Some schools and some companies allow people to take a “leave of absence” for an extended amount of time, due to a variety of reasons. This can be both personal and professional. This is nice because it allows the student or employee a time of “refreshment” where they can regain their posture toward life. Most of the time though, a Leave Of Absence is not necessarily a vacation. If you are a working professional and decide to take a Leave Of Absence for three months from work, it is usually because of a reason that will make your time at your work that much more productive (if it’s not something personal related, like surgery or an illness). Maybe you are working on finishing some classes that will make your job more productive, or maybe you are doing some sort of research for a big project and need to take some extensive time to do that research or plan for the project.
As a job seeker and someone who desires to be in the kind of position where you can take a Leave Of Absence, it can be a good mental exercise as you search for that job to think of your time of looking for work as your Leave Of Absence. Take these three months, six months, a year or more and think of this time as the time where your “project” you are working on is looking for a job. It is not a vacation per se, and should not be treated as such. But rather it is a time where you can devote a considerable amount of time and energy into this “project” and then come out of it stronger, better equipped, and ready to take on your work situation with confidence and ability.
Perhaps during your “Leave Of Absence” it would behoove you to brush up on some skills that might have been neglected but that you notice are desired by employers. If that’s the case, then consider the Accounting and Business School of the Rockies today to help you with some quick and helpful courses, or even a full Certificate, to give you that boost that you are looking for. We offer Certificates in Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Manager, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User, and Office Skills. Any one of these three to four month Certificates (or any individual class too) will make you more marketable and able to apply new skills in your work environment. Call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about these exciting opportunities!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Job Search and Personal Responsibility
Why is it that there are still so many people out of work, even well after the recession was pronounced “over”? Why is it that people, in good economies or bad, have a difficult time finding work? These are big questions to ask, and frankly I’m not convinced that there is one answer to them. The reality of the matter is that there are countless reasons for why individuals are out of work right now. If we’re honest, broader categories like the economy (national as well as local) have much to do with it. If we’re honest, policy makers have more to do with it than we like. If we’re honest, there is still that every-present reality of each person’s personal responsibility to make their job search the best it can be.
These broader categories you cannot control, so we just need to get over that. And frankly, in most respects people can do very little to influence their policy makers. Each vote counts, but does each politician listen to each and every voter? That answer goes without saying. At the end of the day all you as a job seeker can have control over is yourself. You and your day, every day. That’s what we all should focus on most. Ask yourself: What am I going to do differently today that could position myself into a positive job seeking opportunity? Or: What am I going to do the same today that I have been doing to create a positive habit that seems to bear good fruit? Whatever you do each day that you network or apply for jobs, it’s all on you.
For some, that can seem reassuring. To control one’s own destiny, so to speak, gives people comfort and solace in a time when it has seemed all that you are (vocationally) has been stripped away. And to a certain extent that is very healthy thinking. For others, this is terrifying. Typically (but not always) there is a kernel of truth in this fear that the job seeker lacks a certain amount of confidence in oneself to succeed. There is a phrase in clinical psychology that might be appropriate for this situation: “fear of success”. Perhaps that’s for a different blog at another time, but the truth remains the same. Lack of confidence in some job seekers might be a contributing factor to one’s joblessness. Notice that I phrased that carefully to say “might” and “contributing”….it is not a guarantee and it is not universal among all job seekers.
Nonetheless, wouldn’t we all like more confidence in ourselves? It’s very human to look down on oneself….buying the lies that the mean girl shoved in your face in middle school, or when a teacher in high school told you that you weren’t good enough in something. For as much as our culture likes to tell us how great we are, it equally likes to tell us how much we’re not (athletic, good looking, smart, you fill in the blank). But we here at the Accounting and Business School of the Rockies do want to tell you that you are “good enough, smart enough, and gosh darnit people like you!” Call the Accounting and Business School of the Rockies today at 303-755-6885 to talk with our experienced and passionate staff about how any one of our six Certificate programs can help you gain the confidence you desire most to be successful in your job search and career thereafter.
