Helping Others Seeking Work

Welcome to my blog!

2012-02-03T17:15:00.006-07:00

Greetings,

Thank you for stopping by, welcome to my original blog, Helping Others Seeking Work!

First, please read the banner above. Below and to the left, you will also find a brief bio.

If you peruse the archives found to the left, going back to June 2010, you will find a plethora of posts to educate, motivate and inspire. As it has evolved over time, this blog is now specifically designed to help job seekers and career changers.

Job providers and others may also wish to visit my other blog, framed around The Golden Rule and its 21st Century applicability to solve problems from boardroom to family room and all other rooms in between. It is entitled Honesty Today, Hope for Tomorrow.

Known by the e-moniker The Golden Rule Guy, I can be found on Linkedin,Twitter and Facebook -- see links below.

I hope you find value through our association and if you know of someone to whom I should be talking as a Client Management Professional, I would value hearing from you. Thank you for visiting and reading.

Sincerely,

John

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John Alan Fox,
The Golden Rule Guy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

Taking a hiatus

2011-12-11T20:23:00.002-07:00

Dear friends and colleagues,

As we know from the dictionary, hiatus means break. At times, we all need a break from activities, to refresh and regroup.

After 18 months of blogging via three blog sites, I find myself needing a hiatus. I may continue to post on this, my original blog site, and The Golden Rule Guy blog. That decision is reserved for when I am refreshed.

However, I am suspending the Bible Based Coaching blog.

It is my sincere hope that value has been given and that true values have been shared. Thank you for reading.

Sincerely,

John

Learn about John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

2011-12-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Greetings,

Since June 2010, this blog and blogger have had twin goals.

One was helping both job seekers and the growing under-employed. A variety of posts are here to help, see the archives.

The other?

Within my soft-skill skillset, to promote myself as a solution to problems a firm may face today.

To see how my ideal role would contribute, visit http://thegoldenruleguy.blogspot.com/2011/03/john-fox-how-my-ideal-role-can-help-you.html. In addition to that post, the entire blog has scores of posts that are not rants but rather speak to proven solutions for today's business ills.

If you want to learn more, in addition to my three blogs, you should visit my online portfolio, http://www.box.net/shared/fri4jz8e5x. This link will take you to a Linkedin folder containing several dozens of published articles, white papers and PSAs, references and of course, my résumé.

In addition, here are four professional references who can speak to what I have done and how I could contribute starting Day One:

Patricia Harman,

Publishing and editing Professional, RIA

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/patti-harman/5/a79/829

http://www.restorationindustry.org/content/staff

410.60.3224

Ed Colozzi,
Author of Creating Careers with Confidence

http://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardcolozzi

http://www.creatingcareerswithconfidence.com/p/about-me_16.html

617.543.2109

Coz Green,
Media and training/speaking Professional

http://www.linkedin.com/in/cozgreen

http://www.cozgreen.com/
801.244.6300

Hile Rutledge,
Author of Type Talk at Work, Adult Learning, MBTI and Management Consulting Professional

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/hile-rutledge/1/a29/644

http://typetalk.com/oka/welcome/the-oka-team/

703.591.6283

** Please be aware **

All are professionals with current schedules;

some delay will likely ensue before a reply,
should you reach out for a reference.

To schedule a time for discussion, send me an email or better yet, call my cell phone and leave a message. I will reply as soon as time allows, given my current work schedule.

In closing, I submit today's business climate suffers from what I call the missing dimension. My hope in this and my other blog has been providing another perspective.

To those who are job seeking, take heart on your journeys.

And if your firm needs help, please consider me as part of the solution.

Thank you for reading. Here's to the oasis we all seek!

Sincerely,

John

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Skype -- goldenruleguy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

In the end, Ethics Win

2011-11-29T17:18:00.003-07:00

Dear friends and colleagues,

"If you are ever driven by money and money alone, you'll make unethical decisions. I know. I've seen it happen. Beware."

So said the CEO of an iconic American manufacturer, quoted in an article published last May entitled, In the End, Ethics win. Be sure to read Five Words that Can Change a Business.

Until next time,

John

****

John Alan Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Skype -- goldenruleguy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

Against the gray (for job seekers and others)

2011-11-22T13:32:00.015-07:00

Hello friends!

Monday morning inspired this week's post.

Enjoying an early coffee, I glanced outside. Atlanta's dawn dripped with fall.

There in an oak, juxtaposed against the fog, was a bright red male cardinal. Instantly this flashed to mind: against the gray of unemployment or under-employment, how do YOU stand out from the crowd?

It is both ineffective and inappropriate to complain or pose questions without providing an answer, one which is applicable for anyone seeking work, for all who remain employed in today's world, all those in marketing and sales, frankly all who are in school and even those who are retired.

That covers a lot of ground. And it applies.

Intrigued?

To read the answer, click here.

Perhaps what matters more is who we are versus what we do . . . food for thought.

Until next time,

John

****

About my Blogs – this blog is specifically for job seekers and career changers. If you wish to learn more about the missing spiritual dimension in business, where you can always find honesty today and hope for tomorrow, visit The Golden Rule Guy -- a companion post to this topic was Be a Lamp. Finally, if you are further interested in business principles presented from the Judeo/Christian perspective, visit Bible Based Coaching. And if you care to, please rate my blogs here. Thank you for reading, joining, following and sharing these messages.

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Skype -- goldenruleguy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

To everything, there is a season

2011-11-16T07:05:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends and Colleagues

An ancient tradition says,

To everything, there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to be born and a time to die.

Last night, my stepmother died. I will of course be away for a time. Blogs will resume in the weeks ahead.

For today, my intent in putting this out there is to nudge us all to make the most of our time in the land of the living: to love, to forgive and to live an honorable life worth living -- while we still have time, no matter who we are, what we do or where we live.

Sincerely,

John

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Skype -- goldenruleguy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

The Gift of Life -- Part Four

2011-11-13T13:53:00.012-07:00

Long time readers know that an early blog post broke with giving "advice" on job searching and rather celebrated The Gift of Life. This continues that thread as Part Four.

On November 14, 2008, our second grandchild entered the world and became part of our family tapestry.

Like his grandpa, he has the same initials -- JAF, just a different name.

Like his dad as a young lad, he has become my little buddy. In fact, that is his family nick-name, itself a replication of a phase from long ago when meeting a new child:

"Hi Buddy, what's your name?"

Our little buddy is fascinated with things mechanical and electrical -- always has been. He can focus on and work at the same task for long stretches of time, whether it is a gate handle or light switch. And once verbal, he asked lots of questions -- still does. He is polite, a credit to his home training, and like his sister he is smart, just in differing ways.

He is tender, our little hugger.

It is fascinating to watch genetics at work, itself a credit to the Great Creator of us all. Our little fella came from the opposite side of the same gene pool when compared to his older sister: they have the same parents, same home, same culture, but with differing gifts and personalities.

It is the same dynamic at play with both my adult children. Two can be parented as identically as allowable and yet two can have differing challenges and outcomes. Yet both are loved.

All parents know this: one can struggle with personality and still passionately love the child no matter the age, sex, temperament or troubles. Our kids are different and so are our grandkids; imperfectly and yet from the heart, we love them all. And they are making their way in the world with good values and families of their own. We commend them all.

The Gift of Life is just that -- a gift. It goes by all too fast. We are born, we grow up -- hopefully emotionally -- we age and one day we die, as we will touch on in the next installment of this now five part series.

So I urge you to make the most of your time with those close to you -- or if there is distance or estrangement. If there are gifts, celebrate and honor them. If there are mistakes or hurts, reach out from both sides to bridge the gaps, while there is still is time, while there still is life. Most parents readily admit their mistakes and shortcomings and my father grew up tremendously after I became a parent. That is simply an oblique way of admitting my shortcomings as a child and how much I treasure the remaining time with my father and heart mom.

Thanks for reading. And thank you, buddy, for being part of our family.

