If you have done any of these things, include them on your resume and in your cover letter. If you have not, seriously consider accepting interim jobs. This is a great way to show some current experience on your resume even if the job is not directly related to the industry or profession you are targeting in your search.

Now more than at any time in history, very qualified individuals are out of work. The way you fill that time has tremendous impact on your ability to get back into the workforce.

LEO BURNETT COMPANY

At the Leo Burnett Company in Chicago, Illinois, every employee receives a gift on Anniversary Day.  Some of the gifts given were jams and jellies, a model train, statues and customized bottles of wine.  In addition, they gave one dollar for every year of the agency’s life.

NISSAN

At Nissan in Smyrna, Tennessee, any employee with 12 months of service qualifies to lease a Nissan car for $160 per month.  This also includes maintenance, tax, license and insurance.

WESTIN HOTEL

Every Westin Hotel has an Annual Banquet honoring employees with more than five years of service.

MARY KAY COSMETICS

Mary Kay Cosmetics employees receive 20 shares of stock on their 5th Anniversary, on their 10th they receive 80 shares and on their 15th they receive 120 shares.

WALT DISNEY COMPANY

The Walt Disney Company plans service recognition awards, peer recognition programs, attendance awards and milestone banquets for 10, 15 and 20 years of service.

HALLMARK

At Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri, employees can invite any and all of their friends throughout the company to share their 25th Anniversary Cake.  Typically, 200 to 1,000 people show up for each celebration.

PITNEY BOWES

Pitney Bowes, headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, has an Anniversary Vacation Policy that gives an employee with 25 years of service an extra month of vacation.  The same benefit is then offered to the employee every 5th year.

JCPENNEY

The JCPenney store in Laurel, Montana, had a 25th Anniversary Sale to honor Pat Mullaney, who had managed the store for 25 years.

RYDER SYSTEM

Ryder System’s 50th Anniversary Celebration was celebrated with a cake that was shaped like a truck and covered with yellow icing.

RAYCHEM CORPORATION

At Raychem Corporation in Menlo Park, California, celebrated their 25th Anniversary, it held a gigantic community party to which it invited all of its employees, their families and special guests.  The maker of high-tech industrial products held a daylong celebration at its 140-acre plant site.  Everyone was served a steak dinner.  There was continuous entertainment for seven hours, featuring headline acts and 15 carnival rides, including a ferris wheel and a merry-go-round.

These examples are of companies who have gone above and beyond to ensure that their employees remain loyal to them.  Of course there are other ways to recognize your employees.  One idea is to simply have a plaque engraved with your employee’s name on it when they reach 5, 10 or 15 years of employment with your company.  Everyone likes to be recognized and appreciated for the work they do.  Implement a program that is right for your Company Culture.

The Age of Information doesn’t care about our opinions, feelings or fears.  The world rewards only those of us who catch onto what’s happening and invests energy into seizing the opportunities that will be brought about by change.

In order to take care of your own career and those individuals who work for you company, you need to manage perpetual motion.  Your organization needs to reshape, shift and flex to fit the rapidly changing world.  These are the only ways to flourish in a fiercely competitive economy.

You can expect flexible ways of working.  Duties and job descriptions being constantly realigned.  Short-lived assignments will become ordinary.  Change can be painful.  When it damages careers, emotions such as grief, anger and depression come naturally, making it hard for people to “buy in” and be productive.  Mobility makes you a valuable member of the management team that has continual interaction with employees.  Your goal should be rapid recovery and instant alignment to changes regardless of the impact on you personally.  Take personal responsibility for adapting to change just like you would if you were accepting a new job and watch how quickly your responsibilities grow within the organization.

Finding and retaining top talent through a changing environment is one of the greatest challenges Corporate America is facing today.  When you establish the reputation as a change agent, you will have a seat at the table for all Strategic Meetings because they will need and welcome your input!

There are some character traits that are common and should be used in order to create that positive image!  The following are character traits that you should be incorporating into your first interviews.

AUTHORITY

Your ability to lead others attracts people to you.  When you project authority, you are on the right track toward impressing people.

CERTAINTY

Honest belief in a fact, an idea or a concept can inspire others to feel the same way.  Steadfastness is definitely a builder of understanding two people.

CONSIDERATION

No man or woman can be an island unto himself or herself.  It is this facet that brings you closer to all other individuals.

CREDIBILITY

No matter who you are or what you are involved in, you must be able to project a feeling or belief in other people.  If you cannot, you will not arouse belief in yourself or in your hopes.

EMPATHY

It is more than compassion.  It is the capacity to put yourself inside another person’s exact situation and experience feelings and emotions directly.

INSPIRATION

Your own passion projects excitement into other people.  This is one of the most important facets of a person’s general profile.  It is the ability to arouse others to a purpose or project.

INTEGRITY

Without integrity, you cannot convince anyone that you are going to do what you say you are going to do.

