Career Opportunities For Medical Professionals « CBS Pittsburgh

Career Opportunities For Medical Professionals « CBS Pittsburgh

Crisis Cannot Be Your Teacher – Prepare for Job Loss

My college philosophy professor always said, “People on a mission cannot allow crisis to be their teacher.”  He spoke passionately about ‘Crystalizing Your Vision’ and game planning for the future.    I understand his purpose was to inspire and motivate, but I always struggled with the practicality of it all.  Sure.  It is easy to say, “Do not allow crisis to be your teacher,” but the reality is that life happens, and it is impossible to anticipate the unexpected.  The most consistent thing in life is change.  Unexpected events can derail plans, impact finances and generally wreak havoc on a person’s life goals.  Still, the words always echoed in my brain. Crisis cannot be your teacher…crisis cannot be your teacher.  So, I began to seek out practicality.  Through reading, research and study, I found and adopted a few practical strategies for success the any individual can embrace and apply to any situation.  Take job loss for example.  While no one among us can necessarily anticipate a job loss, we all can form a blueprint for dealing with job loss if and when it occurs.  Here are a few practical ideas for dealing with this type of transition.

 

Planning Life Roles

Psychologist Donald E. Super developed a Life-Span Theory that is considered to be one of the guiding principles in the field of Career Development.  This article is not about theory or philosophy, so instead let us pick out some of the sound, useful tools within the theory that can help prepare an individual for life events such as job loss.  The theory itself is about learning and planning.  Super defines 8 Life Roles as typical for adult workers. These are: Child, Student, Worker, Citizen, Homemaker, Spouse/Partner, Parent, and Leisurite.  Other than Child, people typically choose which roles to play and how much time or energy will be spent playing each role.  The practical point is this: We all juggle different activities in between various life roles, but few among us will ever spell out in black ‘n’ white our own definitions of each role.  This is a critical strategy for success because an event that impacts one life role will most likely have an effect on each of the other roles.  Without clear definition of who we are and what we do in relation to each, it is impossible to plan for change.  Thus, crisis becomes our teacher in every aspect of our lives.

 

Consider this example: Individual loses a job.  The worker role obviously feels the direct impact. But, what happens to the other life roles?  The Homemaker struggles to make ends meet.  A Spouse/Partner relationship is strained by financial pressures and idle time.  Leisure activity goes away.  In many cases, the Parent has to tell a child that they can no longer do or have certain things.  One event impacts several Life Roles.  There is a natural ripple effect.  We know it is happening, yet it is difficult to pin point unless Life Roles have been specifically defined, planned and prioritized. 

 

Here is what I suggest:  Get a sheet of paper and list all 8 of the Life Roles (as listed above.)  Begin with a simple definition – Who are you in relation to each Life Role?  You will immediately find that some Life Roles do not apply because you have chosen not to play that particular role.  For example, perhaps you are not a current student or maybe you are not in a serious personal relationship in which case these can be eliminated from your list.  Next, put together a Time & Energy schedule for each Life Role that remains on your list.  Be very detailed.  For instance, if you are a student, put together a schedule of the amount of time you spend in that Role.  This would include class times, commute times, study hours, etc.  Sketch out the schedule hour by hour.  Repeat the process for each Life Role.  Finally, look at each Role and prioritize your list.  This will help you to identify areas to which you are applying too much time and energy.  Borrow the extra time and apply it to your Worker Role, which should be the sole focus when getting back to work.  This is going to seem like simple thinking because it is!  Sometimes we need basic strategies to help us focus on the KISS Rule – Keep It Simple, Stupid.

 

The 4-S Model

Nancy Schlossberg is another leading theorist in the field of Career Development.  Like Super, her theories and studies are among the guiding principles for the industry.  Schlossberg, who specifically focused on transitions and career change, created a simple, useful blueprint designed to help people plan for life’s unforeseen events.  It is called the 4-S Model.

The 4 S’s are Situation, Self, Supports, Strategy.  This is a game-planning model that can be developed on a case-by-case basis or used as an ongoing blueprint for success.  Let us begin by explaining each of the S’s.  Then, we will examine application.

 

Take Stock of the Situation
This section should examine the entire climate and/or environment related to the event.  If the event is job loss, answer these questions related to this particular Situation:

 

·         Situation expected or unexpected?