I love you,

Grandpa

About my Blogs – this blog is specifically for job seekers and career changers. If you wish to learn more about the missing spiritual dimension in business, where you can always find honesty today and hope for tomorrow, visit The Golden Rule Guy. If you are further interested in business principles presented from the Judeo/Christian perspective, visit Bible Based Coaching. And if you care to, please rate my blogs here. Thank you for reading, joining, following and sharing these messages.

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Skype -- goldenruleguy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

11-11-11 -- what it means for you and me

2011-11-07T11:32:00.012-07:00

Friday commemorates 11-11-11 -- in 2011.

Further, unless we are over 100 years of age, we have never seen the calendar date of 11/11/11 in our life times. Unless we live another 100 years, it will never come again.

Why is this even relevant?

Because of what 11-11-11 means beyond the calendar date. Friday is the memorial of the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month, the ending to the bloodiest most destructive conflict in mankind’s history up until then, the so-called war to end all wars.

At last year's ceremonies, only a few aged survivors remained. At their decease, 11-11-11 will pass from living memory. Will the meaning of 11-11-11 one day be forgotten?

Making war is all too easy. Making peace is hard work. Seems like one describes man's history, seems like making war is in our hearts. We talk about peace, but where is it?

Was 11-11-11 in vain for those who were there?

Take a moment to read some thoughts on what 11-11-11 looked like in living color that cold November morning, and ponder on the work that remains for you and me today: Let Peace Begin with Me.

One day -- soon I hope -- there will be more disagreements, no more conflicts, no more war. There will be . . . peace.

God speed that day.

Sincerely

John

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Skype -- goldenruleguy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

The Power of Networking

2011-11-06T11:23:00.010-07:00

Dear Readers

In today's posting, I want to tell you two stories that attest to the power of networking and how that is the right way to find work in the historic times you and I are living through.

As my last blog post announced, I flew to Atlanta to observe an early Thanksgiving. Several blog ideas came out of that visit, starting with this.

On the outbound flight, as I was walking down the aisle, someone said, "I know you. You work at Chick-fil-A."

I had not even left Salt Lake!

Leaning down, I smiled,

"Yes I do."

I then introduced myself, as did she and as I gave her my Golden Rule Guy business card, she then went on to share her experiences regarding the location where I began working last May. Later she and her husband and I walked through the airport sharing thoughts of the heart before parting ways. WOW, this moment in itself was rewarding, but wait -- here is another.

As I was working the register late last summer, I engaged a guest in sharing silly puns -- word play. After taking her food, she returned a few minutes later as she wanted to tell me the name of a book to read on pun-ism. As I was giving her my email address, I got as far as thegoldenguy@ . . .

"You're John Fox!" she exclaimed. "You're all over the Internet.

Stunned, incredulous, I smiled and rejoined, "Yes I am. WHO ARE YOU?!"

"I'm Amy Adler."

Instantly I knew who Amy was. I had seen her names and posts for many months during my online travels, long before starting at Chick-fil-A.

Amy is a professional résumé writer and career strategist right here in Salt Lake City, and to think we actually networked over a chicken sandwich! If you are job searching, she can help breath new life into your strategy. Be sure to check out her website.

In fact, I found my current job by networking and telling my story.

So here is the main point of this post: the power of networking boils down to how much you are visible and how much you help others, not just by being e-live online but how you walk your talk every day. Regardless of where you live or what you do, even if you are under-employed, you can be visible by making a difference in the lives of others. Don't wait until a better position comes along. As I wrote recently, do good in your sphere of influence, right where you are! Giving to others -- serving others -- helping others versus selfishness -- that the true power of networking, as we have posted so many times here and via the other blog.

Thank you Nancy for flagging me down on the airplane.

Thank you Amy for coming back to my register.

And thank you Eric for being a friend and hiring me until as you said, something better comes along.

My friends, the true power of networking is in your hands. You know what to do. The question is, will you do what you know?

Sincerely,

John

PS -- keep watching at all three blogs as several posts over the next few weeks will be published, all as a result of this early thanksgiving trip and its relevance for you.

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About my Blogs – this blog is specifically for job seekers and career changers. If you wish to learn more about the missing spiritual dimension in business, where you can always find honesty today and hope for tomorrow, visit The Golden Rule Guy. If you are further interested in business principles presented from the Judeo/Christian perspective, visit Bible Based Coaching. And if you care to, please rate my blogs here. Thank you for reading, joining, following and sharing these messages.

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Skype -- goldenruleguy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

An early Thanksgiving

2011-11-01T00:00:00.002-06:00

Dear Friends and Colleagues worldwide,

As I leave for Atlanta to see my family and stepmother who has been given seven weeks to live, I frankly wondered what I could say today that might be of value?

Life seems to bring us extremes:

Sadness and happiness
Ups and downs
Triumphs and tragedies
Being honored and being humbled
We win and we lose
Life and death

These extremes seem to come to us all in time.

Seems as if life was designed that way . . . Life is rarely easy, it is often not fair and at times in life, we are wronged. Seems like we all go through virtually the same stuff . . . seems like what matters is how we react, what we learn and what we do.

In two weeks, I will have been gone from my former coaching position for two years. It has been a time of ups and downs, as many of you have also endured the eco-mess. And we are not out of it yet: I remain under-employed, many millions remain un-employed and for far too many, life is a daily struggle.

But always in the hard times, we can see the good. At least we should try to.

As a family, we are converging in Atlanta to eat an early Thanksgiving. Surely we will laugh for soon enough, we will cry.

Yet that is the cycle of life. We are sobered and yet, we are buoyed.

I am sure you can supply your own examples.

I needed this reminder probably more than sharing it with you. So this short note is a simple reminder to us all: take stock of what you have and with whom you share life. Don't let a day slip through your fingers. Thanksgiving is more than just a day -- it is a way of thinking, a way of life.

Are you having good times? Enjoy them and share them.

Are you having tough times? Endure them and share who you are with others as they share their bounty with you.

In both extremes, that is what life seems to about, for us to learn from this dichotomy.

In whatever way you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, remember it is not Turkey Day -- it is Thanksgiving, the uniquely American holiday applicable for all mankind, designed and foreseen by people who were enduring tough times and yet seeking in their honorable way to both bless and be blessed by the Source of all blessings and of all hope.

Thanksgiving is more than just a day, more than just an American tradition and so much more than belittling it by calling it "Turkey Day" and emphasizing sports and shopping.

During our good times and bad, each and every day, let's remember that Thanksgiving is a mindset, a way of thinking and a way of Life that we can choose.

Your friend from afar,

John

Additional Reading

Click here to read more about what is missing from Thanksgiving

Click here to read about the role of choice in Thanksgiving

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Skype -- goldenruleguy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

Online Etiquette -- it's up to you and me!

2011-10-31T00:00:00.002-06:00

The great paradox of the 21st century is that in this age of powerful technology, the biggest problems we face are problems of the human soul. Ralph Peters, novelist

Greetings friends,

Due to the primacy of social networking and the escalation of e-issues, I am posting this as a PSA and will leave it up for several days.

According to a recent survey, 91% of employers use social networking sites to conduct due diligence on candidates. That's huge! This precedes contacting the applicant, as whatever is found will drive an employer's desire to reach out or discard the application.

Like it or not, this is the world in which applicants live and breath.

Having just witnessed from afar yet another set of acerbic public online exchanges with vituperation and venom -- one on a religious forum and another on a job hunting forum!! -- I again wish to go on the record with a perspective and a plea applicable to us all regardless of where we live on Planet Earth.

To read the rest of the blog, just click here.

Thanks for reading,

John

About my Blogs – Helping Others Seeking Work is specifically for job seekers and career changers. If you found this useful and wish to learn more about the missing spiritual dimension in business, be sure to visit Honesty Today, Hope for Tomorrow . If you care to, please rate my blogs here. Thank you for reading, joining, following and sharing these messages.