These broader categories you cannot control, so we just need to get over that. And frankly, in most respects people can do very little to influence their policy makers. Each vote counts, but does each politician listen to each and every voter? That answer goes without saying. At the end of the day all you as a job seeker can have control over is yourself. You and your day, every day. That’s what we all should focus on most. Ask yourself: What am I going to do differently today that could position myself into a positive job seeking opportunity? Or: What am I going to do the same today that I have been doing to create a positive habit that seems to bear good fruit? Whatever you do each day that you network or apply for jobs, it’s all on you.
For some, that can seem reassuring. To control one’s own destiny, so to speak, gives people comfort and solace in a time when it has seemed all that you are (vocationally) has been stripped away. And to a certain extent that is very healthy thinking. For others, this is terrifying. Typically (but not always) there is a kernel of truth in this fear that the job seeker lacks a certain amount of confidence in oneself to succeed. There is a phrase in clinical psychology that might be appropriate for this situation: “fear of success”. Perhaps that’s for a different blog at another time, but the truth remains the same. Lack of confidence in some job seekers might be a contributing factor to one’s joblessness. Notice that I phrased that carefully to say “might” and “contributing”….it is not a guarantee and it is not universal among all job seekers.
Nonetheless, wouldn’t we all like more confidence in ourselves? It’s very human to look down on oneself….buying the lies that the mean girl shoved in your face in middle school, or when a teacher in high school told you that you weren’t good enough in something. For as much as our culture likes to tell us how great we are, it equally likes to tell us how much we’re not (athletic, good looking, smart, you fill in the blank). But we here at the Accounting and Business School of the Rockies do want to tell you that you are “good enough, smart enough, and gosh darnit people like you!” Call the Accounting and Business School of the Rockies today at 303-755-6885 to talk with our experienced and passionate staff about how any one of our six Certificate programs can help you gain the confidence you desire most to be successful in your job search and career thereafter.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Networking with your Alma Mater
A great arena for networking that is not utilized as much as it should be is your college alma mater. Just today I went to my own alma mater for an alumni luncheon and was disappointed to see a relatively small turn-out. Nevertheless, before I had even sat down with my paper plate of food I had already connected with one former classmate and a new acquaintance --- exchanging business cards and expressing interest for a follow-up one-on-one over coffee to chat more. The job seeker needs to think strategically about their networking venues (because there are A LOT of venues out there).
What better place to connect with like-minded people than your college or University alumni association. Alumni associations typically put on good events for people to connect, whether it is for business networking or otherwise. If you attended a large school, each department within the school might even have its own alumni association. If you attended a Business School, contact the Business School Department and inquire about alumni events or other means to connect. The same goes for Law School or any other kind of school. Departments are usually ecstatic when someone expresses interest in getting involved. That means it’s less work for them to do to reach out to you!
The Accounting and Business School of the Rockies knows how difficult it is for people to find work. There is a fairly large database of past graduates who are currently in companies which means you have an “in” for that company. We encourage students to get out and network, network, and network some more to find fellow alumni as well as other sorts of connections to land that next job. If you are interested in learning more about the Accounting and Business School of the Rockies, please call 303-524-5218 to learn more. We offer six Certificate programs in Administrative Assistant, Professional Bookkeeping, Office Manager, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service and Microsoft Power User.
What better place to connect with like-minded people than your college or University alumni association. Alumni associations typically put on good events for people to connect, whether it is for business networking or otherwise. If you attended a large school, each department within the school might even have its own alumni association. If you attended a Business School, contact the Business School Department and inquire about alumni events or other means to connect. The same goes for Law School or any other kind of school. Departments are usually ecstatic when someone expresses interest in getting involved. That means it’s less work for them to do to reach out to you!
The Accounting and Business School of the Rockies knows how difficult it is for people to find work. There is a fairly large database of past graduates who are currently in companies which means you have an “in” for that company. We encourage students to get out and network, network, and network some more to find fellow alumni as well as other sorts of connections to land that next job. If you are interested in learning more about the Accounting and Business School of the Rockies, please call 303-524-5218 to learn more. We offer six Certificate programs in Administrative Assistant, Professional Bookkeeping, Office Manager, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service and Microsoft Power User.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Administrative Assistants and Upward Mobility
In a recent article online, it is reported that Administrative Assistants is one of the fastest growing sectors in the job market and also one of the areas where a person can advance the most through more education. It makes logical sense. If you are an Administrative Assistant at a company, earning a certain amount, but then receive a degree or Certificate that opens even more doors for you to advance in your career….maybe as an Administrative Assistant II, III, or Executive Assistant.