·         Situation good or bad (point of view)?

·         Coming at a good time or bad time?

·         Represent a move up or down?

·         Where am I in the process?

·         What goals do I want to reach?

·         What are the alternatives?

 

Evaluate Self
This section of the 4-S model should focus on where you are at in the process, how you handle change, and how you are feeling.  You should address these questions about yourSelf:

 

·         What is my outlook on life?

·         What is my sense of personal well-being?

·         Am I generally challenged or overwhelmed by change?

·         Do I generally feel a sense of control as I face change?

 

List Supports
In this section, create an inventory of the people and resources that are at your disposal.  List your Supports so that you have quick access to fall-back plans, assistance, etc.  Questions to help develop a Support list include:

 

·         Can I get help from others?

·         Do I have a variety of supports (friends, family, counselors, etc.)?

·         Has my support system been interrupted or altered by this change?

·         With whom can I network for support?

·         Do I have the time, money, etc. needed?

 

Develop a Strategy
After taking inventory of all the information related to Situation, Self and Supports, use this information to develop a Strategy.  Begin to find resources for self-evaluation.  Identify alternatives (as they relate to job options.)  Finally, prioritize your info and make some choices.  Some topics and questions for guidance in this area include:

 

·         Become aware of the need for a strategy

·         Learn about self/reevaluate self

·         Identify alternatives

·         Gather information about alternatives

·         Prioritize alternatives

·         Make choices

·         Complete the change

 

The 4-S Model is a useful guide when dealing with any of life’s transitions, but can be extremely useful to the worker who has recently suffered a job loss.  The 4-S’s provide an opportunity for self-reflection, but the framework also directs people back to useful resources such as network contacts, online databases and career guidance tools.  If used regularly and often, the 4-S Model will eventually become a mode of thinking and problem solving. 

In Conclusion

Sometimes events are going to happen when we least expect it – like a job loss.  Sometimes we are going to expect an event to happen but it never does – like an anticipated job promotion.  The bottom line is that each of us needs to be prepared for events and non-events as they occur.  While we cannot necessarily anticipate what the event may be, we can prepare ourselves for inevitable change.  Teachers, trainers and counselors often say, “Write down your goals,” but rarely provide a framework through which we can keep track of and constantly reevaluate those goals.  Defining Life Roles helps keep track of the Time & Energy we put into all aspects of our lives.  This will help any job seeker, student or worker stay on task.  The 4-S Model provides a blueprint for handling change.  Used in conjunction, these tools will serve as a mini business plan for your life.

 

Force yourself to write down these plans and use these tools.  You will be surprised at the information and strategies that come to you.  Let the things you already know be your teacher.

If you are interested in guides or worksheets to help facilitate this process, feel free to email me at scott@thealbertinstitute.com.

Job Searching – Practical Tips for Utilizing Your Network

A friend of mine is a corporate recruiter, and he often speaks with my students at the college and job seekers in my agency’s job clubs.  He provides a lot of excellent advice but says one thing in every presentation that really resonates.  He says, “How is anyone supposed to know that you are looking for a job if you don’t tell anybody?”  The truth is that all of us have network contacts that are willing to help and who are in a position to provide leads, but we rarely speak up and ask for help.  In the words of Eminem, “Times are tough and they’re getting even harder.”  It’s time to park the pride and start utilizing your existing network contacts to generate job leads, referrals and employment information.  Many people will assume that they do not have a network or an opportunity to network, but the reality is that most people are networking everyday…they just don’t realize it.  Here are some simple, practical tips for utilizing your existing network in an effort to improve your job search results.

 

Personal Contacts

Personal contacts are the most likely people to provide job leads.  They just need to know you are looking. And, you need to speak up to let them know.  Start off by simply thinking about all of your social activities. Then make a list of all of the people you interact with during this time.  These activities may include a bowling league, parent-teacher association, youth sports team, church group or book club.  Pull out your laptop or a sheet of paper. Use each of your social activities as a heading; list all of the names of your connections under each heading.  Once you have done this, create a general category titled, “Personal Contacts.”  Under this heading, list the names of friends, relatives, neighbors, etc. Once you have all of the names listed, gather contact information.  Add email addresses and phone numbers to each of the people you have included in your lists.