****

John Alan Fox,
The Golden Rule Guy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

Hiring Faces, not Résumés! PS

2011-10-30T00:00:00.001-06:00

Dear Readers,

After posting this on publicly to help others, I am posting it here to help you.

NO ONE HIRES A RESUME!!

Sorry to look like I am shouting, but if I could, I would stand with a billion-watt megaphone from atop the tower that Gustav Eiffel designed.

In today's 21st Century, people hire faces, not résumés or CVs. Be sure to read the preceding blog for context and advice.

I know that statement is shocking and already, sadly, some have been ugly in their disagreement. Yet in today's world, it is the truth.

Don't get me wrong.

A résumé or CV is important. It markets you. Many fine professionals are out there to help you. In that way, they are better writers than I, for they know how to distill you and put you on paper in a way that looks modern.

If you need a recommendation, reach out, or if you need career guidance, I can point you to honorable people who have dedicated their careers to helping people with theirs.

But a résumé alone won't land you a job. It doesn't sell you, it only markets you and even in the professional sense, many do not understand the difference.

Perhaps a résumé is only a door knocker for the interview . . . perhaps. And you do need one -- or several versions, one for public viewing, and many for sending that speak to differing strengths or roles. Talk to your career coach or job search professional.

But if you rely on a résumé alone, i.e., posting your paper to job boards, sending out e-blasts, etc. you will likely reap a harvest of discouragement a plenty and employment a not.

Consider, in today's climate, is 9% unemployment real? When one factors in the growing under-employed, could the true figure be closer to 20%?!

So each one applicant is, at bare minimum, competing against 19 others every time one applies. The actual figure is likely much higher in certain sectors.

And candidly, sadly, the older one is, or the longer one has been out of work, the worse this becomes. This makes no distinction among the educated, either. One can have a double degree, as I have, or advanced degrees as many have and still, people feel as if they cannot give themselves away. It is analogous to standing on a street corner unable to give away gold bricks!! That is how many feel.

Worse, for those so affected, this feels as if as if there is a scarlet "PwP" tattooed to millions of foreheads, standing for Pariah with plague! Or "U" for Unemployed or Under-employed. To use the pronoun, we feel as if others avoid us, run from us and wonder if we will ever find meaningful work again.

For we men, we wonder if we will ever again be able to take care of our wives and families.

It can be debilitating.

I purposely typed that hoping to encourage any who are down, as this under-employed professional has been.

No offense meant to hiring professionals of all ilks. We need you! We feel for you, too, as written in previous blogs and posts.

So applicants, when we post our résumés to the job boards, when we do e-blasts on jobs posted, either to overloaded HR managers or recruiters, are we helping or hurting our chances?

When we read from scores of hiring professionals that their #1 complaint is being bombarded by blasters with neither the skillset nor experience for a posted position, do we listen to their frustration?!

If we stoop to this, we make ourselves look STOO-pid!! We have wasted their time -- and ours. And we may have blacklisted our chances of ever being considered for a job we COULD do!

Solution?

Know yourself and tell your story. Tell your story, as one blog advised. Know what you can do and what you should avoid. Be humble about your strengths and honest about your shortcomings.

I talked about mine earlier this year in the #1 read post from my other blog: DO what you were called to do.

So know yourself. Know your story. Then share your story far and wide. Who better to help sell you and market you than those who know you!

Friends, I blog to help others seeking work while building my brand as a communicator and adult learning professional. Be sure to spend some time going through this blog -- it is chock full of posts -- hundreds -- most of which in 2011 are specifically for job seekers and career changers.

For example, be sure to find the post in September called The 3Gs of Job Searching.

You may wish to follow my other blog, The Golden Rule Guy.

In the meanwhile, hold your head up. You are made in the image of the Creator. The sample prayer says, "Give us this day our daily bread." Working or looking for work must be the right honorable thing to do to do.

One day, all men and women will find meaningful work. That is the work world to which this blog is dedicated.

And, if you are unemployed, consider taking a bridge job -- as I have done -- while you continue seeking career work -- as I am doing. This will bolster your spirits and perhaps re-fuel your idea tank, as this has with me.

Hope this is helpful and if so, please share.

All the best,

John

About my Blogs – Helping Others Seeking Work is specifically for job seekers and career changers. If you found this useful and wish to learn more about the missing spiritual dimension in business, where you can always find honesty today and hope for tomorrow, visit The Golden Rule Guy. If you are further interested in business principles presented from the Judeo/Christian perspective, visit Bible Based Coaching. And if you care to, please rate my blogs here. Thank you for reading, joining, following and sharing these messages.

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Skype -- goldenruleguy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

Hiring Faces, not Résumés!

2011-10-28T00:00:00.003-06:00

Author's Note --

The title of this post will become clear as you read. If you are unemployed or underemployed, believe me it applies to you. But if you are employed, consider watching the 1991 movie The Doctor and consider that what is discussed herein could impact you, too!

Accordingly, whether you are:

C-level
Entry level
Small business owner
Large business manage
Human resources professional
Recruiter or head hunter
Career counselor
Any job provider . . .
This post needs to be shared to help our world get back to work!

Thanks for reading.

****

Dear Readers,

First the title: I know it is shocking. Some will disagree. I will brave that and proceed.

In advance I apologize for any typos made as I rush this out and for the length. But I am so keen on sharing with others what I have learned, for what we will see in this blog IS worth reading and sharing.

Last March, I posted a promise. It is keep in this post.

In the PS of a previous post, Are you reaching out? I promised to share one question that will help you in your job hunting.

Ready?

Here t'is:

"Whom do you know

that I should be talking to?"

That's it! Plain 'n' simple, short 'n' sweet.

Of whom do you ask this? Everyone!

Everyone includes . . . everyone -- DUH. This means everyone you meet, have met or will meet, as long as you are unemployed and/or seeking work.

How best do you pose this question? Success is best accomplished face-to-face or next, on the phone.

You "can" do this via email, Linkedin, Facebook, but you simply will not have the same instant response.

I would not do this at church but outside the sanctuary, ask every church friend! Include your pastor. I did.

If employed and seeking to move on, I would not do this on the premises but rather discreetly away from work and never on work email or the instant message system. Just not ethical . . .

You should ask every friend.

Include former colleagues, vendors, valued associates, your neighbors, your insurance provider, your attorney, etc . . . you get the picture.

You can and also should ask this of your relatives.

Tell everyone you know that you are seeking work and strive be clear about what you are seeking. Even if you are still unclear -- and that is okay! -- just say so while reminding the listener of your skillset.

Chances are, if they know you, you won't need to -- they already have your best interest at heart!!!!

Even stay in touch -- carefully asking for permission first -- with those with whom you have interviewed with -- providing you followed the advice given in a previous blog A Proven Way to Set you Apart.

Again for em-pha-sis . . .

"Whom do you know
that I should be talking to?"

I've shown you what to say using good grammar. Now why should we ask this?

As one kind gentle professional recently reminded me,

Nobody hires a résumé!

{ Substitute "CV" if that moniker applies. }

No matter our past, pedigree or possibilities, we will never get past that door, inbox or e-box unless invited. There must be a compelling reason why that other human being -- and hiring people are people, too! -- will take that five to maybe ten seconds -- and that's a stretch!! -- to examine who we are and what we can offer.

As this job search professional said, "People hire people."

People hire a face: not a sheet or sheets of paper, or an email, or a web page, not a promise or possibilities or a great suit of clothes -- nor even a blog -- hint, that's taking a direct dig at moi!

All these may add up -- may -- in his or her mind . . . Yet the starting place for you and me is simple: people hire people. Period.

Yes, blog and post and connect online. We gotta be out there in e-land. If we do not have professional appearing Facebook and Linkedin pages, and if we are not tweeting our pretty little songs, we don't exist in today's e-world!

But think of it like this -- an old photo is often someone we knew. We gotta be a person that others know now!

