most importantly, we share the understanding that we are not alone in this, that it's not our fault. We recognise that we all have valuable skills and talents to offer future employers and encourage one another.
We have had some great guest speakers visit us. To date, Yvonne Farrell from Peak Achievement provided excellent interview technique advice, Maria Lynch from Motivated Joyful Living got us all ship-shape with her image consulting and life-coaching expertise, and Stuart Mc Laughlin from Business to Arts inspired us with his creative approach to life and business.
If you are wondering how it works, what goes on, or whether this is for you, please come along and see for yourself, the only cost is tea or coffee. Keep an eye on the up & coming events section for the next meeting time and venue.
Friday, April 24, 2009
What is a job network?
Following the lead of Job Clubs in New York and England, the Dublin Job Club is now up and running every Friday in Dublin City Centre.
As the first network in Dublin focusing on all types of job seekers from executives, managers and professionals, this club has much to offer its members:
- the members are highly skilled in their sector and share contacts to help fellow members trying to reach specific recruiters, break into a new sectors or start new enterprises.
- Job leads will be shared at each meeting, helping disseminate placements across the group and increasing the number of opportunities each member is exposed to.
- the facilitators of the club, coordinate the networking and provide career counselling, advice and guest speakers to each member.
- The club will also provide all job seekers with something that can be difficult to access otherwise - moral support from others in a similar position. This type of social back up can be crucial when a redundancy has left the job seeker in shock or lacking confidence to take a step in a different direction.
- This type of network can also benefit those who are still in employment but have been scared off changing jobs because of the current eceonomic climate.
- Contact Aaron for further details - downesad@gmail.com
As the first network in Dublin focusing on all types of job seekers from executives, managers and professionals, this club has much to offer its members:
- the members are highly skilled in their sector and share contacts to help fellow members trying to reach specific recruiters, break into a new sectors or start new enterprises.
- Job leads will be shared at each meeting, helping disseminate placements across the group and increasing the number of opportunities each member is exposed to.
- the facilitators of the club, coordinate the networking and provide career counselling, advice and guest speakers to each member.
- The club will also provide all job seekers with something that can be difficult to access otherwise - moral support from others in a similar position. This type of social back up can be crucial when a redundancy has left the job seeker in shock or lacking confidence to take a step in a different direction.
- This type of network can also benefit those who are still in employment but have been scared off changing jobs because of the current eceonomic climate.
- Contact Aaron for further details - downesad@gmail.com
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