 

Start to reach out.  Offer a cup of coffee or lunch to your closest friends and relatives.  Perhaps other acquaintances get an email letting them know you are in the market for a new job.  You will be surprised. Once you put out the word that you are looking, information will naturally begin to flow your way.  Even if you do not talk with these folks on a regular basis, if they learn about a job that is a good fit for you, you will immediately come to mind.  That’s when the calls, leads and referrals will begin falling into your lap.

 

Educational Contacts

Every job seeker should look for and join their college or high school alumni association.  Most have online groups at either LinkedIn or Facebook.  College Alumni Associations tend to be more active than most high school alumni associations because typically a college or university has events that attract alum such as basketball or football games.  It is easier, in most cases, for a college alumni association to participate in or host events in conjunction with what is already happening at the college.  In either case, the online groups that these associations create and manage are usually very active. More importantly, they are typically filled with people who are either job searching or looking to hire!  A LinkedIn introduction to your college alumni association will certainly generate interest and leads.  Looking back over the last ten years of running my own business, almost every contract or job I have landed has evolved from a relationship with a fellow Duquesne University Alum (short plug for my alma mater.)

 

Beyond the associations, job seekers should return to the ‘list’ method mentioned above.  Think about previous professors, classmates, etc.  Reach out to learn what your teachers and classmates are up to these days.  You do not even have to reach out for a job.  Just get into contact with the people by letting them know you are curious about what THEY are doing these days.  People love to talk about themselves.  And, honestly, most people love to help.  Let the conversations progress naturally, and it will almost always meet your needs.

 

Also, contact your school’s career services department.  I do not care if you graduated 20 years ago; you paid for this service.  Most of us are still paying for it! Give career services a call, and see what type of help they can provide to alumni.

 

People You Do Business With

I know. You are unemployed…you’re not doing business with anyone, right?  Well, let me ask you this.  Is there a regular place at which you get your hair done?  Is there a local auto shop to which you take your car for maintenance?  Do you rent an apartment?  Trust me.  Your landlord is more interested in you working than any other person in America!  The point is, working or not working, we all do business everyday with people whose own livelihoods rely on our business.  Now, I’m not talking about Walmart or Target; they’re getting a little bit of everybody’s money.  I am talking about the small Mom & Pop Shops that rely on your dollar. Make another list of all of the people with whom you do business.  Then, start planting your message.

 

The next time you are in the barber’s chair, mention to your barber how much you like coming in once a month for a trim and a shave.  Then, let him or her know that you are going to have to cut back (no pun intended) to every other month.  I guarantee you that the next time you see your barber he or she says something to this effect: “Hey, you still looking for a job? I just heard about…”  You can choose to be subtle or direct in this approach.  It all depends on your comfort level.  The point is, make sure you mention that you are looking.  Chances are the person you are talking with has been in the same situation themselves.  And, they really do not want to lose your business.  This will help you to put some extra sets of eyes and ears out there on the streets looking for job leads.

 

People You Have Helped

Once upon a time, you helped out somebody else.  You either provided someone a good job lead or gave your buddy a ride to the grocery store.  Do not let these people hide out during your time of need.  Apollo Creed cashed in his favor to Rocky.  You should cash in your favors, too.  Get back to your lists, and make another category titled, “People I Have Helped.”  List all of the people you have helped in some way or another.  These should include people to whom you have given sales leads, those you have supported in some way, and definitely those to whom you have given viable job leads.  It may sound like a joke, but all of these people are going to be happy to return the favor.  But they will not know that you need help unless you tell them.

 

In Conclusion

I have said it before and I will say it again: A closed mouth doesn’t get fed.  The moment you fall behind on your bills due to a lack of work is not the moment to be shy about asking for help.  We are all currently living through the strangest economic times that any of us may ever face.  Malcolm X, in his famous Ballot or the Bullet speech, is quoted as saying, “We’re all in the same bag…all in the same boat.”  Everybody is trying to earn a living.  Job seekers, speak up.  When you get back on your feet, you will have the opportunity to pay it forward to somebody else.  Just like Rocky returned the favor to Apollo.

Workforce Webinars - Feb 2015

February 6th @ 10:00 EST
Rap Sheet Cleanup
Rap Sheet Cleanup Topics will include How to Interpret a Criminal Record, Process for Making Corrections, Filing Expungements and How to Access National... Databases for Assistance!