As this man said, people hire people they know. As I once taught my hundreds of financial services and insurance clients, people do business with people they know.

But as the crisis escalated and deepened, I added two caveats:

People they liked, and . . .
People they trusted!

My friends, here's the kicker -- in today's world, all business relationships are built on the 3Ts:

Time
Technology -- and
Trust! -- email me for an article on this!

For the tapestry of trust is woven using many threads, taking time and patience to create such a fine fabric that a potential employer will want try it on.

Often we do not buy until there is a need. We human beings instinctively fear change. But we will also go for what makes us look good and feel good.

So if you want a potential employer to give your résumé or CV more than the five-to-ten seconds given to the HUNDREDS which cross potential employers' desks when trying to fill just one role . . . ya gotta stand out!

Now, what do you do with the names you will receive from asking our question, Whom do you know that I should be talking to?

You call 'em!

Whadaya say?!

The answer was posted in April, click here.

For now, for today, just practice this one tip every time you make face-to-face, voice-to-voice or electronically you-to-them contact!

One final time . . .

"Whom do you know

that I should be talking to?"

And if you know of someone who I should be talking to, I would value hearing from you.

Your friend from afar,

John

PS -- three caveats:

One, just before I began typing this last spring, I received two calls on my cell phone, one from a friend with a job lead he came across, and the other courtesy of one of my wife's coworkers who gave out my name to someone in her circle, someone who shares my professional background.

Two, just after I posted this, I got an email from a former colleague whom I had called three days previously -- although he now lives thousands of miles away, he passed on several names of people who live here where I live.

Finally, one reader of this topic posted a public rebuke replete with character assassination and name calling. Again I plead, whatever we put out there in today's e-world is forever etched into cyber-stone. So please, be kind in your postings and responses, you just never know who might be looking who is also in a position to interview you!

Remember, people hire people they know, like and trust! So get busy and best wishes.

****

About my Blogs – If you found this useful and wish to learn more about the missing spiritual dimension in business, where you can always find honesty today and hope for tomorrow, visit Honesty Today, Hope for Tomorrow. And if you care to, please rate my blogs here. Thank you for reading, joining, following and sharing these messages.

****

John Alan Fox,
The Golden Rule Guy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

If you are not online, you do not exist!!

2011-10-24T12:29:00.030-06:00

Yesterday's courtesy in today's e-world!

Dear Friends,

In today's pulsating 21st century near instant e-world, especially if you are an older job seeker or career changer, if you are not online, you do not exist! Sad perhaps, true nonetheless.

Today's post reiterates your need to be visible and alive online using tools like Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, blogging and other platforms.

Why? A future blog based on a true story of connecting with a professional colleague will speak to this, so please keep reading this blog!

For today, let's notice three ways to be noticed in today's e-world:

1. A custom crafted and well thought out online presence allows you to put the best face on who you are and what you have done and what you still can do for a potential employer. (For example, here is my custom online profile.) Today's e-world also allows you to market not just your skillset but who you are. You craft an online reputation every time you post -- make sure you are putting your best e-foot forward. Many previous posts discuss online etiquette and courtesy here and at The Golden Rule Guy blog.

2. An online presence allows you to connect with and network with others, not just to beg for a job, introduction or recommendation. Rather, being online gives you the chance to help others like you, those who are unemployed, underemployed or merely seeking a career change. This is not just being a "nice" person, it is the right thing to do, the right way to live at work and at home. This "pay it forward" approach has been discussed here many times and also at The Golden Rule Guy blog and, as stated above, a future post will speak to how professionally connecting with, networking with and helping others can ripple back to us in time.

3. An online presence allows potential job providers the chance to learn about you in advance. Believe me, they will! For example, see this post from Linkedin which says an astounding 91% of employers use social networking sites to check out job applicants. That's huge! In today's post-meltdown climate, many firms have put HR duties onto already-busy hiring managers who have little time to sift 'n sort through stacks of cover letters and career epistles, no matter how well written. Please believe me, in today's e-world, your résumé or CV alone are not enough to get you an interview. Nor is your great education, your past experiences, your good references or even your good looks! Sorry, but in today's e-world, that's the sad e-truth.

In keeping with my tagline from The Golden Rule Guy blog, of honesty today and hope for tomorrow, I just gave you the bad news.

So what's the good news?

Learn to use social media! You can become SMM savvy, even if you are a tech-NOT in recovery like me!

SMM just means Social Media Marketing. Today's firms know this. But if you are a job seeker or career changer, it is doubly true: you must learn to use social media to market and sell yourself if you are to be alive and found "out there" in today's ever-shrinking marketplace and hiring arena bloated with other equally-appealing applicants.

Remember, you live in today's e-world. Think of the Internet as the ocean teeming with life. To get hooked and reeled into the hiring boat, you must stick out enough for the bait to be tossed to you. From there, it is up to you.

So get out there. Get noticed. Get known. Build your e-brand, one post at a time. And as the picture illustrates, reach your hand through the ether. Make friends and help others. In time, the hiring hand will be extended.

Go through this blog. You will find a plethora of tips, including a series for job seekers and those on Linkedin.

Do yourself a favor: buy Job Searching Using Social Media for Dummies by Joshua Waldman. You can learn about his book here and about him via his online professional profile here.

Go through my online portfolio at the link below. There are literally dozens of articles, PSAs and white papers to help virtually anyone.

And finally, write me if this helps or if I can help. I am just like many of you and am simply striving to pass on what I have learned, helping others seeking work while I continue to seek a way to better leverage my past in to a new future.

To summarize: if you are not online in today's e-world, you do not exist. Sadly, some view SMM as a golden nirvana. Sadly, predictably, it's not true! For unless we individually and collectively strive to help our fellow man versus trying to get sales or jobs, we are only using SMM with the same old tired techniques that caused, deepened and are still driving the recession.

The key is not SMM but rather how we use it. This post was primarily for job seekers and career changers, yet this shows it is applicable for all. Thank you for reading, I hope you will share it among your networks.

In closing, as we have seen in today's post, in today's e-world, if you are not online, you do not exist. So take action today.

Be e-live and thrive!

Sincerely,

John

About my blogs: the goal here is helping others seeking work. If you wish to learn more about the missing spiritual dimension in business, where you can always find honesty today and hope for tomorrow, be sure to visit Honesty Today, Hope for Tomorrow. If you care to, please rate my blogs here. Thank you for reading, joining, following and sharing these messages.

****

John Alan Fox,
The Golden Rule Guy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

Hello friends!

2011-10-23T14:58:00.007-06:00

The Golden Rule Guy is back, tired but refreshed, ready to resume posting messages that help others. Please keep watch at the other blogs for helpful topics (such as this one). New posts will resume here shortly.

Remember, this blog's goal is helping others seeking work. If you wish to learn more about the missing spiritual dimension in business, where you can always find honesty today and hope for tomorrow, be sure to visit The Golden Rule Guy. If you are further interested in Biblically-based business principles from the Judeo/Christian perspective, I invited you to visit Bible Based Coaching.

And finally, if you care to, please rate my blogs here. Thank you for reading, joining, following and sharing these messages. Whether you are a job seeker or career changer, or one who follows this blog, what matters is what we do with what we know and helping others accordingly.

Alone we cannot change the world but together, we can make a difference.

Sincerely,

John

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Skype -- goldenruleguy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

Our annual blog break

2011-10-07T16:43:00.017-06:00

Dear Friends,

Long time readers and colleagues know that each year, we take a pause in the fall to be refreshed in our core beliefs.

Accordingly, these messages now take an annual break. Thank you for another year of sharing topics that I hope are educational. It has been gratifying to see the number of nations and readers continue to grow.

If you are finding this blog useful and wish to learn more about the missing spiritual dimension in business, where you can always find honesty today and hope for tomorrow, be sure to visit my other blog, The Golden Rule Guy.

Or if you are further interested in Biblically-based business principles from the Judeo/Christian perspective, visit my original blog, Bible Based Coaching.

