Networking

It happened again! I have talked to three students this week who just landed jobs. Not by going to any (or even a lot) of the many job posting sites. Not by applying on company websites. But, rather through someone they knew. One person got a job with a company that two of his friends worked for – they knew there was an opening so they encouraged him to apply. Another was referred to his organization by a former classmate here at WSU. And, the other got a job lead from a friend of a friend.

I had to tell you this news. Because I keep telling you to network. Now you know why.

Improve Your Performance

Free range

Ways to improve your performance:

• Compete for a prize
• Earn points
• Please a demanding boss
• Make someone else's imminent deadline
• Face sudden death elimination in the playoffs
• Wear a heart monitor and track performance publicly
• Go head-to-head against a determined foe

The thing is, all of these external stimuli are there to raise your game and push you ever harder. They are fences to be leaped, opponents to be defeated.

The alternative is to compete against nothing but yourself. To excel merely because the act of excelling without boundaries or incentives thrills you.

And the good news is that once you find that, you'll always have it.

on behalf of; Seth Godin <sethsblogreply@gmail.com>

Seasonal Jobs

Why would I suggest you work a seasonal-- or any temporary  job? 

Number one on my list of reasons is a temporary job just might lead to a long term opportunity. Work hard, prove yourself and the employer may want to hang on to you longer – maybe much longer – than originally planned.

Working a job for even a short time is a great way to try out companies and jobs.  Working in any number of jobs, or for XYZ Company, may sound appealing. . .until you actually try it. If you take a job, knowing it is only temporary, it doesn’t hurt your resume when “it is only temporary”.  

You know how you hear me say “network” over and over again? Working a temporary job is a great way to make contacts and add people to your professional network.  Do a good job and you’ve also got yourself a reference.

You stand a good shot at learning new skills.

You make money!

I have worked a number of temporary jobs.  All taught me new skills and three turned into jobs I worked at for at least five years.  Another was with an organization I determined I didn’t want to stay with.  Because I took the job as a temporary position, it didn’t hurt my resume, or reference information, that I only stayed there a few months – until, in fact, I found another temporary job -one that I worked at five years.  Those are my experiences.  

So. . .why would I suggest you work a seasonal-- or any temporary  job?  Why wouldn’t I?

True Colors

Want to understand the other people in your class, group, or office better? Want to know why they do the things they do and don’t do the things you do? Wonder why they cause you so much stress? If so, True Colors might be just the thing for you!

 

True Colors identifies four different personality styles, characterizing each style by a color. Although we are all a blend of a variety of traits, we will each probably find the characteristics of one color dominant over the others.

 

In brief:

Blues care about other people and relationships.

Golds appreciate tradition and are hard working.

Greens are complex, competent and independent and want to know “why”.

Oranges need freedom, flexibility and change and like to play.  

Mix all these colors together and you can understand why you have frustrations and even conflict.

True Colors is a great way to gain insight into, and appreciation for, your own behavior and that of the people you interact or have relationships with. For a True Colors presentation to your class or group, call our office at 978-3435.