You've Been Fired: Now What?

If you were recently fired from your job, you are probably feeling extremely vulnerable and upset right now. Even though your temper may be flaring, do your best not to do anything that might lower your chances of being hired by a future employer. Although you may be extremely angry, there are reasonable ways to approach your situation.

Stay calm. Resist the urge to confront your old boss or to start talking badly about the company all over town.  Think to the future, and what your previous boss will say about you in a recommendation to any potential prospective employers. Think of your reputuation first and foremost.  Anything negative that you might want to say to your former boss in the heat of the moment simply isn't worth it.

What you do need to do is contact your former boss(es) in order to come to an agreement regarding how you will be portrayed to any future employers.  Unless your departure was due to some extreme behavior on your end, chances are good that you can get them to agree to describe your leaving the company as mutual or neutral.

Make sure that you can afford to survive financially for the next few months while you search for a new job. Remove any expenses from your budget that aren't absolutely necessary and get a good handle on exactly how much money you need each month to pay all of the bills that provide a roof over your head and put food in your refrigerator. You also need a reliable mode of transportation in order to go on job interviews in the future. You might want to file for unemployment benefits, as long as the reason for your firing was not serious misconduct on your part. Keep in mind that your health insurance policy will end soon, so now might be a good time to get that checkup that you have been putting off.

Taking proactive steps when you've been fired will help you in long run, but more importantly, it will help you in the short run too. Being proactive means that you're approaching the situation positively and moving forward instead of looking backward. Living a life full of what-ifs will get you nowhere, fast.

As soon as you have taken all the necessary steps to ensure that your next few months will be financially stable, take an objective look at why you were fired, if your firing was due to behavior on your part. Make any necessary changes in your professional outlook so that the same thing will never happen again. Then, only look forward, and begin making contacts to move toward becoming employed again.

Getting fired is not the end of the world. Although it is not fun and definitely doesn't feel good, keep in mind that millions of Americans have been fired at one point or another in their lives. Many of these people have gone on to lead very successful professional lives, and you can join their ranks as long as you look to the future and don't dwell on what went wrong.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

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The Mindful Job-Seeker

In the midst of all of the chaos that comes with searching for the professional position of your dreams (or just a job, ANY job) comes stress.  You are likely overwhelmed and tired, thinking, "Will I ever get there?"

Take a step back from the discouraging situation you're immersed in and take a deep breath.  Look around you at life as it really is right now, not as you perceive it to be.  Likely you feel that things are crumbling around you and that the collapse of your world as you know it is imminent.  Stop and look at everything that you DO have in place in your life, and take a moment to appreciate all of it.

Mindfulness is a practice that can easily be incorporated into looking for a job.  To be mindful means to be present in the moment instead of letting your mind get scattered all over the place with the "what ifs" and other negative self-talk.  You can even practice mindfulness during an interview, which can ultimately make you more successful!

Some of the principles of mindfulness that apply to the job search are:

Acceptance of how you are feeling, without judgement.  Acknowledge your feelings of fear and sit with those feelings without degrading yourself for being scared.  Feel the fear, and be ok with it.

Kindness toward yourself as you recognize your feelings.  It is ok to be afraid, but it is not ok to be unkind to yourself.

Trust yourself and your skills. Be confident in what you can do! Know yourself, love yourself, and remember that you CAN do it!

Non-striving attitude - This can be put to use in the interview process.  A non-striving attitude means paying attention to what is happening NOW without looking toward the future.  Put this to use by focusing on what the interviewer is asking you without getting caught up in what your reply might be.  By putting yourself completely in the moment, you give yourself a much better chance at giving a calm and clear answer.

Remember that being mindful in your everyday life will improve your overall attitude and outlook toward the job search as well.  Take the time to notice that the leaves are changing as fall begins.  Spend time outdoors every day, and really immerse yourself in what you see around you.

Live in the now; take pleasure in the present.  Acknowledge that you have some unresolved issues professionally, but approach those issues without judging yourself.  You are not alone! There are other people with the same problem, and many people with problems much more serious. Take the time each day to be thankful for the things and people you do have in your life.