If you care to, please rate my blogs here. And please share.

For two inspiring messages distilled from two previous annual trips, click here and here. Or you may wish to peruse previous posts. Either way, there are many topics to choose from via the three blogs.

New posts will resume in November.

Please remember what was discussed in a previous blog regarding how to approach America's most overlooked holiday. Click here and here.

Thank you for reading, joining, following and sharing these messages.

Sincerely,

John

PS -- if you happen to be a C-level executive know of a firm who has Escalator Syndrome, please be sure to read and share this 42-page white paper for the solution.

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Skype -- goldenruleguy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement

2011-10-03T14:55:00.000-06:00

Greetings friends,

This Friday at sundown marks another special day in the high holy day season for members of the Jewish faith around the world observing Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, as well as for Christians who observe this day from the Christian tradition.

Many will also observe Sukkot, also known as The Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day. These are the final holy days until next spring.

A special "Best Wishes!" to all my Jewish and Christian colleagues and friends who mark this wonderful time of year. May your festivals and services be special and uplifting.

These messages now take an annual break, to resume the week ending October 28th.

Shalom to us all. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for all mankind, looking to that future world of peace for all of Abraham's children and all others all over the world.

Sincerely,

John

Defined by your healing, not by your hurts

2011-10-03T10:21:00.002-06:00

Dear Readers,

I found the picture above and just loved it! Made a great way to visualize this post.

Last October, I was moderating a professional conversation when a comment jumped off the screen!

Literally, the poster -- a fellow job seeker -- called their parents stupid, using words and tone inappropriate for public consumption. It was uncomfortable to read -- and highly disrespectful.

I was shocked -- and saddened.

Accordingly, I sent the poster a pleading note, postulating that whatever we put "out there" today is forever etched in cyber-stone tomorrow. Job seekers, beware.

Sadly, the person clung to their position.

It was obvious, this fellow citizen of our City on the Hill was defined not by education and experience but rather by pain. Likely this person has lived with blame and shame all their life. Those who did the hurting should be ashamed: yet where does that unknown leave this fellow hurting human being?!

In a desire to help, I shared the story related both in print for a church audience and via my other blog in a post entitled Spank the Book -- Heal the Heart. While this story includes me, it is not about me. Rather, it is all about how the Great Creator of us all desires to heal us of the hurts and offenses which come our way all too often in life, at work or at home.

It is not my intent to have a theological nor mental health debate but rather to share what I have learned in my personal journey. Often we must show a fervent desire and take ownership of our healing. This is not easy. Often, healing also means taking responsibility for any hurts we may have caused. You can read a bit of that in my first blog post back in June 2010 entitled "Plant your Tree." Why not read it when you finish, you will be inspired.

If you are in pain, please act. Healing is possible.

There is no shame in this, only in not seeking help, whether from clergy or someone professional. Many have dedicated their lives -- as has this lay person -- to helping others.

Make that call, take the first step. Reach out to whomever can help you begin to take charge of your life. One of my dear friends called this "baby steps." But in time, baby steps come adult steps and just as we cheer all who run the marathon, others will cheer you on as you run your race. [ I already do. :) ]

Believe it or not, yesterday's tears can be part of tomorrow's cheers if you take action this year, this day, this moment. For NOW is the time to act.

Wouldn't you like to taste freedom before you die?

Friends, my sole purpose in sharing my journey is to offer some honesty today in the hopes that you will be inspired to do your part and find hope for tomorrow.

I urge you -- be defined by your healing, not by your hurts. It is possible, it is by choice and it is up to you.

Sincerely,

John

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Skype -- goldenruleguy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

Résumé Prep -- a guest post by Nancy Anderson

2011-09-30T08:13:00.000-06:00

Dear Readers,

I am always seeking guest bloggers who write well, have a compelling message and share my respect for The Golden Rule and helping others.

Accordingly, one of my professional colleagues has submitted the following post.

****

Résumés and Goal Statements:
Similar Preparation Steps

by Nancy Range Anderson

While giving a résumé preparation class recently to a very bright group of job seekers, I had a mini epiphany. Let me share it.

I noticed that when preparing their résumés, most people have trouble coming up with measurable, specific examples of their past achievements. Too many résumés look exactly like job descriptions and contain mediocre phrases such as,

"Displays excellent communication skills" and
"Utilizes project management tools" or
"Demonstrates leadership skills"

Since these words don't tell me anything about a person's skill set, how are they going to make an impact to the hiring manager?

It dawned on me to relate creating résumé statements to that of goal setting. I asked the group how many of them participated in annual goal setting at their former companies? The majority had.

Then I asked them how they went about it and most of them followed the SMART acronym:

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timely

We then took this and applied it to creating résumé statements.

We decided that we didn't really need the A and the R.

But we certainly did need the S, M and T.

So what does SMT look like in your résumé prep?

Specific: Make your résumé impactful by being specific.

What did you do that made an impression? Let's say that you once managed a large domestic operating unit. Don't just say that. Replace it with, "Managed $24MM US budget with influence on $43M North American unit expenditures with emphasis on improving total cost of ownership. 2010 accumulated cost savings of $1.1 M and projected 2011 savings of $584K" -- very smart. This has much more of an effect.

Measurable: How were you acknowledged?

For example, did your excellent customer service skills save time or money? In other words, what did your excellent skills result in? Here’s an example: "Plan and schedule weekly shift work, conduct monthly quality control calls and correct service problems to ensure clients are satisfied with support and services resulting in a consistent completion rate of 98%." This is so much stronger and smarter than say, “Excellent customer service skills.”

Timely: Were you consistently ahead?

Regarding projected schedules, did you continually achieve your target? Did something that you designed, developed or implemented save time for you, your organization or customer? An example is," Developed process validation and operating procedures for a start-up pharmaceutical production facility ahead of scheduled implementation date resulting in a 20% increase in operating revenue.”

With this SMT formula, now can you see the difference?

Think about goal setting when you create your resume statements by asking yourself these three questions:

1. What did I accomplish?

2. What did this result in?

3. Why was this accomplishment meaningful, to the client, the organization or others?

In closing, I hope you found this post helpful. Remember the SMT formula in your résumé preparation. Don’t let your résumé like just another BO-ring job description!

If you do, your résumé – and you -- may be passed over.

****

About the Author:

After a meaningful career, which includes being downsized, in 2008 Nancy Anderson founded Blackbird Learning Associates to one end: to use what she had learned in corporate HR and training to help job seekers heal their broken wings to fly again: sure fits in with the motto of this blog.

Nancy authored Job Searching for Moms and has been a job change counselor for several years, with a knack for résumé preparation following the discovery process.

Except for replacing resume with the formal résumé throughout her piece, I have posted Nancy's helpful blog virtually word-for-word with just a few minor edits, to one intent -- to help you with your résumé and job searching.

If you live in or near northern New Jersey, or if you would like to have a second opinion, Nancy's gentle caring style and expertise will endear you to her as a true career healer.

It is my pleasure both to endorse and recommend Nancy Anderson and to publish her post. Be sure to click on the links, either to buy Nancy's book or to reach out to her for an initial consultation.

And be sure to see my recent presentation, The 3Gs of Job Searching.

Thank you for reading. As always, please share if this helped you.

****

About my Blogs – Helping Others Seeking Work is specifically for job seekers. If you found this useful and wish to learn more about the missing spiritual dimension in business, where you can find honesty today and hope for tomorrow, be sure to visit my other blog, The Golden Rule Guy. If you are further interested in Biblically-based business principles from the Judeo/Christian perspective, visit my blog, Bible Based Coaching. If you care to, please rate my blogs here. Thank you for reading, joining, following and sharing these messages.

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Skype -- goldenruleguy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

Rosh Hashanah, or The Feast of Trumpets

2011-09-28T11:47:00.001-06:00

Greetings friends,

Tonight at sundown marks the beginning of the high holy day season for members of the Jewish faith around the world observing Rosh Hashanah, The Feast of Trumpets, as well as for Christians who observe these days from the Christian tradition. A special "Best Wishes!" to all my Jewish and Christian colleagues and friends who mark this time.

