How to Crash - Proof Your Job Search

Think you have the speed, endurance, and know-how to fix what's broken? Bet not. The smartest people in the world are those who can leave their ego at the door, and know when its wise to seek help.

Since crashes are usually preventable, when is it a good time to seek professional assistance?before or after the disaster? Talk to local firehouse or police headquarters and they'll chant the mantra, "Prevention rules." Smarter to avert the fire or crime, rather than fight it later. It costs much more after-the-fact. Same goes for your job search.

? Gain better, faster exposure to opportunity and decision makers by setting a career foundation that's heavy on target marketing.

? Provide personalized solutions to employer needs and you'll free yourself from the arduous process of blasting resumes blindfolded or performing cold-call networking to strangers.

? Architect a master design to get there before you make your move instead of working it out on the fly, and you'll be prepared for any contingency.

Jo Ann Ridge, Vice President of the e-Commerce Group for R.L. Stevens & Associates Inc., http://interviewing.com/ a 24-year old international career marketing firm headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, who recently celebrated her 19th year with the organization says, "Most people don't realize that their career affects every aspect of their lives." She asked one attorney if he ever had a bad day at work and he responded that he's had a "bad day" for the past five months. Yikes.

There are five key reasons why workers won't seek answers sooner and resist outside help. All are threaded with personal pride and paralysis of analysis:

? "I took the wrong career path at the beginning, and now I feel stuck"

? "I failed to see the writing on the wall, and thought my job role was safe"

? "If I make a change now, I'm afraid I'll lose and end up in worse shape"

? "I don't have the time to locate the best opportunities that fit me"

? "I'm financially leveraged to the hilt, and need a certain salary to keep afloat"

Sound like something you've said recently? If so, you're guaranteeing a job search crash because your lopsided motivations are like a bad virus. It'll rapidly infect the core operating system of your drive to succeed.

"The race to surpass your competition is won at the starting gate not at the finish line. You need to know exactly where you're going, how to get there, and what to do when your win appears to be a long-shot," says Ridge, a horse enthusiast whose office in Louisville, Kentucky is a sprint from Churchill Downs, the premier Thoroughbred racetrack known as the Home of the Kentucky Derby.

The quest to locate a great career is no longer the smooth ride you envision. Lots of bumps and unexpected curves in today's overcrowded job market. Think you can take the reins solo and gallop in the right direction and do so at a pace that reflects your sense of urgency? Get real. That mindset is about as reckless as constantly rebooting your computer every time it freezes. You're not tackling the root cause. Professional intervention rescues your time, your emotional stability, and yeah, your productivity.

Ridge gives her top three career queries to steer your need for professional job search assistance:

? When was the last time you awoke and were excited about going to work?

? When was the last time your career reflected purpose and passion?

? How has the stress of career change negatively altered your personality and your business and personal relationships?

"Finding a job is easy. Landing a great meaningful career is a whole lot harder," Ridge warns. "It's a lot like deciding you want to get your body in shape. You have two choices. You can buy a book or video and get an outcome similar to nailing Jell-O to a wall. Or you can make the smart choice to invest in yourself, bring in some accountability and head to the gym," she adds.

Outsourcing core aspects of your job search is simply brilliant strategy by design. It can be the difference of a job by chance, or a career by choice.

Marta Driesslein, CECC is a management consultant for R.L. Stevens & Associates Inc. http://interviewing.com/

For over 24 years R.L. Stevens & Associates has been the Nation's most successful privately-held firm, specializing in executive career searches generating quality interviews through both advertised and unadvertised channels.

