Is Your Current Job Stable?

Does your boss look unusually stressed lately?  Is he/she in and out of secret meetings behind closed doors?  Are co-workers buzzing around the water cooler that they've heard the company is in trouble?  If you've answered yes to at least two of these questions,  it might be time to take a look at your job stability.

If you're concerned that your company is headed for Chapter 11 or closing their doors for good, it's wise to prepare yourself for a situation that might be beyond your control.  Don't wait for your boss to tell you it's your last day at the office if you think your worst suspicions are true.  PROTECT YOURSELF.  Get your resume updated, start looking at your options, go to networking events, reach out to your contacts (wisely).  Be smart about which co-workers you share this with (if any at all).  Do whatever you can to avoid being the "victim employee".  Don't wait for the ax to fall.  No one ever said it's unethical to take care of yourself.  If you're suspicions were wrong, you've lost nothing.  If they were right, you saved yourself from a lot of heartache and grief.

"A man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life".

~ James Allen

"Good Luck, And Good Night"

Laura Rivchun

PS - If you think your job might be in jeopardy, please get in touch with me at lrcareercoach@gmail.com to discuss my coaching services and how I can help jumpstart your career with an eye-catching resume, winning cover letter, networking tips, and goal clarification.

  

Looking For A Job? - Never Make Assumptions

Are you one of those people that always makes assumptions?  Rather than know the reality of a situation, do you make a wild guess and base your decision making on that alone?  If you're one of those people (and I can be too), you may be doing yourself more harm than you know.

It can be emotionally very costly to make assumptions particularly when it comes to one's professional life.  It's really the lazy way out of something by making an assumption rather than being proactive and finding out the real deal.

I contacted a career development director at a university a few weeks ago to see if she was interested in contracting my coaching services.  I received a promising email back that she was waiting to find out about the fiscal budget and if she'd then have the money to hire me.  When I didn't hear back from her, I ASSUMED it was either bad news or she forgot about me completely.  Needless to say, I got myself worked up, felt disappointed and ruined my own day.  On what basis did I have to make this assumption?  Absolutely none.  I made a calculated guess based on pure emotion.  It had nothing to do  with reality.  So, I decided to be proactive and email her.  She genuinely seemed glad to hear from me and said she was still waiting on an answer but thanked me for following up.  Not only did I get an answer, but I also looked professional in the process.

If you're looking for a job, please don't be hard headed like me and make assumptions.  It will get you nowhere except frustrated and discouraged.  It's challenging enough looking for a job so why make it harder on yourself?

"Assumptions are the termites of relationships."
~ Henry Winkler

"Good Night, And Good Luck"

Laura Rivchun

PS - If you're job interviewing and need to develop or just brush up on your follow up skills, contact me directly at lrcareercoach@gmail.com to learn more about my coaching sessions on this very important topic.

Career Tip: Be On Time For a Job Interview

Have you ever thought how many expressions about time there are? "Time Is Of The Essence", "Time Is On My Side", "Time Will Tell", "Time Marches On”.  Are we too preoccupied with time?  It seems we organize our lives around how much or how little time we carve out for ourselves. Do you ask yourself if you have enough time to cram everything into one day?  Do you worry about spending your time wisely?  It seems like time keeps us in check and in sync with the rest of the world.  

If you’re like me and worry about time all the time (?), here’s a very “timely” TIP:

BE ON TIME FOR AN INTERVIEW.  When you’re late, you become frazzled, won’t be at your interview best and run the risk of ticking off an interviewer.  You’ll have one strike against you before you put your foot in the door.  It would be a shame to lose a job because of something that could easily be avoided.

Remember,  “Time Waits For No One” (was that a song?)

"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once."

~ Albert Einstein

“Good Night, And Good Luck”

Laura Rivchun

PS - If you're searching for a job and haven't gotten past the first interview, it might be time (there's that time thing again) to brush up on your interview skills.  I can help you get past first base with my "How To Ace The Interview" program.  Interested in learning more?  Email me at lrcareercoach@gmail.com.

Lost Your Job? - Get Out And Network

As a child, did you ever get lost?  When I was about 5 years old I got lost at Jones Beach and couldn’t find my way back to my parents.  It was terrifying.  I thought I would never find them in the sea of beach umbrellas and blankets, but I did. 

Losing a job can be devastating and make a person feel they’ve lost their way.  If you’re currently out of work does this feeling sound familiar to you?  I bet if you ask anyone who has lost their job they would agree they have felt the same way at one point.  I have been in this place myself (more times than I care to count) and learned that the best remedy is to get out amongst the living and network.  You don’t have to feel as alone and lost as I did as that little girl on the beach. 

"The future depends on what we do in the present."

~ Mahatma Gandhi

“Good Night, And Good Luck”

Laura Rivchun

PS - If you're out of work and currently interviewing, please contact me at lrcareercoach@gmail.com to learn about my "How To Ace The Interview" program which will jumpstart your interview techniques to help you land your ideal job.