All the best to all of you.

Shalom to us all -- and peace.

Sincerely,

John

Help Me Help You

2011-09-26T00:00:00.001-06:00

Hello friends 'round the world,

The title of this blog was used in a famous movie. I have used it when coaching clients. Now I share it with you.

Actually I thought of naming this installment, I need to hear from you . . .

Because I do.

Please help me help you. Take two minutes, go here to complete my short survey. Your feedback will better enable me to continue as time allows to offer up content you have come to expect that will help you.

Thank you for reading, joining and sharing this blog and for your support and response.

Sincerely,

John

****

Thank you for reading, joining, following and sharing these messages.

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Skype -- goldenruleguy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

The 3 Gs of Job Searching

2011-09-22T07:43:00.007-06:00

Valued Friends and Colleagues,

By the time this is posted and read, I will have enjoyed the privilege of speaking to a job searchers club on how The 3 Gs can help one survive the job search climb.

Special thanks are due to the gentleman who contacted me and asked me to present.

Although I once counseled business owners on marketing and management issues, I am not a job search guru. Nor is résumé preparation my forte.

However, having personally experienced and grown from the unemployment-to-employment saga, I felt I had a credible story of honesty for the head and hope for the heart that might help others. Accordingly, I agreed to present.

In the original spirit of this blog, I am merely paying it forward, passing on what I have learned. I trust you will value what I have prepared and if so, my hope is that this will whet your appetite for more. Here is the link to my presentation entitled, The 3Gs of Job Searching.

What are the 3Gs? Why do they matter, and how could they change your job searching and possibly your life?! Read to see!

If you know a job seeker who could use this, please share. And if you know of an entity which would profit from hearing this in person, please contact me.

As always, if this helps, please share and if you have not done so, please considering joining and following this and my other blogs.

Thank you for reading.

Sincerely,

John

Thank you for reading, joining, following and sharing these messages.

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Skype -- goldenruleguy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

My fellow bloggers -- passing on tips

2011-09-21T00:16:00.003-06:00

My fellow bloggers,

The purpose of this topic is sharing eight posts, hoping to help my fellow bloggers. If you do not have an interest in blogging, this blog’s not for you.

In alphabetical but not in chronological order, these blog titles follow:

A Case of Writer’s Blog

Analyze

Analyzing your blog

Footprints in the Blog

How can I grow my blog?

How to Plan your blog

Plan your blog, blog your plan

To blog or not to blog

Just click on the title to be taken to that posting.

Additionally, I am seeking guest bloggers who wish to help others seeking work, grow their blogs or lend credence and support to this effort.

Guidelines as follows:

Posts must be between 400-500 words
No profanity or vulgar language is permitted
Political or religious debates are off limits
The goal is promoting blogma, not dogma

If interested, send your submission to the email below. Submissions not adhering to these criteria will be rejected. Positive postings will give you and other bloggers exposure within my sphere of influence.

Also, let’s help one another by sharing best practice ideas on how to grow our blogs. In the comments below, include your suggestion for others or me, as I too am still learning, and please include your blog’s URL and purpose.

When we help each other, we serve ourselves. This is a living dynamic principle of the Great Creator of all mankind. When we live and act in harmony with that universal constant at work and home, our lives will be improved and those of others around us. It is as real as the law of gravity and as sure as the rising and setting of tomorrow's sun. Click on both links to read more.

Thanks for reading. GO well and DO good.

Sincerely,

John, aka Blogger-in-Chief

****

Thank you for reading, joining, following and sharing these messages.

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Skype -- goldenruleguy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

What season are you in?

2011-09-20T00:00:00.002-06:00

Hello again,

Today is the last day of summer!

Here in the high desert mountain west of the United States where we make our home, temps are cool-ish. Fall is in the air, in fact it officially begins on the 21st.

Even if you live in the southern hemisphere where spring is budding, I hope you get value from this post.

This time of year reminds me that life has seasons -- winter, spring, summer or fall and no, these are not just lyrics from a song. No matter the season one finds one's self going through, one can grow through them. Life and warmth return. Life springs anew. Fresh growth and fruit come, and then harvest!

This cycle is a true metaphor based on how life on Planet Earth was designed by the Great Creator to proceed year by year.

Beyond the actual time of year, what season are you in? And what are you doing to make the most of where you are right now?

Are you:

Fresh out of school? YAY! May your career be all you hope for. Be willing to start small and work hard.

Happily employed? Great! Be content, serve others and be thankful!

Under-employed? Take heart! While you keep looking, do the best where you are, consider it your paid internship. Serve well, help others and in time, this will return to you.

Unemployed? Need a lift? Check out my recent five-part series entitled Tips for Job Seekers. You may also value Climbing Mount Unemployment, the 2nd highest post since this effort began. It was posted last fall. Take heart -- you will find meaningful work again. Help others who are seeking work, show firms how you can help them, and keep hope alive one day at a time.

Retired? Enjoy it -- you've earned it. Please find a way to give back, for we need your wisdom and perspective! Firms are wise to retain seasoned workers with this in mind. All of us need to keep this in mind.

Now then, for us all, this blogger-in-chief included, it is all too easy to fall back into old patterns, ones that grow weeds of discouragement that choke growth and minimize the harvest. For two companion posts, click here and here. I hope you find them helpful.

Companies go through seasons, too. This is shared to help those employed in sales, marketing, public relations and client service or fulfillment. If your firm is seeking ways of using this time of year to seed your success through the fall, into the winter and into next year, click here. Again, I hope you find it helpful.

So here in the northern hemisphere, today is a cool crisp fall-ish day. Leaves are turning colors. Birds are flying south. Harvests are underway. Soon we will be away on our annual church trip to be renewed and refreshed in core beliefs. As such, this blog will be offline during the latter half of October. A few topics will be posted prior to that time. As always, thank you for reading.

In closing, remember,

No matter what season
You find yourself in,
Take heart.

Seasons change.
Growth remains.

Grow for the harvest!

Sincerely,

John

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Skype -- goldenruleguy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

Five Tips for Job Seekers -- Part Five

2011-09-15T18:00:00.001-06:00

Hello again

Here is the final installment in this five part series. Please review Parts One through Four for context.

Our final point? Balance.

This is the last tip and the shortest of all, one I struggle with: you will be kind to yourself if you will job hunt when fresh. Emailing late at night -- as I was doing when I sent an inquiry via email with a DUMB typo -- will catch us every time and make us look STOO-pid!!

Try to stick to a schedule. Job hunt during the day, stay focused with short breaks. At then end of the day, say 5 or 6 o’clock, STOP! Eat dinner, enjoy the evening, go to bed and SLEEP!!

That way you can start again tomorrow fresh. You are more likely to follow the preceding four tips if you are fresh and if you are not trying to rush through an application process.

That’s it. Five tips – it makes the acronym TCERB. Spelled backwards? BRECT. What does it mean?!!

Nothing . . .

Except that we each have five fingers. These are five tips, common sense tips. And while we use ten fingers to type, we can remember our five tips twice for emphasis.

BRECT or TCERB, I hope these help you. If nothing else, and here comes the play on words, these five tips will help you t’curb the natural tendency to send the same ol’ résumé and letter over and over.

Groan.

But I hope this helps you to remember. As Spock said to Dr. McCoy in the 1982 Star Trek movie Wrath of Khan . . . Remember.

Yes, these are tough times. And while one future day the storm will pass and peace will return, ‘til that day comes, we gotta help one another however as we can. This series and this blog are my way of helping. Hope this helps you as much as writing this helped me.

In closing, why don't you reach out to help others, too? Why not share what you have learned?! Email your thoughts or success stories in the comments box or if you prefer to contact me privately, you can do so via email, Linkedin or Facebook -- see below.