A lot of people don’t realize that there is advancement and upward mobility for the Administrative Assistant. It is no longer the way it was fifty years ago where you basically do clerical and secretarial work for your boss. There are responsibilities, and important responsibilities that the Administrative Assistant has to do. They do bookkeeping, scheduling appointments and keeping track of the master calendar and meetings, and being involved in meetings where you are often asked for input on the topic discussed. The work is steady, yet challenging and there is always a high demand for skilled and competent Administrative Assistants.
Getting that education can be a good next step for you as an Administrative Assistant.
The Accounting and Business School of the Rockies offers just such a Certificate in this field. You can complete the classes in as little as three to four months and do it all in the comfort of your own home or in our computer lab. There are government grant opportunities available for those who qualify. Don’t miss out on the chance to enact upward mobility in your career as an Administrative Assistant. Call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about these and other exciting opportunities.
A lot of people don’t realize that there is advancement and upward mobility for the Administrative Assistant. It is no longer the way it was fifty years ago where you basically do clerical and secretarial work for your boss. There are responsibilities, and important responsibilities that the Administrative Assistant has to do. They do bookkeeping, scheduling appointments and keeping track of the master calendar and meetings, and being involved in meetings where you are often asked for input on the topic discussed. The work is steady, yet challenging and there is always a high demand for skilled and competent Administrative Assistants.
Getting that education can be a good next step for you as an Administrative Assistant.
The Accounting and Business School of the Rockies offers just such a Certificate in this field. You can complete the classes in as little as three to four months and do it all in the comfort of your own home or in our computer lab. There are government grant opportunities available for those who qualify. Don’t miss out on the chance to enact upward mobility in your career as an Administrative Assistant. Call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about these and other exciting opportunities.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Now It's YOUR Turn!!
When you’re unemployed it can seem like you have all the time in the world. At least, that’s the perception by many on the outside. The reality for many job seekers is that looking for a full-time job IS their full-time job…plus! If you’re doing everything right as a job seeker you can easily be spending eight hours a day doing things like perusing LinkedIn, applying for jobs, looking for jobs, and networking appointments. It can often seem as though there isn’t enough time in the day! Plus, many employment professionals will tell you to “take care of yourself” during your time of unemployment. Just like in your job situation, burn out can happen easily. So can stress, and not to mention that your personal and family life goes on whether you’re employed or not. Professionals tell you to be sure to exercise, take time for yourself, and create healthy habits to be a successful job seeker.
All of these tid-bits are right on and very much true. But how can a person realistically do this? In my own experience of having been out of work in the past it seems as though you begin your day at 7am, send/receive emails, have a lunch networking appointment, apply to a couple of jobs and before you know it 6pm (or later!) has arrived awfully quick. And then to throw in a bike ride or jog, family or other extracurricular activities in the evenings and your day is shot. And this is what our society expects of us to do as job seekers. “Work hard and your next opportunity is right around the corner.” Maybe, for some. But for others we may try and try each and every day and get nowhere, week after week. For some of us we wonder if all this networking stuff will ever actually lead to anything, same thing with applying to countless jobs or chasing people down on LinkedIn to make a connection.
I would encourage job seekers though to not give up! The reality of these job search situations is that all the “maybe next application/coffee/job lead” actually WILL lead to something great. No matter what anybody else tells you, it really is a numbers game to land that next great position. So don’t lose hope because of doomsday economic forecasts by television or radio pundits. Don’t lose hope when it seems like you have nothing going for you. Don’t lose hope when it seems as though there is nothing out there for you. That next position really is right around the corner. Just ask any friend or acquaintance about how they landed their job and more than likely their story will start out with something like, “Out of nowhere I get this phone call/email…” Now it’s YOUR turn!!