INTIMACY

This is the vital link between two people that makes them much more than two separate individuals.  This is the final involvement of two people, usually in an ongoing business relationship.

LUSTER

It is a force of energy that can bring people together to work for whatever the individual wants.

PRESENCE

It is the force of personality that makes everyone in a room look at you when you enter.

SELF-ASSURANCE

The person who projects a feeling of self-assurance will attract support and assistance from others on the job as well as supervisors.

UNDERSTANDING

To lead others you must be able to intuit their feelings and emotions and be able to sympathize with their hurt.  This is an understanding that builds teamwork in the workplace.

VIGOR

This is a person’s inner self which is able to release energy and the force of personality to others around them.  It fuels all action, positive thought, progress and important activities.

VIVACITY

If you have the ability to express through vivacity your own excitement and enthusiasm, you can get others excited about what you are doing, yourself in general and the work you want done!

All of these character traits are important when you are making your first impression during your interviews and meetings.  Keep in mind that a first impression cannot be recaptured.  Therefore, make your first impression a great one!

Networking can be utilized in different ways:

• Gathering, collecting and gaining information and contacts

• The ability to gain benefits from the referred contacts

• Doors open that would have been closed without a contact

• To obtain job leads

Your primary goal is to obtain job leads which begin to multiply as you build your network. The more contacts you make, the greater your odds are at finding a job by networking. You are in Sales (selling yourself to a prospective employer) and as you are beginning to learn, sales is a “numbers game.”

Make a list of your existing network and set an objective to obtain two new contacts from every contact you make. It is easier to contact the people you know as opposed to talking to complete strangers. Most of your existing network will be helpful, resourceful and very willing to help provide you with names.

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear ___________________

The decision to explore other career opportunities is never an easy one. It is even more difficult for me, as I have spent the last _______ years, with the same company (list name of company)

Any suggestions, ideas or contact you could provide regarding my job search, would be greatly appreciated. Enclosed you will find a copy of my most updated resume.  I’m receptive to considering any opportunity that would utilize my experience and credentials. I do hope to stay in the ___________(location) area if possible.  (but would consider location – if that is a fact)

Would you please take a moment at your earliest convenience to review my resume.  I will call you within the next few days to discuss your ideas or suggestions.

Sincerely,

TYPES OF NETWORKING SUPPORT

When you have completed your networking list, it is important to realize what role your network will play in your job search. Review the various types of people in a network and identify which types comprise your current network. It is good to have representation from all the groups listed below.

Challengers: People who cause you to look at your own direction.  They force you to face important questions about your life.

Experts: People in your field you respect and value as a professional contact.  You respect the professional competence of these people.

Hubs: These are well connected people who can provide you with sources of information and people.

Mentors: People who will help you guide your career, provide you with access to their expertise and will teach you what they know.

Promoters:These are people who will take an active role in  helping you.  They will also advise you of opportunities and enhance your visibility.

Role Models: They have achieved what you aspire. They are examples to emulate.

“I had not idea that I was a “free agent in the open Job Market.” That sounds so much better than I’m unemployed! I’m using that from now on.” Tom W. – Detroit, MI

“I treated my final interview like a “first interview” and just got a job offer after being unemployed for over a year. Your advice on last week’s call was dead on and as a result I start my job next Monday. I can’t thank you enough.” Sharon B., Boise, ID

“Your advice on what to take on an interview just helped me get a job offer. I was up against at least 7 other people and I think what I gave them after my interview is what turned the scales in my favor. I never even thought about what to take on my interview other than my resume. But when I saw their reaction, I knew you were right. Thanks to you, I now have a job after 5 months of looking.” Phil Z., Camden, NY

“I never looked at my job search as a sales process and held back during interviews not to sound like I was bragging. After listing to your advice I started to sell myself more in my cover letter, phone calls and interviews. I start my new job next week at a higher salary than the job I lost 7 months ago. I also used your advice on how to handle my salary negotiations and it worked. Because of you this single mom can now stop worrying about how to feed her kids. May God bless you.” Luann P., Mobile, AL

What have you done right? What is the 20% of your effort that is providing you with 80% of your results? You want to continue doing more of these activities.

What is wasting your time? You want to stop doing what is wasting your time today!  If something is not working, then why continue doing it? Focus on what works and quit wasting your valuable time.

What can you do differently to improve the results of your job search? Do you need to network more?  Do you need to revise your resume?  Do you need coaching from a professional recruiter?

When you stop doing things that waste your time, you have more time to identify and implement new ideas and methods.

Summer celebrations usually include fireworks, picnics and parades. These are all opportunities to subtly network. Don’t be afraid to get out there and mix a little business with pleasure. This month is also a good time to review your goals and progress to date. If your job search efforts are not providing you with results or even interviews, review your activities. It’s important that you submit resumes and follow up daily.