Thank you for reading. GO well.

Sincerely,

John

PS – please join and follow my blog. It is written to help you on your journey.

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Skype -- goldenruleguy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

Five Tips for Job Seekers -- Part Four

2011-09-15T00:00:00.003-06:00

Author's Note, this is the 4th in a 5-part series. Be sure to review the preceding installments before proceeding.

Hello again,

To continue our series, here is the next point:

D. Respect

These are difficult historic days we are living through. Unemployment and under employment is higher than in most of our lifetimes. This is The Great Recession!!

Accordingly, this tip is short but to the point. Job providers are human too. They are men and women young and old, overloaded and tired, just like you and me.

In one case, I actually saw an HR person’s post in which she talked about going home at night to cry over all those who had lost their jobs, their dignity, their insurance, their savings and in some extreme cases, their homes. HR people are often caught between a rock of their firm’s small need and the hard place of their feelings as they interview perhaps scores for few open jobs.

In another case, I myself was chosen out of 400 applications – 400 hundred!! From there, the HR person culled out 300, leaving 100 – that’s one hundred people to interview. During my 20-minute meeting, I told the three I met with how I felt for them. For they were going to meet with all one hundred applicants – just to choose one person. 400 to one – wow!

So be kind to your job provider friends. Don't post “blame all HR people” notes online. Don’t take a swipe at all firms, at the government, etc. See my blog Speak the truth.

One more point to go and we are almost done with this series!

Thanks for reading,

John

PS -- if you know of someone to whom I should be speaking, please let me know! To reach out, send your note to me at the address below -- thanks!

****

About my Blogs –This blog, Helping Others Seeking Work, is specifically for job seekers. If you found this useful and wish to learn more about the missing spiritual dimension in business, where you can find honesty today and hope for tomorrow, be sure to visit my other blog, The Golden Rule Guy. If you are further interested in Biblically-based business principles from the Judeo/Christian perspective, visit my blog, Bible Based Coaching. If you care to, please rate my blogs here.

Thank you for reading, joining, following and sharing these messages.

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Follow on Twitter -- goldenruleguy

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, my Portfolio and Email

Five Tips for Job Seekers -- Part Three

2011-09-14T00:01:00.000-06:00

Author's Note

Please make sure you review the two preceding blogs for context.

****

Here is the third installment in our series:

C. Edit

Whatever you send, re-read before pressing send!

Re-read your cover letter and résumé, especially if you followed the second point. My publisher always said our eyes compensate, and especially more so when they become tired. You think you have seen something which is not on the screen. It is brutal to edit from the screen!!

So edit. Re-read. Look things over. Nothing spells unprofessional like dumb GLARING typos, even if in the email.

Also, if you are not a good speller, realize that spell check will not strain out every thing. For example -- and please do not be offended -- the word "pubic" will not be caught because it is a real word -- if one if applying for public relations jobs. This actually happened to me in college, where I caught this in a paper. I lined through it and explained it to the professor. Graciously, Dr. Dave laughed, as he had made the same mistake in his college career. Whew!

Here are common spelling mistakes:

There vs. their

Where vs. wear

Hear vs. hear

Its vs. it’s -- I started to send this and I know better!!

Versus vs. verses - I saw that yesterday in an engineer colleague’s email

If you wonder about comma use, here is a rule from college: FANBOYS:

For

And

Nor

But

Yet

Always use a comma after these. Since there are two schools of thought, I adhere to this one. Not all do and if you do not, please, do, not, shoot -- the messenger!!

That's it for this tip. Keep watch for the next one!

All the best

John

****

PS – Please rate my blogs here.

About my Blogs –This blog, Helping Others Seeking Work, is specifically for job seekers. If you found this useful and wish to learn more about the missing spiritual dimension in business, where you can find honesty today and hope for tomorrow, be sure to visit my other blog, The Golden Rule Guy. If you are further interested in Biblically-based business principles from the Judeo/Christian perspective, visit my blog, Bible Based Coaching.

Thank you for reading, joining, following and sharing these messages.

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Follow on Twitter -- goldenruleguy

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, my Portfolio and Email

Five Tips for Job Seekers -- Part Two

2011-09-13T00:00:00.000-06:00

Greetings everyone,

This is the 2nd installment in this series. Please review Part One after reading this blog.

Let’s continue:

2. Customize -- in today’s applicant rich environment, you and I must stand out.

Unfortunately, you and I only have 3-5 seconds of “eye time.” That may well be the actual amount of time a recruiter, hiring manager or human resource clerk will give to a résumé and cover letter. More on that in an upcoming blog . . .

The trick is, you only have a few seconds to make a good impression.

SO . . .

Do not just send the résumé or cover letter that you posted to your profile. Doing so will be viewed as SPAM, a so-called food which some feel is not meant for human consumption!! :)

When you do come across a job you like well enough to apply for, once again, do not just send your standard résumé, especially if that entails forwarding a copy from Linkedin, a website like Monster or a local job services board like Utah’s DWS.

In fact, one should never continue to send the same résumé over and over. That spells trash bin!!!!

Rather, copy and paste the actual job description into your résumé. Then fold that into your experience.

Here’s the caveat: be honest! If something doesn't fit, don't fudge.

Always tell the truth while concurrently offering who you are and what you have done in the light of the requirements provided by the one offering the position. Last summer I witnessed a dialogue on résumé cheating and I implore you, don't go there!!

Be who you claim to be -- nothing more, nothing less.

If you have more than one focus, as one recruiter told me, you can have multiple versions of your résumé on Monster, etc. by using corresponding emails. For example, here are two of mine:

Fox.coach@gmail.com – this profile stressed my coaching experience and was limited only to the six years spent in that career

Foxman.communications@gmail.com – this profile showcased my experience in managing internal and external communications and included training over several years

thegoldenruleguy@gmail.com – The Golden Rule is my brand, hence my moniker and email

Friends, I sure do not have all the answers, just offering these few tips to pay forward what I have learned. Would value hearing from you if you know of tips you have used and can pass on to your fellow job hunting friends.

In closing, even when you have a standard document posted "out there," use it as a template. When the online profile gives you the choice of sending your résumé versus pasting in, always choose this approach.

That's it for now. Until next time,

Good luck and GO well!

John

****

PS – Please rate my blogs here.

Follow on Twitter -- goldenruleguy

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, my Portfolio and Email

Five Tips for Job Seekers -- Part One

2011-09-12T08:56:00.002-06:00

Greetings everyone,

This is the first of a multi-part series.

While the original goal with this blog was building my brand as a job seeker, my companion goal was also helping others seeking work by paying it forward, by passing on what I had learned from one fellow job seeker to another. Although I am now employed, that second goal has only intensified.

What follows in this series then are five common sense tips for job hunters. By no means is this some complete list of all you need to know.

Nor was this inspired. What did “inspire” this was finding a typo on one of my on-line profiles! I had applied for a job late one night and later found a glaring gaff in what I had sent. I had to re-send my information. Embarrassing!!

So who am I? Just a seasoned ex-job seeker and current under-employed human being -- one who is to one degree or another guilty of all these at one time or another. Even if you've seen them before, consider them reminders we all can use.

Let’s get started:

1. Thoroughness

A recruiter told me the week this was originally written that aside from being recommended to him by someone on Linkedin, the only reason he reached out to me was because he viewed my profile and found it “complete.” That felt good to hear that, after one full year of tweaking. Case in point, I recently updated it yet again.

Have a good picture. Use Box.net, create some folders and upload anything job providers can download to learn about you.

In addition, make sure your profile and any documents are typo free! For example, on the UTAH DWS online job board, one cannot use quotation marks, these cause typos.

So always view your stuff in “view” mode to ensure accuracy. This applies to Monster, Linkedin, etc.

Feel free to check out my portfolio -- http://www.box.net/shared/fri4jz8e5x

Feel free to check out my profile -- http://www.linkedin.com/in/thegoldenruleguy

Feel free to make a suggestion if I have missed something.