February 13th @ 10:00 EST -
Job Club 1-2-3!
Job Club 1-2-3 is a step-by-step guide for setting up and carrying out successful Job Clubs. This workshop is ideal for job developers and career counselors who want to improve program outcomes. Topics will include Job Club History & Effectiveness, A Typical Job Club Agenda and more!

February 20th @ 10:00 EST
Networking 101
This workshop will provide job seekers and career counselors tips for building contact lists, using social media and creating a branded message that will help generate better job leads. Very practical and applicable information. Participants will leave this webinar with actual tools and strategies that can be put to use same day!

February 27th @ 10:00 EST
Using LinkedIn for Job Search
Social Media can be a powerful tool in the job seeker's toolbox. LinkedIn is sort of the professional's version of Facebook. If utilized correctly, LinkedIn can help job seekers connect with employers. This webinar will focus on LinkedIn profiles, tips for following potential employers and the ways of tapping into passive job leads! Participants will leave this webinar with practical tools and strategies that can be put to use same day!

Register at www.thealbertinstitute.com. Email scott@thealbertinstitute.com for additional info.

Trending: Workforce Webinars « CBS Pittsburgh

Trending: Workforce Webinars « CBS Pittsburgh

Barriers To Employment: A Criminal Record « CBS Pittsburgh

Barriers To Employment: A Criminal Record « CBS Pittsburgh

Gunpowder & Gasoline: What Workforce Pros Can Learn From The Joker

There is a wonderful scene in 2008’s The Dark Knight that takes place right after The Joker has stolen all of the money from Gotham’s gangsters. Standing in front of a mountain of cash…with the gangsters’ accountant atop…The Joker has a confrontation with The Chechen, one of the mobsters from whom The Joker has stolen money. During the confrontation, and just as The Joker has the Chechen killed and burns all of the cash, The Joker summarizes his very existence. In doing so, he provides some interesting insight and thought process that every workforce professional should adopt. He is quoted as saying,

I like dynamite, and gunpowder... And gasoline! Do you know what all of these things have in common? They're cheap…

This town deserves a better class of criminal, and I’m gonna give it to them…

It’s not about the money…everything burns…

What do a maniacal character’s quotes have to do with workforce development? Everything.

Lesson One: Gunpowder and Gasoline

The Joker has mastered the art of doing more with less. Workforce Development Professionals…and social workers in general for that matter…constantly complain about a lack of resources. There will always be a lack of resources! Workforce Pros need to accept this and move on. Instead of making excuses for under-performance or job difficulty, workforce professionals need to make better use of the resources that are available.

First, almost every employer in the country is trying to fill positions. Talking with these employers and making referrals costs nothing but time. Workforce Pros will say they do not have the time, but employment for clients is the very reason workforce programs exist. Make time. Scrap the unnecessary classroom activities that rarely lead to employment and instead start visiting employers. Learn about their business, career paths, training opportunities, benefits, etc. Bring this information back to your clients. People enroll in a workforce development program hoping it will help them get a job. So, help them get a job. This core duty that Workforce Pros are charged with costs absolutely nothing, yet most workforce programs have little or no connection with local employers.

Second, technology is free and available everywhere. Use it! Take some time to learn about LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc., and help your job seekers understand how to use these tools for networking purposes. The majority of the nation’s job market is hidden from public classifieds, but hidden job vacancies can be discovered through networking with online contacts, attending virtual job fairs or signing up for free newsletters. Simply go to Twitter, create an account and pick 100 companies to follow. The Workforce Pro who does this today will have dozens of job leads tomorrow.

If The Joker can turn Gotham City upside down with a few kegs of gunpowder and a couple barrels of gasoline, Workforce Pros can turn their program success upside down simply by using free resources to generate more career opportunities.

Lesson Two: This Town Deserves a Better Class of Criminal

Too many job seekers have ‘checked out’ of the job search process, and the lack of service provided at employment centers is largely to blame. Various reports and studies indicate that about 5% of job seekers having secured employment did so utilizing resources provided at a local or state-run employment center. That is a miserable number considering the great many people who have sought services or have been referred to an employment center since 2008. Yet, employment centers will report job placement rates as high as 60% and 70%. One center in Pittsburgh, PA recently reported a 100% job placement rate! Career Services Departments at proprietary schools have gotten into a lot of trouble with the government for the reporting of similar data. So, why the disparities? Basically, because most employment centers lie about their numbers. In many cases, the service provided does not reflect the outcomes reported. This practice has become way too common in workforce development, and it needs to change. It is criminal to provide less-than-stellar service and report effectual results.