By taking each day as it comes and living in the present, you will slowly become more grounded, more confident, and more self-aware.  Only then will you find the most success in all areas of your life, including your search for the perfect job.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

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Making a Mid-Life Career Change

So many people are content to go on being discontented with their jobs, grumbling and groaning every morning and every night about their distaste for what they do for a living. If this sounds like you, consider making a change NOW, before it's too late, and you've spent most of your life doing something you hate.

Naturally, it does get more difficult to make a career change with age. You may be dissatisfied with your current job situation but quite happy with the pay and health benefits. You've worked your way up the ranks, and it's scary to think of starting over at the bottom somewhere else when the job you've got seems good enough.

It's important to realize that job satisfaction has a big impact on your quality of life.  Accepting your current position as your 'lot in life' - especially if you're downright miserable every day - can lead to cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, disordered sleep, depression, and burnout. Staying at a job just because it pays well is not reason enough to ultimately sacrifice your health and your happiness.

Instead of letting financial risks run your life, consider the possibility of making a mid-life (or late-life, even) career change. Aim to do what you love. They say that if you do what you love, the money will follow. What is important to remember is this: while you should do something you love, you must also have a very solid plan in place in order for it to work out.

To begin the process of switching careers, try surveying some people currently working in your desired field about their job satisfaction.  Make sure it is as enjoyable as you think it is. It's possible to build up a fantasy image of your ideal position, when in reality it's much more stressful and less satisfying than you thought.

If you've done your research and feel confident about making a switch, now is the time to focus on finances.  Although we initially mentioned that money shouldn't be your motivator (and it shouldn't), it does have to be taken into consideration. In order to make your job switch successful, build up your nest egg significantly before making any moves at all.  This is extremely important, because, if you take the leap too soon, especially if your dream job pays less or involves starting up a business, lack of a financial cushion might land you right back where you started.

The most important piece of advice when making a career change at any time of your life is this: make sure you understand where your discontent comes from.  This means taking a look within yourself to determine what kind of profession really will fulfill you. Ask yourself if you're just feeling bored at your current job because you've mastered it.  If this is the case, chances are really high that you'll jump to a new position and master it as well.  Then what?

If boredom is your main issue, perhaps you need to consider a job that allows you bigger freedoms and more control over your time and income.  Maybe you should consider entrepreneurship or joining a start-up company. You could also look into careers that are extremely challenging and ever-changing, to avoid hitting that burnout wall.

Changing careers will not be easy.  You must combine your desire for a new career with adept financial planning so that your switch will be successful and your job satisfaction will be worry-free and as fulfilling as possible.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

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Should You Take a Temp Job?

If this question has been on your mind as you struggle to get out of the unemployment rut, you are not alone. It’s understandable that the idea of accepting temporary work is not your ideal situation if what you are really looking for is a permanent, full-time job. However, the fact that temporary hiring is on the rise is a good sign economically, and should boost your overall outlook of your potential in the job market.

Current research shows that for many unemployed people today, temporary jobs are often necessary stepping stones that will eventually lead them to full-time employment. Estimates from 2011 reported that 8 million workers that year transition from temp positions to full-time jobs. While some people weren't necessarily hired by the company they were temping with, staffing agencies benefited  approximate $7.3 billion in 2011 for successfully hiring out their temp workers into a variety of permanent positions.

What this means for you is that you should definitely include temporary and contract positions in your job search. Taking a temporary position won’t prevent you from looking for full-time work at the same time, and the temporary position that you take may very well lead you to permanent employment.

Since many employers are utilizing temp to hire routes during this challenging economic time, if you are called to be interviewed for a temporary position - go! At the very least, you can use the interview to practice your interview skills, even if the position does not seem right for you. Also, while it’s possible that the job they offer you at first may not be a good fit, something may arise in the near future that meets your skills and requirements perfectly.

If that’s the case, you may be able to build up your resume quite a bit by working temporarily in a position that will allow you to build your skills, making you more qualified for the full-time jobs you are really interested in. You will be meeting new employers, building your network, and making a good impression on managers who may see your potential. Even if they don’t have any permanent openings, your efforts may pay off by getting you a referral for a permanent job somewhere else.

It’s also important to remember that any form of gainful employment, even if it’s deemed “temporary”, is much more preferable than the alternative. Even if you shift from one temporary position to another, you can benefit by avoiding burnout and learning a variety of skills that will boost your hiring potential in the future. The mental and emotional benefits of working a temporary position can be lifesaving, and can help the unemployed avoid spiraling into a deep depression.