---

Google News Updated : Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:11:53 GMT Boston fire truck smashes into building; 4 injured - The Associated Press NECN Boston fire truck smashes into building; 4 injured The Associated Press - 1 hour ago BOSTON (AP) - The Boston Fire Department says a ladder truck has crashed into a high-rise apartment building, injuring at least four firefighters. Fire truck crashes into Boston building NECN Boston firefighter killed when truck crashes into building Boston Globe Boston Channel.com - My Fox Boston - WWLP 22News - WTEN all 269 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:01:03 GMT UN agency to resume Gaza aid work - BBC News WELT ONLINE UN agency to resume Gaza aid work BBC News - 1 hour ago The UN aid agency Unrwa is to resume operations in Gaza as soon as possible after receiving assurances on safety from Israel, a spokeswoman said. Video: Rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel france24english UN aid chief disappointed Gaza truce call ignored Reuters New York Times - The Associated Press - Xinhua - Aljazeera.net all 39,172 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:25:09 GMT SCENARIOS: Challenges for Obama intelligence team - Reuters SCENARIOS: Challenges for Obama intelligence team Reuters - 36 minutes ago WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President-elect Barack Obama on Friday named retired Adm. Dennis Blair to oversee US spy agencies as director of national intelligence, and chose former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta as CIA director. Obama completes national security team The Associated Press Pelosi on Panetta: ''Impeccable judgment, unquestioned integrity'' San Francisco Chronicle USA Today - MSNBC - Voice of America - Bloomberg all 3,238 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:35:19 GMT Ukraine limits gas consumption as cut-off bites - Reuters ABC News Ukraine limits gas consumption as cut-off bites Reuters - 1 hour ago By Pavel Polityuk and Guy Faulconbridge KIEV, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Ukraine limited gas supplies to industrial customers on Friday to ensure the pipeline system remained operational, the latest sign that the dispute is starting to further sap Ukraine's ... Video: Ukraine is blackmailing us Putin RussiaToday Europe Kept Waiting for Gas Voice of America Bloomberg - Financial Times - Monsters and Critics.com - BBC News all 8,375 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:08:44 GMT Palin: Media Portrayal Would Be 'Prettier' If She'd Been Dem VP ... - ABC News ABC News Palin: Media Portrayal Would Be 'Prettier' If She'd Been Dem VP ... ABC News - 39 minutes ago By LEE FERRAN Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is still fuming over the coverage she received during the presidential campaign and claims that if she were from a different "class" or political party, the her coverage would have much "prettier. Palin: Crazy or Crazy Like a Fox? Washington Post Finally! Sarah Strikes Back at the Mainstream Media FOXNews The Associated Press - People Magazine - E! Online - Wall Street Journal Blogs all 621 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:32:12 GMT Report: COBRA cost outweighs Florida jobless benefit - Bizjournals.com ABC News Report: COBRA cost outweighs Florida jobless benefit Bizjournals.com - 1 hour ago Florida is one of nine states in which the average premium for COBRA, providing health care coverage for laid-off workers and their families, equals or exceeds the average unemployment benefits, according to a study by Families USA. Unemployed: Out of Luck, Out of Health Care ABC News Health insurance no bargain for unemployed: group Reuters The Associated Press - Asheville Citizen-Times - Sun-Sentinel.com - CBS News all 164 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:25:59 GMT US lost 2.6 million jobs in 2008 - International Herald Tribune The Associated Press US lost 2.6 million jobs in 2008 International Herald Tribune - 2 hours ago By Louis Uchitelle NEW YORK: US employers shed 2.6 million jobs in 2008, the worst year since 1945, the government reported Friday, and a rapidly deteriorating economy promises more significant losses ahead. Video: Jobless Rate Jumps to 7.2 Percent in December AssociatedPress Unemployment hits 7.2 percent Bizjournals.com Washington Post - MarketWatch - Forbes - TheStreet.com all 2,018 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 09 Jan 2009 19:56:06 GMT RSS to Blog Display RSS Feeds on Your Website

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Writing a Resume: To Template or Not To Template?

Are free resume templates a viable answer to preparing a... Read More

Conduct An Informational Interview

Informational interviews are designed to get as much information as... Read More

Four Important Questions to Ask Your Interviewer; Do You Really Want to Work for This Person?

Many job seekers miss a golden opportunity when they are... Read More

Smokin? Up a Storm: Clothing, Smokers, and the Job Interview

You're nervous. You're so nervous that you crave a smoke.... Read More

Why Bachelors Make Bad Decisions: Five Tips to Move from Reality Television to Your Career Change

The Bachelor is one of the many reality shows that... Read More

How to Evaluate Job Offers and Zoom In On the Right Opportunity for You

You've been successful in your job hunt and have received... Read More

How to Create a Great Electronic Resume

After creating the perfect resume, you then need to distribute... Read More

Retirement: Is It A Career Change Option?

Retirement might be the answer when you ask yourself "why... Read More

War Time Hiring: 5 Steps to Attract Top Talent

A recent report, titled "The War for Talent" stated that... Read More

Career Success: Get Ahead of the Crowd

Regardless of where you open your briefcase or palm pilot... Read More

Supplement Your Skills and Improve Your Work Position

It is often said that the majority of people are... Read More

In a Rut? Ready for a Career Change?

Are you unhappy at work? Tired and lacking energy and... Read More

7 Deadly Cover Writing Sins

Don't start off your job search with one (or more)... Read More

In Control - Inside Tips on Interview Success

No, you can't control how the interview will be conducted,... Read More

10 Tips For Writing A Professional Résumé

1. Start with an attractive layout. Use bold and italics... Read More

Resumes That Rock (16 Expert Tips)

It's never too early to update your resume, even if... Read More

Changing Careers? How to Get Around the Three Major Mental Roadblocks to Success

A part of you can't wait to dive into your... Read More

Career Development - When Its Time for a Change

There's a certain courage required to hear your gut. To... Read More

What Do You Want From Life?

The tragedy for millions of people is that they never... Read More

How to Reach Outside Yourself to Advance Your Career

When flipping the channels of your TV, you are bound... Read More

How I Joined the Outsourcing Revolution

Mention "outsourcing" to a programmer and you may as well... Read More

Are You Ready To Start A Business? Take This Quiz and See

Don't get discouraged! A "no" answer to any of the... Read More

Now, Do You Have Any Questions?

"Who is that hot babe in the picture?" isn't the... Read More

How to Change Career Horses in Mid-Stream

You'll get wet but the reward just might be a... Read More

Are You Sabotaging Your Career?

My experience working with thousands of leaders world wide for... Read More