Looking For A Job? - Be Kind To Yourself

Ah, Saturday.  The day to stay in bed as late as you'd like, leisurely sipping coffee.  Today you can actually enjoy eating breakfast like a human being at the dining room table instead of shoving a bagel down your throat while cramming into a commuter train train or driving on the Long Island Expressway.  Saturday is the day you can lay around in your sweats or PJ's like a lazy slug should you be so inclined.  Ok, so now you know I have "lazy slug tendencies."

Time away from work (or looking for work) is so  treasured by all of us.  But it seems many of us have to give ourselves permission to slow down and chill.  I wonder why we find it so hard to let go of work stress?  I'm as guilty as the next when it comes to stressing out about my work. When you think about it, it's such a waste of precious time.  Do you find yourself thinking about work too often when you're trying to enjoy some quality down time?  I suppose that's why yoga, health spas, and meditation have become so popular.  It's a great way to de-pressurize.  

For me, the beauty of Saturday is giving my "work brain" a rest.  I allow myself (or try) to slow down and put my work head on the shelf.

Whether you're currently employed or looking for a job, be kind to yourself.  All of us need to recharge our batteries because Monday rolls around soon enough.  It takes energy to be at your work best or interview best so do yourself a favor and give yourself permission to relax and just "be" so you can face the week refueled.

"For fast-acting relief, try slowing down."

~ Lily Tomlin

"Good Night, And Good Luck"

Laura Rivchun

PS - You can catch me as a featured guest on Coach World TV hosted by Terry Yoffe, NYC Chapter President of The International Coaching Federation (ICF) Monday, June 4th, 8pm on Time Warner Cable TV Channel 56.

How To Approach Your Boss For A Raise - And Be Successful!

Hello Readers!

I thought my absence might go unnoticed (Hmm, am I making a habit of disappearing?) these past couple of weeks but its seems my posts have been missed by some.  It's rewarding to know that my career advice and random tips are helpful to those who might need it.  I really do exist in human form and am not just some apparition (although it might appear that way at times).  I enjoy writing posts about related career topics (when I'm not obsessing about my writing skills) and love when you, dear reader, become engaged.

Enough about me....I recently attended a women's conference and was asked by a young professional how she should approach her boss for a raise.  She wasn't sure if she should send an email or give him a call.  Before she could get another word out, I emphatically told her that asking for a raise should always be done in a face to face meeting (if possible).


Ask to schedule some time with your boss (treat it like a business meeting).  Consider asking for a raise like selling yourself to a potential new employer.  Back everything up with specific examples of your accomplishments so your value is evident and how deserving you are of a salary increase.  It doesn't hurt to reiterate your unique skills and talent either.   You won't win your boss's favor if you point out that other people in your department may be making significantly more money than you.  You're there to discuss the merits of your performance, not anyone else's.

Approaching your boss for a raise may make you feel uncomfortable but you're more likely to walk away getting what you want if you KNOW YOU'RE WORTH and present yourself in a non-defensive tone.

It's very liberating and confidence building to get what you deserve.  Now go after it!!

"If you don't set a baseline standard for what you'll accept in life, you'll find it's easy to slip into behaviors and attitudes or a quality of life that's far below what you deserve."
~ Anthony  Robbins

"Good Night, And Good Luck"

Laura Rivchun

PS - If you'd like to fine tune your salary negotiation skills, please email me at lrcareercoach@gmail.com to learn more about my coaching sessions that can help you get the raise you deserve and negotiate salary when a job offer has been made.

What Is The Toughest Interview Question?

If you've been interviewing for a job, more than likely you've discovered it can be a hair raising experience.  It feels like a giant test that you had better pass.  In some ways, the interview is a test.  So, you have to be prepared.

One of the toughest interview questions you have to be prepared to answer is, "What is your biggest weakness?"  Everyone dreads this question.  No one likes talking about something that makes them look vulnerable, particularly in a job interview!  The best way to approach this question is to turn your "weakness" into a strength.  Here are some examples:

~ I'm intense and find it hard to let go of my work at times
~ I'm tough on myself - I'm a perfectionist
~ I tend to overanalyze/overthink things
~ I take my work home with me

These so-called "weaknesses" are really in favor of an employer.  No one ever got fired because they worked too hard at their job.  See my point?  Chose your words wisely to put a positive spin on your weaknesses.

In my next post, I'll go into some of the things NOT TO SAY in answer to the same question, "What is your biggest weakness?"

"All our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind."
~ kahlil Gibran


"Good Night, And Good Luck"

Laura Rivchun

PS - If you'd like to enhance your interview skills, please contact me at lrcareercoach@gmail.com to learn about the program I'm offering, "How To Ace The Interview".

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