In the mean time of your job search, consider picking up some additional credentials to boost your resume and make you stand out all that much more to future employers. Consider a Certificate from the Accounting and Business School of the Rockies today. We offer applicable Certificates in Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Manager, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User, and Office Skills. Take one class or take a whole Certificate program….either will help you in the short term to land a job but also in the long run to keep that job. Call us today at 303-755-6885 for a free consultation about our exciting programs.
All of these tid-bits are right on and very much true. But how can a person realistically do this? In my own experience of having been out of work in the past it seems as though you begin your day at 7am, send/receive emails, have a lunch networking appointment, apply to a couple of jobs and before you know it 6pm (or later!) has arrived awfully quick. And then to throw in a bike ride or jog, family or other extracurricular activities in the evenings and your day is shot. And this is what our society expects of us to do as job seekers. “Work hard and your next opportunity is right around the corner.” Maybe, for some. But for others we may try and try each and every day and get nowhere, week after week. For some of us we wonder if all this networking stuff will ever actually lead to anything, same thing with applying to countless jobs or chasing people down on LinkedIn to make a connection.
I would encourage job seekers though to not give up! The reality of these job search situations is that all the “maybe next application/coffee/job lead” actually WILL lead to something great. No matter what anybody else tells you, it really is a numbers game to land that next great position. So don’t lose hope because of doomsday economic forecasts by television or radio pundits. Don’t lose hope when it seems like you have nothing going for you. Don’t lose hope when it seems as though there is nothing out there for you. That next position really is right around the corner. Just ask any friend or acquaintance about how they landed their job and more than likely their story will start out with something like, “Out of nowhere I get this phone call/email…” Now it’s YOUR turn!!
In the mean time of your job search, consider picking up some additional credentials to boost your resume and make you stand out all that much more to future employers. Consider a Certificate from the Accounting and Business School of the Rockies today. We offer applicable Certificates in Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Manager, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User, and Office Skills. Take one class or take a whole Certificate program….either will help you in the short term to land a job but also in the long run to keep that job. Call us today at 303-755-6885 for a free consultation about our exciting programs.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Writing Good Emails for the Job Seeker
Something that I see a lot of in my day-to-day with students is poorly written emails. For a myriad of reasons, the art of writing an articulate email has passed over (or been ignored by) many people. This is highly destructive for anyone in a business context --- but especially for the job seeker. It is apropos for the job seeker to continually follow-up with prospective employers on where their application is in the pipeline (“Has a decision been made on first round interviews yet?” “Might I inquire as to the status of my application?”). If one of these emails to a prospective employer or networking partner is written in poor form containing questionable grammar/punctuation, or just flat out does not make sense to the reader, chances are this email will reflect negatively toward its sender.
The easiest thing a person can do, and something I think everyone should do whether the President or the mail room clerk, is to re-read every email before you send it. Ask yourself: is what I am saying make sense? Are there any glaring grammar mistakes in this email? (By the way, turning on your spell check and grammar check doesn’t hurt!) Finally, if need be and the email is of high importance, read it out loud and read it several times over. Often times when a person reads something they write out loud they are more inclined to pick up on awkward sentences or even the “tone” of an email. The tone too, is quite important. Make sure that you don’t sound “emotional” in an email…. ALL CAPS CAN LOOK ANGRY!! all lowercase and symplle erors can l0ok hurried and that yu dont care.
You might be a person who has a difficult time with emailing and understanding the concepts of computers. Not to mention how they always seem to be changing things on you! Lack of knowledge or understanding of software, computers, and common business etiquette should not deter you away from doing something about it. The Accounting and Business School of the Rockies would love to help you gain that knowledge, business etiquette, and most of all the confidence that you need to excel at your career. We offer Certificate programs in Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Manager, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User, and Office Skills. Most of our students receive tuition assistance from federal grants. Call us TODAY at 303-755-6885 to learn more about these exciting programs.