Generally, staying active in the workforce is a good thing. Potential permanent employers will view your desire to work rather than collect unemployment benefits as a desirable quality. It speaks volumes about your work ethic, and overall, will be more beneficial to your job outlook, mental status and sense of fulfillment.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

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Top Paying Jobs for Women in 2012

As difficult as it may be to believe, in 2012, women still earn less than their male counterparts, at least when we look at the overall numbers.  However, what is encouraging, is that over the past thirty years, a woman's average income potential has increased dramatically - by as much as 63%!

Women who are jumping into the job pool in the modern world have a much higher earning potential over all, for sure, but for those women who are interested in jumping to the top of the salary scale, and fast, what kind of jobs are we talking about?

The top five highest paying jobs held by modern women today are listed, followed by the median yearly incomes earned by women employed in those fields:

• Psychologist ($60,000+)
• Physical therapist($60,000+)
• Nurse practitioner ($72,000)
• Attorney ($78,000)
• Pharmacist ($98,800)

As you can see, the highest paying jobs held by women today do involve quite a bit of higher education and skill. However, the more important question is: which of these fields have job opportunities NOW, and, which are predicted to have rising hiring numbers in the near future?

Although women may make more money in the above-mentioned fields than in a variety of male dominated specialties, many of the above do not have a ton of opportunities for open positions right now, and are not expected to anytime soon. Healthcare positions like physical therapists still have fairly regular job openings around the country, and if you have the determination and drive to open your own practice, you can be a psychologist AND an entreprenuer - anywhere, anytime!

However, many women who are looking for high paying positions may have to go against the grain and try to gain entrance into what has been deemed "The Boys' Club," - jobs that are still most frequently held by men.  Some of these options are listed below, followed by the median income of men employed in those fields:

• Chief executive ($76,00)
• Marketing and sales manager ($80,000)
• Software developer ($72,000)
• Computer programmer ($64,376)

The good news about these fields is: there are job openings! STEM field positions (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) are booming with the constantly updating world of technology and science, and everything that comes along with it.

Ultimately, women who manage to break into The Boys' Club and nail a position listed above often end up earning less than men who enter STEM positions due to their lowered ability to negotiate their salary aggressively. However, the good news is that the salary gap is getting narrower year by year.

If you're a woman who is looking to land a high paying position, even if it falls outside of "gender norms", don't let society's expectations hold you back.  Go forth and conquer, and demand to be paid as much as your male co-workers.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

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Should You Ask Why You Didn't Get the Job?

When you get passed over for a position, it is human nature to wonder what exactly went wrong. Why weren't you hired? Those of you who are diligently searching for a job understandably want some feedback that will hopefully help you improve your approach to job searching.

That being said, there is a right way and a very wrong way to handle this situation. Employers don't usually give out hiring information to those who didn't make the cut because it is uncomfortable. They realize that telling someone why they were not hired can be upsetting, and that most people, historically, do not handle it well. If you plan to approach your 'employer who never was' with a challenging attitude, think twice before making that call. Analyze what you want to gain. Do you really want to know why you weren't hired so that you use the feedback wisely? Or are you simply bitter and feel the need for justification that it is the company's loss - not yours?

To avoid a worthless, time wasting words war that will get you nowhere fast, consider using email in this situation. This will prevent your contact person from feeling attacked or put on the spot, and you might actually get some really useful feedback.

Keep your email strictly professional, nonthreatening, and gracious. It's okay to express your disappointment at not getting the job, but move quickly on to the question at hand. Say that you are truly interested in what you were lacking in terms of your resume or your interview skills. Make it simple by asking for two to three pieces of advice that you can apply in order to advance further in your pursuit of employment.

If you do not receive a response, you will have to accept it and move forward. However, if your inbox suddenly dings and you get the information you went looking for, remember these 2 important pieces of advice:

1. You may send a reply email one time to say thank you, and one time only.
2. Take the advice to heart, apply it to your job search, and look ahead.

