Weekly Email from Pathways

Dear Clients,

It’s back to work—happy Monday! I hope you enjoyed the weekend—how about those Saints!?!

We have had a busy month, with lots of buzz about interviews, job offers, etc. which is very exciting. Please do keep us in the loop with your progress. If you need to make an appointment, please call! Now is the time to get your marketing materials finished, network like crazy and get OUT THERE!

The Career Update will be out at the end of this week, so look out for February’s schedule! Terry Rost will be giving another session next month, Thursday February 18th; 1:00-3:00pm on How to Find and Evaluate a Franchise Opportunity here at Pathways. If you missed this workshop last month and know that you will not be able to attend in February, he will be speaking this Thursday, January 28th at 6pm. If interested, please see below for more information and or contact me for any questions.

How to Find & Evaluate a Franchise Opportunity
Franchise Group
5 Centerpointe Drive
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
(503) 639-2254
www.thefranchisegroup.com
Please RSVP for this FREE session by calling the number above

Here is what is happening here at Pathways this week:

Job Search Support Group
Tuesday, Jan. 25th; 9-11am
Facilitator: Ron Ennis
No RSVP necessary


Hope to see you tomorrow!

“Happy people are more likely to get what they want—which only makes them even more happy.”

--Furry Logic: Wild Wisdom by Jane Seabrook

Help for Long-Term Unemployed/Under-Employed: How To Revitalize Your Job Search

Help for Long-Term Unemployed/Under-Employed: How To Revitalize Your Job Search

Portland, OR – January 22, 2010 – More people are becoming part of the long-term unemployed and under-employed each month. With the unemployment rate expected to continue climbing, and job growth slow, long-term unemployed/under-employed people need to focus on making a breakthrough and revitalizing their searches, according to OI Partners-Pathways (Portland), a leading global career transition and executive coaching firm.

While the national unemployment rate remained at 10% in December 2009, 40% of unemployed people have been out of work for more than 27 weeks. That is over twice as many as when the recession officially began in December 2007 (17.5%) – and almost four times higher than at the start of the last recession in March 2001 (11.5%).

When counting people working at part-time jobs who would prefer full-time work, and those who have become discouraged and stopped looking altogether, the combined unemployment/under-employment rate now stands at 17.3%.

In addition, the ratio of job openings to unemployed people is at its highest since the Labor Department began tracking this in 2000 - 6 unemployed people for every job opening and 27% fewer job openings than a year ago.

"Unemployed people are facing some historic numbers and formidable competition. However, they need to pinpoint those areas they may be able to change, make a difference, and increase their chances for success. Despite the odds, people are still landing jobs every day. Job-seekers need to continually make adjustments and never give up," said Jean Erickson Walker, Managing Partner of OI Partners-Pathways (Portland) (http://www.oipartners.net/).

The ways that long-term unemployed and under-employed people could make an impact on their job searches, according to OI Partners-Pathways consultants, are:

1. Double-check your references: "Make sure that your references are telling potential employers what you think they are, and they are up to date on your skills and accomplishments. Determine in advance exactly what your references will say about you, and use only those that will 'sell' you the best to potential employers," said Walker.

2. Be sure you are targeting the right industries: The healthcare industry has added 630,000 jobs since the recession began. Also, the financial services, manufacturing, and services industries are the most likely to re-hire people they have previously laid off, according to an OI Partners survey, indicating they may have cut back too deeply.

3. Increase your face-to-face contact: "Some long-term unemployed may be spending too much time looking for jobs and posting resumes online, and have not had enough face-to-face contact. Join networking groups, and increase your networking contacts by volunteering your services with civic, charitable, and religious groups. Continue attending professional association meetings. It's also important to work the phones," said Walker.

4. Check out the competitors of all of the companies for which you have worked: Companies that have gaps in their management teams are more than twice as likely to hire people who have worked for their competitors as those that currently have sufficient bench strength, according to an OI Partners survey.

5. Use social networking websites to identify contacts within targeted companies and possible jobs that have not been posted or advertised: Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter are particularly helpful for finding inside contacts. "Utilize different methods to identify internal contacts who can be helpful in getting your resume reviewed," said Walker.

6. Focus on the immediate value you can bring to an employer: "You may not have clearly communicated to potential employers what you can do for them right now and within your first three months on the job. Write a proposal including a performance pledge and a timetable for achieving results," said Walker.

