The importance of Mentors

(excerps from “TheLadders”

A mentor teaches you faster than you can teach yourself. The stories, the wisdom, the guidance that they provide gives you the benefit of understanding the world or a new adventure before you've actually lived through it. And the emotional support and reassurance that somebody who has "been there, done that" can offer to a wet-behind-the-ears greenhorn is comforting as you navigate your way through new experiences.

The young hero (whatever your age) needs to learn from a master, to grow in wisdom and learning while being guided by somebody with greater experience, to have a sounding board and sympathetic ear in times of turmoil.

But what a mentor provides most is wisdom and insight into whether you should go to that big company or the hot little start-up, whether you ought to stay in your area of functional expertise or move towards more general management, whether you'll be better off working for the tough and demanding boss, or you'll thrive in a more collegial atmosphere.

I'd urge you to cultivate your mentors. Whether he/she's an old boss, or a more senior colleague, or somebody in the industry that you admire, developing those relationships can make your career growth much richer and better-informed.

And you can also get something back by giving back, "The brighter the student, the more the teacher learns." There's no better way to learn, or re-learn, something than by teaching it. And by taking that bright young woman or man under your wing, you'll not only be helping out the next generation, but you'll be surprised at how much you've learned over the years!

Get personal, get job

Business Courier of Cincinnati - by Chris Hughes Courier Contributor

Read more: Get personal, get job - Boston Business Journal

Relying too much on Internet job boards, and relying too little on networking, can result in prolonged unemployment.
That’s because this is a job market where employers are routinely bombarded with hundreds of inquiries for advertised positions, according to human resources professionals and recruiters.

“A person spending most of their time online looking for a job is going to have a long and painful search,” said Julie Bauke, president of Congruity Career Consulting. “In a tough economy it is hard to stand out by throwing your résumé in that big, black hole because the number of people doing that naturally increases.” And with so many candidates for companies to choose from, Bauke estimates less than 10 percent of people obtain a job advertised online at popular sites such as Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com or TheLadders.com.

Jobs boards are convenient and easy to navigate, but have become a crutch too many job hunters lean on exclusively, said Derek Jackson, managing partner at Summit Solutions Group. “The Internet has become the first place people look, and unfortunately some rely solely on what they find on job postings online or on corporate websites,” Jackson said.
Donna Trainor, human resources manager at Procter & Gamble Co., experiences firsthand the intense competition for positions advertised on the company’s website. “The high volume of applicants and applications we get every year are primarily online, which sometimes make it hard for people to get jobs,” she said.

Internet searches on jobs boards are not necessarily fruitless, but job seekers should spend less time online and invest more in building a network, Jackson said. It is crucial to build a network comprised of colleagues and friends, create profiles on social networking sites such as LinkedIn to connect with other professionals and be purposeful in attempts to reach out to those already in a position to be helpful. “The best and most effective place to find a solid job lead is going to be your network,” Jackson said. “For most people in that professional rank, the majority of them will find their next opportunity through someone in their own network.”

Since a greater emphasis is being placed on the importance of networking, it is critical job seekers project a professional image at all times within their network. “Everyone is basically their own brand right now,” said Cheryl Besl, public relations director at

Topic Design. “You need to be sure that you are conveying an image you want to convey through LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or MySpace because an employer is going to Google applicants on those social networking sites.” Besl said an excellent way for professionals to improve their personal brand and network is to volunteer for a worthy cause. “It is expected today that professionals are going to be philanthropic or be on a nonprofit committee,” she said. “And it’s a great chance to network, to expose yourself to new people and maybe even broaden your skill set.”

College job fairs provide an opportunity for soon-to-be or recent graduates to build connections.
“We do a lot of our recruiting on campuses since most of our hiring is done with people fresh out of college, so it would be a great help to network with people from P&G that come to campus to recruit,” Trainor said. Candidates able to establish a relationship inside the organization gain a distinct advantage over the rest of the applicant pool. An overlooked method to initiate contact with a recruiter is a simple telephone call, said Paul Wehner, senior search and leadership consultant at The Human Capital Group and The Taplow Group. “There’s a tendency to over utilize e-mail to communicate with recruiters that are overwhelmed with more e-mails than they can manage,” said Wehner, who is also the staffing and recruiting chair at the

Greater Cincinnati Human Resources Association. “If they’ve contacted me about a position, I’m glad to get their phone call as opposed to getting three e-mails. I think the world has become over focused on e-mail as a way of communicating and under focused on use of their phone.” Jackson suggests that after job seekers learn the identity of the recruiter filling a position, they leverage a network contact at that firm who can place a phone call, send a message via e-mail or personally visit human resources to make a recommendation on behalf of the candidate.
“It comes as a great comfort to a hiring manager when someone you know and trust recommends a candidate,” Jackson said. “Internal recruiters are more open to looking closer at that candidate based on the fact that top talent doesn’t recommend anything other than that, so there’s a lot of credibility in that network.”
“The people who already know you, and at least think somewhat highly of you, are the people invested in helping and will speak positively on your behalf,” Bauke said.