That's all for now. Keep checking back for Tip #2. This series promises to be practical to help others seeking work.

Sincerely,

John

PS -- if this helped you, please join the blog to follow and please share!

PPS – Please rate my blogs here.

Blogs --

The Golden Rule Guy
The Missing Dimension
Helping Others Seeking Work

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Follow on Twitter -- goldenruleguy

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, my Portfolio and Email

9 11 -- Where were you?

2011-09-11T00:00:00.000-06:00

Dear Readers,

In 2009, I wrote a poem called Where were you? You can read it at the end of this post. Permission is given to share.

Where were you? was written to commemorate the horrific tragedy we refer to simply as "9 11." It honored those who responded, those who survived and those who died. Ten years later, its meaning still rings fresh.

I remember exactly where I was, with my wife out of town and my daughter having flown through NYC the day before. I know exactly what I was doing when I heard the news from a friend whose voice urged me to "Turn on the news . . . NOW!"

I was transfixed in numb horror as the towers fell. I watched the images over and over 'til I could no longer do so. They remain etched into my inner-most person, much as many felt about December 7th or where they were on another fateful day in November 1963.

I remember exactly where I was.

Likely so do you.

So do your family and friends -- and theirs.

If you are employed, regardless of role, so do your clients/customers/guests/buyers/patients/ end users or whatever name you use.

For that matter, so do your prospective buying relationships, your strategic partners (what some call center-of-influence friends), your vendors, your attorney, CPA, dentist, doctor, etc . . . in fact anyone within your sphere of influence.

Perhaps you personally know a survivor. I do.

Perhaps you personally know one who died. I also do.

Perhaps you can still taste your tears and fear from that day or from the service at America's National Cathedral or from news on TV . . . again, I still can.

If you have not done so, please make a point to commemorate this fateful day.

After that poem was published by the firm for which I worked back then, one of my clients phoned me days later in shock; upon receiving the poem in the mail, a wealthy prospective client had phoned to say he now wanted to do business with my client. I too was shocked, for that was NOT the motive!

For me, Where were you? was a cathartic release; I merely shared it with as many as I could.

Further, I personally despise how human beings use holidays to make merchandise of their fellow human beings, all for the sake of a sale!

Yet I can affirm that relational messages versus sales literature helped grow the businesses of scores of my clients through the years as I urged them to exhibit a relational versus sales-centric focus. That is the right way in these tumultuous times, and indeed in any time, to grow and stabilize one's business: not mass mail marketing, advertising or cold calling.

Where were you that fateful day? Please make some time to ponder and reflect.

Let us remember and become rededicated to what we claimed during the days following 9 11. For where we were matters far less than where we are today and what we are doing, how we changed for the better as a people and as a person, perhaps as a direct result of those terrible events.

The lives of those who perished on 9 11 were not spent in vain. Accordingly, let us not allow this anniversary to pass in vain.

Respectfully,

John

PS -- here is the poem which I gave permission for my firm to print:

WHERE WERE YOU?

Where were you that fateful day
when the planes came with tears of flames-
And the towers fell?

Did you cry in pain in harm’s cold way
when the planes came and buildings flamed
And heroes rose while towers fell
and life for those and life for us
Forever changed that fateful day?

Where were we those awful days
when tears fell and the churches filled
and promises were made
Across the aisle to sing and act as one?

And where are we these distant days?

Are hopes gone?

Are the songs all sung?

Is the work done?

And have we learned – to live as one?

So where were you that fateful day
when the planes came with tears of flames –
And the towers fell –
and life forever changed…

Where were you that fateful day?

May we never forget.

****

From John Fox,

The Golden Rule Guy

Follow on Twitter -- goldenruleguy

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, my Portfolio and Email

Creating Careers with Confidence

2011-09-07T00:00:00.053-06:00

http://www.amazon.com/Creating-Careers-Confidence-Edward-Colozzi/dp/0135157897

Dear Readers,

If you are doing exactly what you were called to do, then no need to read. Just pay it forward by passing this on to someone who could use this, with my thanks.

For the rest, are you still trying to figure out what to do when you grow up?! Haven't we all been there, done that?! Well, at least most of us have.

If you still have this question, please keep reading.

Are you long-term unemployed? Keep reading.

Recently laid off? Ditto.

Under-employed? Ditto.

Frustrated, "What do I do now?!" Double Ditto!!

Been there, done these on today's 21st Century job field.

If you have questions like these, and if you trust me to bring you posts with relevance, then please trust me again by visiting the link above to review and buy Creating Careers with Confidence by Ed Colozzi. Ed has not asked for this endorsement, and until he reads this does not know I have written this. Let me share why I have.

In late 2009, I was at a career crossroads. After enjoying several years as a published writer and business coach who mentored financial advisors on marketing and management issues, I suddenly found myself, like so many of you, out there in the cold job market! Well into 2010, with marketable skills, a good reputation with great contacts and above all, relevant experience, I still could not find a way to leverage this past into a new future.

As I used to tell my clients, even a coach needs coaching.

It was during this time frame that I first learned about Ed. I was considering a path that had long moved me, that of providing job counseling not to students but to adult learners, so adults would not waste their younger years in dead-end jobs as I had.

Accordingly, I sought an informational interview with someone successful at this career. I then contacted the National Career Development Association.

NCDC informed me that Ed is one of America's foremost authorities on career development and specifically on the link between who one is and what one does.

(Hint, one can read about that from a spiritual vantage point at my other blog, The Golden Rule Guy, see URL below.)

Based on the NCDA recommendation, I telephoned Ed. He was kind and gracious enough to spend time with me gratis. He is perhaps one of the most giving professionals whom I have ever known. Later I bought his book which you can see at the link above.

Ed's book got me started. Wish I had not waited so long, but that point is moot.

Following the book's assignments, I had also several sessions with Ed.

(I am not ashamed to say that late in 2010, I had prayed for someone to come into my life to help me better understand how to transition from my former career into a new life -- for me, Ed was answered prayer, for he too honors the spiritual connection in one's career. Ed practices the way of give that readers have learned about in my posts, and this is my way of returning that to him.)

Ed may not be for everyone, and that's okay. He respects that. While he does not take everyone on as a client, he does strive to help all, which is a major push behind his book.

So even if you cannot afford time with Ed nor feel he is right for you, his book will help you as his ideas have helped multiple thousands of others over decades of work. This is his life's work, his calling -- helping men and women create careers with confidence.

If you are at a crossroads, or better yet in school wondering about your path, asking "What should I do with this life I have been given?" then I urge you: buy his book! My hope is that your life will also be affected for the better.

Sincerely,

John

****

John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

Skype -- goldenruleguy

801.755.8874

Click here for Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, my Portfolio and Email

Helping Others Seeking Work

Welcome to my blog!

Taking a hiatus

Learn about John Fox, The Golden Rule Guy

In the end, Ethics Win

Against the gray (for job seekers and others)

To everything, there is a season

The Gift of Life -- Part Four

11-11-11 -- what it means for you and me

The Power of Networking

An early Thanksgiving

Online Etiquette -- it's up to you and me!

Hiring Faces, not Résumés! PS

Hiring Faces, not Résumés!

If you are not online, you do not exist!!

Hello friends!

Our annual blog break

Dear Friends,

Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement

Greetings friends,

Sincerely,John

Defined by your healing, not by your hurts

Résumé Prep -- a guest post by Nancy Anderson

Rosh Hashanah, or The Feast of Trumpets

Greetings friends,

Help Me Help You

The 3 Gs of Job Searching

My fellow bloggers -- passing on tips

What season are you in?

Five Tips for Job Seekers -- Part Five

Five Tips for Job Seekers -- Part Four

Five Tips for Job Seekers -- Part Three

Five Tips for Job Seekers -- Part Two

Five Tips for Job Seekers -- Part One

9 11 -- Where were you?

Creating Careers with Confidence

Sincerely,

John