About OI Partners
OI Partners is a leading global career transition and coaching firm that helps individuals find new careers and employers to improve the performance of their employees and organizations. OI Partners is comprised of certified career management professionals who specialize in executive and group outplacement, executive coaching, leadership development, workforce planning, and talent management. The company was established in 1987 and is now located in 200 locally-owned offices in 27 countries with more than 100 U.S. offices. Please visit www.oipartners.net or call 800-232-5285.

Weekly Email from Pathways

Dear Clients,

Happy Monday! What a beautiful day we had this morning, sunny, warm, and no rain, perfect for celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. day. I would love to share a quote from one of his speeches (The Measure of Man, 1959):

"Man is man because he is free to operate within the framework of his destiny. He is free to deliberate, to make decisions, and to choose between alternatives. He is distinguished from animals by his freedom to do evil or to do good and to walk the high road of beauty or tread the low road of ugly degeneracy." --Martin Luther King










May all of you seek your own destiny and walk the high road to success and happiness!

Speaking of success, Matt Morscheck has completed his certification through ICC (Institute Career Certification) International: Institute of Career Certification, International and is now a Career Management Practitioner (CMP)! For a full bio on Matt click the link below.

http://www.oipartners.net/pathways/aboutus/our-people.html#MM

Here is what is happening at Pathways this week:

Job Search Support Group
Tuesday, Jan. 19th; 9am-11am
Facilitator: Ron Ennis, Ph.D., CMF

Technology & Transition
Tuesday, Jan. 19th; 1pm-3pm
Facilitator: Matt Morscheck, MS, CMP
Please RSVP

Career Transition Workshop
Wednesday Jan. 20th & Thursday Jan. 21st: 8:30am-4:30pm
Facilitators: Jean Walker, Ed.D., CMF & Matt Morscheck, MS, CMP
Please RSVP



Have a wonderful week and look forward to seeing you in the office!

Weekly Email from Pathways

Dear Clients,

Oh how the day can get away from you! I'm sure all of you can relate to having a day like that. You work and work and before you know it, it's over and you feel as though nothing was accomplished. When this happens, I like to think of the Chinese proverb: "One cannot manage too many affairs: like pumpkins in the water, one pops up while you try to hold down the other."

So, I'm writing all of you now: remember to set your daily tasks and make sure you schedule time everyday to do each one! (Thank you for all of you that contributed last week in the Developing an Efficient Job Search Schedule Lab.)

Here is what is happening this week at Pathways!

Job Search Support Group
Tuesday, Jan. 12th; 9:00-11:00 AM
Facilitator: Ron Ennis, Ph.D., CMF

Cover Letter Lab
Thursday, Jan. 14th; 10:00-12:00 PM
Facilitator: Jean Walker, Ed.D., CMF
Please RSVP for this Lab!

How to Find and Evaluate a Franchise Opportunity
Thursday, Jan. 14th; 1:00-3:00 PM
Facilitator: Terry Rost
Please RSVP for this Lab!

See you soon!


After a hard days work you deserve to reward yourself. Hi-Five!

I Can't Get No (Job) Satisfaction

Jean Erickson Walker was a guest on NPR-Southern California on Wednesday, Jan. 6, discussing the Conference Board Survey which said that only 45% of people are satisfied with their jobs.

The report was broadcast on NPR affiliates throughout Southern California. Jean is identified in the report and on NPR's website as " Jean Erickson Walker, Managing Partner with OI Partners in their Portland office, a corporation of career consulting, executive coaching, leadership development and career transition professionals."

Here is a link to see the report on NPR-Southern California's website. To play or download the report, please click on the appropriate link in the Video Monitoring Services field below. The play and download links will only be active for 7 days.

Jean Walker on NPR Radio-Southern California

Are you satisfied with your job? Would you rate your workplace experience as a happy or miserable one? While you might expect that most working Americans aren’t thrilled in the workplace, especially with the salary and benefits cuts of the past two years, generally people remain happy with their jobs. Then comes along a new survey from the Conference Board that shows the opposite—that people who rate their job satisfaction is at an all time low of 45%. Which category do you fall into, and even if you’re not overwhelmingly positive about your experiences at work are you just happy to have any job in the middle of a recession?

Guest:

Jean Erickson Walker, Managing Partner with OI Partners in their Portland office, a corporation of career consulting, executive coaching, leadership development and career transition professionals.

