Feeling Down?

Are you getting depressed and frustrated with your job search? Do you want to know the best therapy if you’re feeling down right now? Do your own yard work!

I cannot think of a better way to get your mind off things. Yard work! In my opinion, it’s better then any high priced therapy. If you’re worried about the world, your job search, or any current issues you’re having in your career. Do your own yard work! Mow your own lawn! Cut your own trees! Paint the house! Do some spring-cleaning! Basically, do some hard labor! It works!

I have some friends that play golf to get their minds off things. What? Golf! I cannot think of anything worse then golf! If you think life is frustrating, try golf! That’s not going to help me. Yard work! That’s what helps me. It’s a fantastic way to think. I do some of my best thinking while I am doing yard work. And, don’t tell anyone, but sometimes I find myself singing. No joke. Loudly!

When I do yard work I think about all kinds of things. I sing. I talk to myself. I whistle. I dream. I solve all the problems in the world. I think of new businesses to start. It’s very enjoyable. So, the next time you’re feeling down and depressed try doing your own yard work. Or, if you don’t have a yard, do some kind of physical labor. Build something. Paint something. Plant something. Get your mind off all the noise you hear during the week. Believe me, it’s better then any high priced therapy. Oh, and another thing, the cold beer when you’re done tastes great! I hope this helps.

Good luck to you!

Military Resume?

If you’re currently making the transition from a military career to a civilian career, there are a few things to consider when you’re putting your resume together. Mainly, you want to make sure HR departments understand it!

First, make sure all of the language on your resume is very understandable to civilians. Not just a little bit, but a lot! You might have some excellent experience, but the HR departments, or hiring managers will not understand it! If you are sending out a lot of resumes and you are not getting any call backs, this could be the reason.

One of the most important things you can do on your resume is to have all of those wonderful schools, training, management and leadership responsibilities you've had, translated into "English". Remember, the HR person reviewing your resume might only be 23 or 26 years old and have absolutely no idea about the military, or how it works. Let alone, what you did!

And secondly, when you are making these changes to your resume, I want to caution you on one thing. Your spouse will most likely not be a good person to ask about the changes, mainly because they have been living with you throughout your military career and are most likely speaking the same military language you are. Once you've made the changes to your resume, have someone outside of the military review it and see if it makes any sense. A 10-year-old boy should be able to read your resume and know exactly what you did! I hope this helps.

Good luck to you!

Career Planning?

Should you get additional training, or another degree, to help you in your job search? Absolutely!

Life is about choices, right? And when you're making plans for your life and career you want to have more choices, not less, don’t you? Especially, regarding your career. My professional opinion is, you should always look to better yourself in your life and in your career. There is no question about it, the more choices you have the greater success you will have in your job search. It’s that simple. When you’re searching the want ads, is the fact that you do not have a bachelor’s degree, or MBA, holding you back? Is it?

As a professional recruiter one of the things I’ve learned is, the amount of education you have directly reflects the amount of opportunities and compensation you will receive. I see it every day. So, when you're doing your career planning this is something to consider. Let me explain.

When you received your high school diploma you had more choices for your career, maybe not a lot, but certainly more than if you didn’t finish, right? Even an associates degree, or technical degree, will net you more choices. And a bachelor’s degree will give you more choices and opportunities for your career. All the way up the education ladder there will be a new set of choices and opportunities for you. Masters, MBA, Doctorate, as well as any type of licenses you can attain, like a CPA, or PE (Professional Engineer), for instance.

As you can see, getting additional training or finishing up a degree will get you more choices and opportunities for your career. And at each level you will receive more compensation.

Today, with the amount of colleges, universities, and financial aid available there is simply no excuse. And don’t say “I am too old”, there is no such thing as “too old” when it comes to learning more and furthering your education, especially if it is hurting your job search or your current career. Plus, you’re going to get older anyway, right? So, if you’re 45 years old now in two years you will be 47 years old, right? So if you go back to school, or not, you will still be 47 years old in two years!

So, if you're just starting out in your career or even a more experienced person, make sure when you're doing your career planning always evaluate the amount of choices you will have. Not just for today, but for the future. If you need to further your education, update your skills, or finish that degree you started I think you should. Especially if you think it is holding you back in your job search and hurting your career! Go for it! I hope this helps.

Good luck to you!