Read more: Get personal, get job - Boston Business Journal

How to Cope with being Unemployed

When you lose your job, not only is your usual source of income gone, but also your personal work relationships, daily structures, and an important sense of self-purpose. Unemployment can be, and often is, a shock to your whole system. You can experience some of the same feelings and stresses that you would if you were seriously injured, going through a divorce, or mourning the loss of a loved one. You can go through some or all of the stages of grieving just as you would with any other major loss.

You will probably feel as if you are on an emotional roller-coaster. You may be shocked, angry, or deny that anything bad has happened to you. You will probably worry or feel anxious about how you are going to pay the bills. This can also make you feel frustrated and depressed. Feelings of frustration, anger, hope and excitement will all come and go while you are looking for a new job.

The roller-coaster ride can often keep going until you find a new job. If you have recently lost your job, we hope this pamphlet will help you to understand that you are not alone in your feelings and to help you cope with the difficulties of unemployment.

Why you?

Your job is a very important part of your self-esteem. When you lose your job, your self-esteem may be diminished. You may even begin to feel worthless; it is a common response.

Try to be realistic about why you lost your job. Was it something beyond your control, such as financial problems or political decisions within the company? Or were you somehow responsible?

If you decide you really were responsible for losing your job, do something to improve your job skills. There may be programs available through your local Canada Employment Centre or other community organizations. You can also check out the local library and bookstores for books on improving job skills.

What about money?

You have a right to claim unemployment or welfare benefits that you are entitled to, and you should do it as soon as you possibly can. There is nothing wrong about doing so.

At the same time, start thinking about how to reduce your regular living expenses. Find out about sources of low-cost entertainment, recreation, food and clothing in your community. If you have a family, everyone will need to be involved in making plans to cope with a reduced income.

Create a new daily routine

A job forms a large part of your daily schedule. When you lose your job, it is important for you to build and maintain a new routine. Your search for a new job will, no doubt, take a large part of your new schedule, but it will likely not take up all your time. Remember to maintain recreation and leisure time for yourself. Try to live as normally as you can while you are unemployed.

Reach out for support

We all need to share our burdens. When we do, problems can be put into a better perspective and can seem less difficult.

Talk to your family and friends about the problems you are facing while you are unemployed. Their caring and support can help you cope during this period. You will, no doubt, find they care about you and that you are important to them whether or not you have a job.

Remember, family and friends can also be a valuable source for suggestions and may even help you find a new job. In addition to family and friends, check out local organizations for programs designed to assist unemployed people with building their self-confidence and improving job search skills. Self-help groups may also be available in your area to help you cope with the changes in your life.

Coping strategies

To help you keep your stress level down, your confidence up, and your health and relationships strong, you should develop some special strategies while you are unemployed, such as:

Establish a daily schedule including a regular time for job search activities.

Set daily goals that you know you can accomplish. Go for a walk, go to the library, call a friend.

Contact the local Canada Employment Centre or other employment counselling service for information on programs in your community.

Use your networks. Tell everyone you know what kind of work you are looking for, and ask if they know of any jobs or any companies that employ people with your skills. Your friends, relatives and acquaintances may not think of mentioning contacts to you because they don't have a clear idea of what kind of work you are looking for. Remember, many people get their jobs through "word of mouth."

Volunteer to help someone else. Both of you will feel better.

Keep busy and stay active outside your home. Isolating yourself at home will not get you a new job and can lead to additional mental and emotional stress.

Reward yourself on a regular basis for your efforts.

Before you go to bed, prepare a written plan for the next day. It will give you a reason to get up in the morning.

Pursue the hobby you always wanted but never seemed to have time for.

Check into new career opportunities or the possibility of continuing your education.

Keep regular hours, and get regular exercise. Limit your intake of caffeine, cigarettes and alcohol. When you do get a job, you want to be in good shape for it.