Portland Career Resolutions

Expert shares strategies for reducing career anxiety

Link to article:
Portland career resolutions article

By kgw.com Staff
Posted on January 5, 2010 at 1:54 PM
Updated today at 1:54 PM
******
PORTLAND – With unemployment remaining high and job satisfaction at an all time low, experts say it’s key to develop strategies for dealing with career anxiety.
“There is higher career anxiety than there has been in decades,” said Jean Erickson Walker, managing partner of OI Partners-Pathways in Portland. “The employment picture worsened considerably in 2009, leaving many people without jobs, working part-time, or for less pay than the year before. For those who held on to their jobs, there were fewer raises, bonuses, and promotions.”

Even Americans who are lucky enough to have work in this economy are becoming more unhappy with their jobs, according to a new survey conducted by the Conference Board research group that found only 45 percent of Americans are satisfied with their work.
Walker said there are ways for people to reduce career anxiety and improve their quality of life during these especially stressful times.

Here is some of her advice:
- Put your career at the top of the to-do list each day.
- Compile your short-term, intermediate, and long-term career goals, and focus first on those that are most achievable.
- Be prepared for more alternative employment opportunities in a slightly rebounded economy.
- Improve your career resiliency and have contingency plans ready so that you can bounce back quickly if needed.
- Upgrade your professional skills and capabilities by learning new technology, take classes, reading books, and being committed to staying relevant in your professional area.
- Find a mentor or job-search board of advisors
- Enhance your communications skills.
- Update your resume, professional network, and your online presence.
- Try to work out negative issues with your current employer before deciding to move on.

Walker said people who follow this advice will be in the best position to improve their career situation once unemployment starts to significantly decrease.
“When hiring improves, there will be increased demand for contract, freelance, and part-time work before full-time jobs are created. Position yourself to take advantage of these employment options,” she advised.

Weekly Email from Pathways

Good Morning!

Hello, I hope that you had a wonderful and safe New Year. Back to work we go into 2010!
If you missed our Career Update for January last week, please check it out! Here is what is happening this week at Pathways:

Tuesday, Jan. 5th; 9:00-11:00 AM
Job Search Support Group
Facilitator: Ron Ennis, Ph.D., CMF

Thursday, Jan. 7th; 10:00-12:00 PM
Developing an Efficient Job Search Schedule

Facilitator: Ron Ennis, Ph.D., CMF

Please RSVP for this Lab!

Need to make an appointment? Give us a call today. Look forward to seeing all of you this week!

"There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction." --John F. Kennedy

Career Update for January

Job Search Support Group
A weekly gathering of Pathways/OI Partners, Inc. clients focused on the development and implementation of effective job search strategies through peer group support. (Does not require a RSVP)

Facilitator: Ron Ennis, Ph.D, CMF
Every Tuesday, 9:00 -11:00 AM

► Developing an Efficient Job Search Schedule
The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to re-evaluate
your job search schedule. Join us and get organized by implementing a productive schedule, create efficiencies, and reduce stress!

Facilitator: Ron Ennis, Ph.D., CMF
Thursday, January 7th, 10:00-12:00 PM

►Cover Letter Lab
There are several letters that you will write in your transition. Join us and learn how write a cover letter that persuades the reader that you are the best candidate for the job!

Facilitator: Jean Walker, Ed.D., CMF
Thursday, January 14th, 10:00-12:00 PM

►How to Find and Evaluate a Franchise Opportunity
Want your own business, but don’t want to start from scratch? This workshop will provide you with key steps in finding and evaluating a franchise opportunity. Find out the critical “must know” areas for your research, where to find available franchise opportunities and the investment required, how to define your needs and the industry you select, and how to evaluate your personal and financial risk.

Facilitator: Terry Rost
Thursday, January 14th, 1:00-3:00 PM

►Technology & Transition: Facebook, Twitter, & Beyond!Have a Facebook account, but not sure how to use it in your job search or if you should? What is Twitter anyway? In this workshop, you will further explore Facebook and Twitter, the social media websites that are increasingly popular with job searchers, recruiters, and companies. Have a laptop? Don’t forget to bring it with you!

Facilitator: Matt Morscheck, MS, NCC
Tuesday, January 19th, 1:00-3:00 PM

► Career Transition Workshop
The CTW is a core feature of your career transition services. It is recommended, though not required, that you attend all of the workshops, and attend them in the order listed. You are welcome to repeat workshops as often as you would like.

CTW: Wednesday, January 20th & Thursday, January 21st, 8:30-4:30 PM
Facilitators: Jean Walker Ed.D, CMF & Matt Morscheck, MS, NCC