I have often heard my clients saying, “I just want to make a difference,” or “I want my next career to make a contribution.”  This morning I found myself pondering these expressions, which have become a kind of catch phrase for “doing something worthwhile.”  Here are some other elaborations they offer and I see their answers vary, but have a theme:

- doing something that I really love
- doing something that better utilizes my skills and talents
- doing something that makes me feel good about how I spend my time

I don’t often hear the contribution component leading the discussion, because most of us have our attention on what will make ourselves feel we did our right work here on this planet.

When my husband has heard me say that beyond coaching I want to contribute more, he’s suggested I use my spare time to volunteer at a career center or he’ll tell me to forget my additional pursuits being career related at all and go volunteer part-time with any charity.  I’ve had to face the truth and decide if I’m willing to authentically contribute of myself.  It isn’t about showing up more in my career or adding to my portfolio, sharing my expertise, doing something to make additional revenue, feel successful, or even to be noticed or appreciated.  Contribution is the gift of giving. (more…)

Clients seeking permanent jobs at this time are concerned that employers won’t take them seriously and are only interested in placing them for more immediate needs.  In retail, that may be true.  This is the year’s busiest season and more temporary help is needed.  The National Retail Federation says up to 500,000 folks may be added.  But even those companies accepting temporary helpers may consider keeping you on permanently.

Don’t forget these tried and true basics to get you visible and ositioned well for any prospective long-term job:

1.  Don’t forget your basic 3 P’s: punctual, pleasant and productive.  But be wary of coming off too eager.  It could make you look uncomfortable and a little desperate.  You’ll stick out, but not in the way you’d like to appear.

2.  You want to act professional, yet not overstep your role.  Previous expertise may give you great ideas to offer, but work up to suggesting any and always ask if they want to try your ideas before making any changes.  (While not looking for permanent work, my husband and I volunteer annually at our church this time of year to see that foster children get Christmas gifts.  I found myself overly eager to suggest new and improved processes and quickly learned I was more needed in a selfless service mode, rather than a leadership role). (more…)

Every once in a while, you’ll attract a strange individual who is not a fit with you or the work you do.  Whether you’re in an office and it’s necessary to interact with them temporarily, or they are calling you about your business, you’ll have to use smooth communication skills to address what feels like their creepy style. (more…)

Since this is the busiest season of the year, if you’re out of work and just want to get some income coming in or have time to take on an extra job or make some additional money, check out these referral articles and job sites.  Read here about the best places hiring and also how to ask for what you need within your circle of influence.  These seasonal jobs may not pay much or lead to a fulltime job, but never say never.

There are many useful sites online, but these give you plenty of info and resources to get you going!

Enter your zip code at the snag a job site and look up holiday jobs

Go to this all retail job site and put in hourly or seasonal or holiday plus how far from your home you want it

Visit the Monster job site and search “holiday jobs”

Visit the payscroll site

Read this Fortune magazine article on the CNN site and learn more about holiday jobs

See the New York Times sponsored links holiday job listings

Visit the job mouse for their advice on searching for holiday jobs

There’s nothing wrong with quantifying your goal - setting a very specific goal that has numbers attached to it, i.e. three projects completed by the end of the day, $$ met by the end of the month, fifteen responses to your special offer by the end of two weeks, etc.  Setting an aim for the numbers you really want can be motivating and help guide your actions to complete benchmark steps along the way to meet your final goal.  Sometimes this approach works very well for me or my clients.

If you fail to meet your ideal number, it more likely means one of two things:  You didn’t do all you could and you can exam what to change for the next time, course correct and set a new goal.  Or it could be that you did do all you could do and you met some level of achievement versus if you hadn’t been focused and been purposeful in your actions or bothered to set a specific goal at all. (more…)