Asking for feedback is a good way to improve your chances of success as you continue to seek out the professional setting that the best fit for you. Avoiding confrontation with professionals in your industry along the way is important, because you can potentially use them as contacts even if they didn't end up hiring you. As we all know, an interview is only a first impression. Make a good second impression, keep your networking skills honed, and remain positive that you will land the perfect job soon.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

Careerminds | Post a Comment | Share Article | Email Article | in Career Coaching, Human Resources, Outplacement | tagged Application, Cover Letter, Job Search, Salary Negotiation

What if You're 'Overqualified'?

With the recent ups and downs of our economy and the shifts in job trends, many people are looking for work in places they never planned on working. Take for example, Cameron, who has a law degree and four years of practicing as a divorce attorney on her resume. Last year, she got married and moved across the country, intending to find a lower level position with less hours so she could start a family. She was very surprised to find herself undesirable by most employers, and is still looking for work.

Many people are also applying for jobs at lower levels due to the fact that jobs at their previous level are simply unavailable. It seems like a good problem to have, but these overqualified job candidates are caught in a catch-22. There are no opportunities at the job level they are accustomed to and are qualified for, and they are being turned down for lower level employment as well!

Overqualified candidates scare some employers because they usually do not stick around long. They know what jobs they held before, and the fear is that when a management or appropriate high level position opens up, that they will take it. Employers are also concerned about the capability of higher level employees when it comes to lower level work, like cleaning, stocking shelves, and taking messages.

If you are caught in the middle of a similar situation, persevere and prove to your potential employer that your education and background does not necessarily mean you are not interested in their position for the long haul. After all, people do change careers! Show them that you are not above doing lower level tasks simply because you haven't done them in awhile. Reaffirm that if you weren't able and willing to do the work they require, you wouldn't have applied in the first place.

In order to convince a potential employer that you will not be bored or unfulfilled in the position he or she has to offer, tell them if you are choosing to step down from a high level job path because you want to work a job with normal hours and reasonable duties.  Stress the fact that you want time for a family, and that the job in question will offer you just that. Point out that you weren't making that much more at your old job, when you count in all of the unpaid hours of overtime you worked.

In fact, take salary off the discussion table altogether. Make it clear that you are flexible about the pay rate because you are more interested in job satisfaction, which you may not have been finding in your previously high-demand position. Try to deflect the focus off of your higher level qualifications. Instead, mention that, while you have managerial experience, you are now interested in a more hands-on role where you can be a cog in the wheel of a great company.

By focusing on the fact that you're a good worker with a solid dedication to your job (any job), you'll show interviewers that you are willing to learn and start from the bottom without complaint. As long as you are honestly interested in the position, your true intentions will shine much brighter than your previous experience.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

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The Interview: Reversed

For years, job candidates have been told to ask some questions of their own during the interview process, with the goal of looking intelligent to the interviewers.  How about changing the way you think about interviews altogether?

Having confidence in yourself and your employability should mean that you’re so certain of your worth as an employee that you have standards too. Try thinking of the interview as a meet-and-greet for both sides, a sort of ‘first date,’ if you will. They ask you some questions; you respond with thoughtfully articulated answers and then ask some meaningful questions of your own.

As a general rule, employers don’t expect you to have any good questions for them, if any at all.  The “Do you have any questions?” portion of the event is usually just a formality. Although some interviewees do indeed ask some things, they are usually carbon copies of the questions asked by everyone who has ever been interviewed in the history of time.

The point is that a job interview is just as much about how the employer measures up to your standards. Ironically, as soon as you are able to adopt this mantra, in all likelihood, you will have more job offers than you know what to do with. Employers look for candidates with self-confidence.

Here are some important things to think about as you embark on your next round of interviews. You may wish to incorporate these into questions for your potential new boss:

You need to be given a detailed job description, including what you will specifically be expected to accomplish during a given length of time. You will want to know if your work hours are flexible or fixed, and if you will be expected to work overtime.

Any corporation has a handful of outstanding employees who have risen to the top. In order to find out how they did it, and if you can too, find out about the qualities of the most successful and long-term workers the company has.

Try to uncover how your position will be able to generate potential success for the corporation as a whole, because if the company does well, that means your job sticks around longer.

Learn how prepared the company is to deal with potential issues in the future like competition or a downward-trending economy that may affect the longevity of your job. If they give off a vibe of unpreparedness and poor business practices, maybe they aren’t the right fit for you after all.

In order to gauge your chances at getting hired, consider inquiring about any strong internal candidates that the company may have, and what measures they are using to make their hiring choices.  If they have no front-runner in-house, ask why not.