Top qualities: Great Results, Personable, Expert

“I worked with Colleen while in the paper industry. She attempted to help me find work outside the paper industry, but I decided to stay within my company even though there were good positions presented to me. In 2006, she helped me find a great job with the energy industry in a quick manner and in one of my top 2 locations. I’ve been here 4 years now and can say I never would have had this opportunity without her help.”

Midwest Compliant Analyst Engineer                                        DA-20338

Candidate will be part of the Customer Excellence Division and have the opportunity to conduct Internal & External Audits to ensure compliance with GMP & ISO requirements. Will review complaint investigations for compliance, completeness and customer follow-up. Responsible for failure analysis associated with the complaint management system, including documentation of failures. Training on QA topics. Coach and develop complaint investigators. Able to interpret engineering test results. Experience with root cause analysis as well. Requires a Bachelor’s in engineering degree along with experience of sound knowledge of quality tools and processes. Should be very passionate about coaching people from different departments and are familiar with complaint investigations. Need to understand how to read and interpret engineering schematics and have knowledge of FDA regulations. Must have 5+ years in handling Complaints in order to qualify for this position.

Midwest Manufacturing Engineer                                              DA-20314

This opportunity requires a Mechanical, Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering background with experience in Assembly line design, validation, Process Failure Mode & Effects Analysis or Quality System Regulation. Manufacturing in plastics, electronics or metals would be helpful. Must have excellent presentation and communication skills and love fast paced environments. Will work with Marketing, R&D on new product development. Plan, design/process, preproduction and production of new product development. Works in a hands-on manner to develop system level design strategies and make recommendations to management and coordinate implementation. Work on broad assignments that require originality and ingenuity. Focus on customer satisfaction focusing on teamwork and empowerment, solving problems through a consultative approach. Assembly Process Development of New Products.

Midwest Supplier Manufacturing Engineer                                DA-20327

This opportunity requires a BS in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering background or related curriculum with previous experience with a medical device company deploying process validation specifically with conduction design of experiments and IQ/OQ/ preferred. Must have 5-6 years of people management skills and have a technical background.  Must have Supplier Base knowledge specifically in the areas of: Quality Control, Buying, Purchasing and Validation of audits. Assist customers in resolving product issues. Manage technical manufacturing engineers in assisting them to resolve manufacturing and quality issues. Develop and maintain product processes. Problem solving and performing audits and process validation.

Michigan Failure Analysis Engineer                                            DA-20292

The ideal candidate will be part of the Complaint Handling Process Improvement Initiative. Failure analysis of products returned for service. Develop a comprehensive list of known failure modes and relevant root cause analysis of product failures to drive improvements of designs, manufacturing processes, and materials to meet the quality goals of their products. Must have “hands on” experience and know how to analyze a product, design (redesign) and have thorough documentation. Create diagnostic procedures and data sheets for Quality Techs to use for diagnosis of returned products. Perform component level analysis based on findings during failure analysis of products to determine second level rootcause information to drive continuous improvement of selected products. Requires a Mechanical or Electrical Engineering degree along with experience in the direct design of medical equipment and sub-assembly AND failure analysis of the product, sub-assembly, and components.

Midwest Quality Assurance Engineer                                        DA-20303

BS Mechanical or Electrical Engineering degree along with Six Sigma Black Belt Certification (or equivalent certification).  Working knowledge of Quality System Regulation 21 CFR Part 820, cGMP and FDA’s guidance on design controls. Must have previous experience with developing, transferring and/or launching a new product into production and conducting risk management activities for new and/or existing products. ISO-9000 is a plus! Develop the next generation of EMS and Evacuation equipment. Collect, interpret and determine the root cause of failures. Identify and track potential product and process risks. Assist and develop process controls. Prepare product and operations for transition.

Iowa Human Resource Generalist                                        IAWA-246I

Bachelor’s in Human Resources degree plus 2+ years HR Generalist experience in a manufacturing setting. Experience in employee relations, staffing, training, compensation and benefits, coupled with excellent communication and presentations kills. Bilingual skills are a plus! Ideal professional will focus on recruiting, screening, reference checks and personnel selection. Responsible for orientation, training, development and conducting seminars. Will administration of compensation and health and welfare benefits. Ensuring compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations. Must have Employee Relations, Labor Relations and Safety experience.

Massachusetts                                                  HR Manager                                                                 KC-20272

BS/BA in HR, Labor Relations or related, PHR/SPHR certification is required with at least 7 years of related experience.  Must have a strong generalist background with experience out of union manufacturing plant. Strong labor relations experience to include handling grievances, arbitrations and contract negotiation is required. Must have strong organizational, analytical, interpersonal and written/oral communication skills as well as strong computer skills and knowledge of Microsoft Applications.

Pennsylvania                                                   HR Manager                                                                 KC-20320

BS/BA is required with preference for a Masters degree. Successful candidate must have at least 5-8 years of HR generalist experience within a union manufacturing plant. Supervisory experience is a plus. Here is a great opportunity that offers career advancement. Must be open to living in rural Pennsylvania. Relocation assistance provided.