The easiest thing a person can do, and something I think everyone should do whether the President or the mail room clerk, is to re-read every email before you send it. Ask yourself: is what I am saying make sense? Are there any glaring grammar mistakes in this email? (By the way, turning on your spell check and grammar check doesn’t hurt!) Finally, if need be and the email is of high importance, read it out loud and read it several times over. Often times when a person reads something they write out loud they are more inclined to pick up on awkward sentences or even the “tone” of an email. The tone too, is quite important. Make sure that you don’t sound “emotional” in an email…. ALL CAPS CAN LOOK ANGRY!! all lowercase and symplle erors can l0ok hurried and that yu dont care.
You might be a person who has a difficult time with emailing and understanding the concepts of computers. Not to mention how they always seem to be changing things on you! Lack of knowledge or understanding of software, computers, and common business etiquette should not deter you away from doing something about it. The Accounting and Business School of the Rockies would love to help you gain that knowledge, business etiquette, and most of all the confidence that you need to excel at your career. We offer Certificate programs in Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Manager, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User, and Office Skills. Most of our students receive tuition assistance from federal grants. Call us TODAY at 303-755-6885 to learn more about these exciting programs.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Staying Positive through the Economic Numbers
You hear on the news every week about economic statistics and try to gauge your own situation with the broader numbers and what’s going on in the economy. Perhaps you feel worried about your situation, or perhaps you feel fortunate. Either way, the economic news will always come in and there are always going to be pundits on TV or radio trying to explain it away as a fortunate circumstance or that its doomsday. While it is important for job seekers to be aware of what’s going on in the broader economy, it would behoove you to stay clear of the fear mongering going on by some. It’s unproductive and quasi-inappropriate to tell a job seeker that there are hundreds of thousands if not millions of people just like him or her also looking for work. How does that help?
Staying positive as a job seeker is one of the most difficult but one of the most necessary things a person can do during this life transition. Having a good support system like friends and family gives you the “external” confidence you need to keep at it day after day. These people can also take you away from the job search to clear your head and to remind you that you are a human being, not just a robot who writes cover letters and recites your “elevator speech”. It is also important as a job seeker to harness your own “internal” confidence, telling yourself that you are worthy and have something to offer a company. For many this is the most difficult because we live in a culture that likes to tell you how you’re NOT good enough (2nd and 3rd chair in band, junior varsity athletics, no award for an average GPA or grade in college, the list goes on); whereas reality corresponds to the opposite. You ARE good enough and have much to offer others and a company….even if others criteria for excellence are unrealistic: ”Let me show you what I can do!”
The Accounting and Business School of the Rockies can help you gain that “internal” confidence that you desire to grow. We provide that “external” confidence in the form of encouragement from staff, small class sizes for one-on-one instruction, and the repeated factor that historically, six months after graduation over 90% of our students have found employment. We offer practical, real-world Certificates in Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Manager, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User, and Office Skills. Help us help you today by signing up for any of these programs or popular individual classes. Call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about being good enough to succeed. In spite of the economic statistics and pundits.
Staying positive as a job seeker is one of the most difficult but one of the most necessary things a person can do during this life transition. Having a good support system like friends and family gives you the “external” confidence you need to keep at it day after day. These people can also take you away from the job search to clear your head and to remind you that you are a human being, not just a robot who writes cover letters and recites your “elevator speech”. It is also important as a job seeker to harness your own “internal” confidence, telling yourself that you are worthy and have something to offer a company. For many this is the most difficult because we live in a culture that likes to tell you how you’re NOT good enough (2nd and 3rd chair in band, junior varsity athletics, no award for an average GPA or grade in college, the list goes on); whereas reality corresponds to the opposite. You ARE good enough and have much to offer others and a company….even if others criteria for excellence are unrealistic: ”Let me show you what I can do!”
The Accounting and Business School of the Rockies can help you gain that “internal” confidence that you desire to grow. We provide that “external” confidence in the form of encouragement from staff, small class sizes for one-on-one instruction, and the repeated factor that historically, six months after graduation over 90% of our students have found employment. We offer practical, real-world Certificates in Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Manager, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User, and Office Skills. Help us help you today by signing up for any of these programs or popular individual classes. Call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about being good enough to succeed. In spite of the economic statistics and pundits.
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