When the criminals in Gotham City became too boring, The Joker arrived to “introduce a little anarchy.” Workforce Pros do not have to blow up a city, but they need to introduce a little anarchy to the industry. It is time to challenge the status quo. Workforce Professionals can do this through a series of simple steps that will at first seem quite radical, but ultimately will prove beneficial to clients.

Step 1 – Decrease Service Hours to Just a Few Hours per Week

What? Really? Yes. Run a two-hour Job Club one day each week. Follow that with a two to three hour job application workshop. Reserve an hour or two per week for employer and/or service provider presentations during which time job seekers can learn soft skills and learn about opportunities. Once direct service time is reduced to six or so hours each week, reserve the rest of your time to get out, network, and generate information from which your clients will benefit. Think about it: How many hours are wasted when Workforce Pros sit around waiting for ‘no show’ appointments anyway?

Step 2 – Work Evenings and Weekends

Oh, the horror! The Joker does not stop wreaking havoc at 5 PM when it’s punch-out time because he knows there are plenty more hours in the day to get things done. There is one simple reason why Workforce Pros have to put in extra hours in order to be successful: You cannot job develop during the day because business owners, recruiters, etc. work during the day! If a Workforce Pro is cold calling a business at 2:00 PM, that Pro is not only networking improperly but also interrupting somebody else’s workday – go meet them at a more convenient time.

Job seekers, especially those who are desperate and lack resources, deserve better service from One-Stops, Neighborhood Employment Centers and the like. There are many great employment programs across the country, but unfortunately there are too many not making the grade. Workforce Pros, given the nature of their work and agency contributions, could revolutionize their industry. Job seekers would be better served, and agencies could proudly report factual data related to services rendered.

Lesson Three: It’s Not About the Money

Unfortunately, the world of social service has turned into a combat arena where non-profits and government funded agencies battle over scraps in order to survive. The industry preaches collaboration, yet true collaborative efforts are the exception instead of the norm. The non-profit world has turned into a cutthroat, competitive environment in which some agencies, like Gotham’s criminals, have managed to ‘scratch out a small profit’, but that profit does not translate into program improvement. This is why agencies cook-the-books or misguide students upon enrollment. Funding determines a program’s success, and the numbers dictate the amount of funding a program receives. Just like corporate America, the giant-sized agencies continue to profit while smaller, often more impactful agencies, struggle to survive. It is a model that will eventually burn.

Proprietary schools learned this lesson the hard way in 2014. The only thing Congress and The White House agreed on in the past eight years is that schools will no longer get away with misrepresentation to potential students or clients. Corinthian Colleges, ITT Tech Schools, EDMC and others have had to change their business models in order to survive; hopefully, these changes will lead to better service for students and clients. This level of scrutiny is bound to visit non-profits and government agencies. For too long, there has been a lack of accountability in workforce development and social services. Agencies that want to survive and are truly committed to serving communities will have to change the way they do business. Workforce Professionals are in a prime position to lead the way. Often, a job developer or career counselor serves as an agency’s point-of-contact to the business community. Workforce Pros can lead the way by building collaborations, sharing resources with other agencies and establishing relationships with corporations that may be inclined to support a social cause or mission. It’s not about money; it’s about service. Still, the reality is that every agency needs to generate funds. That’s not a Workforce Professional’s job though Workforce Pros can contribute by demonstrating results.

It is Harvey Dent, Gotham’s DA, who has one of the movie’s most memorable quotes:

The night is darkest just before the dawn. And I promise you, the dawn is coming.

Harvey has the hope, but The Joker (despite what he says in the movie) has an actual plan. It may seem crazy to follow the blueprint of a madman, but the truth is that The Joker’s antics provide pure, practical steps that workforce programs can follow in order to better serve job seekers. According to Dent and The Dark Knight himself, “You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” Workforce Development has become its own worst enemy…its own villain. It is time to introduce a little anarchy in order to better serve job seekers and to better survive. Be a hero, Workforce Pros; get out on that limb and take a risk. You, your agency and your clients will be thankful that you did. And who knows, like The Joker, you might even have a little fun.