In the event that you are hired, you are going to want to be fully informed about your salary, the budget for your department and how funding is received.  It’s beneficial to know what you are going to be dealing with financially before jumping in with both feet.

Job candidates turning the tables during the interview process shouldn’t be a formality, it should be routine, and the best employers will have solid answers and an action plan for their company that they can articulate clearly and confidently. Ask, and ye shall receive, possibly in more ways than one.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

Careerminds | Post a Comment | Share Article | Email Article | in Career Coaching, Human Resources, Outplacement | tagged Application, Cover Letter, Job Search, Salary Negotiation

How Much is a Free Education Worth?

Getting a formal college degree is extremely expensive these days, and at the same time, free or affordable online education courses seem to be exploding like wildfire. The combination of these two facts, seems, at first glance, to present a problem with a clear solution. However, the quandary lies with employers. Do they value self-education as a valid form of learning, or do they think it’s a waste of time?

According to OnlineColleges.net, the over-abundance of open education is being met with quite a bit of skepticism. Employers are staying quite intransigent on the concept and may need a little help budging on the issue.  In order to shine a positive light on your online or self-taught education, you might need to try a few of the following ideas in order to get your foot in the door.

Focus on your employability skills. Also known as key competencies, these are the skills that will help you get and keep the job, regardless of any formal education.  Many times, employers will favor an applicant who is simply more employable over one with a highly trained background but without any obvious basic, critical, or comprehensions skills that will translate well into the job setting.

Highlight the personal qualities required to be self-taught. A self-taught learner must possess a great deal of leadership, drive, and motivation. Many people who are self-taught have a lot to offer in these areas.  Make sure to demonstrate your punctuality, cooperation skills, flexibility and positive attitude too.

Flaunt your technology know-how. Virtually every employer is looking for computer- literate employees. Be sure to be able to present potential employers with an up-to-date Linked In profile, and be able to exhibit your ability to exchange email, use the internet, work with Microsoft Word or other word processing programs, and create spreadsheets.

Create a syllabus. Just because you were self-taught does not mean that you did not learn as much about how to be a paralegal as your formally taught competitors.  By presenting your potential employer with a self-made syllabus, you will be able to give more credit to your self-education.  Also consider doing this if you received an online education.  Employers need to feel that your knowledge is legitimate and putting it in writing is an easy way for them to feel good about hiring you.

Show them, don’t just tell them, that you can do it. Go into any interviews knowing exactly what kind of duties will be expected of you in the position. Be ready to demonstrate that you have the ability to produce the quality of work desired, regardless of the fact that you do not have a formal degree from a traditional college. One way to let your skills speak for themselves is by offering to perform for the interviewer right then and there.  Tell your interviewer to put your knowledge to the test if your self-taught background keeps coming up.

You can get the job with a self-taught or online education, as long as you display all of the other employability qualities that employers look for. Approach the interview with complete confidence in yourself and your ability to do the job you’re there to get. Make and maintain good eye contact, and don’t shy away from talking about your education.  Self-taught or not, if you’re qualified for the job then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t get it. Lead with your strengths and abilities and walk away with a job offer that you deserve.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

Careerminds | Post a Comment | Share Article | Email Article | in Career Coaching, Human Resources, Outplacement | tagged Cover Letter, Job Search, Personal Brand, Professional Development

Search Outside the Box

Looking for work outside the traditional office setting is often a possibility that is overlooked by jobseekers, perhaps because many of us have become programmed to associate commuting to work with earning a paycheck. However, the job market is constantly shifting as we continue to become an increasingly online world, and the needs of employers are not always what they used to be.

For some people, the thought of working from home sounds like a giant oxymoron- a luxury job that only consists of Skyping in your pajamas and getting paid for it. In other words, most people don’t realize that there are very legitimate (and well-paying) jobs today that will allow you to work from a variety of locations. Some of these positions may require that you visit an office once a month to check in, or that you check in regularly via Skype. However, these opportunities do exist, and to overlook them would be a job search faux pas that may very well be quite detrimental to your bank account.

When it comes to finding legitimate work-at-home opportunities, there are a few very important things to keep in mind in order to make your search as productive as possible. You must watch out for any offers that sound too good to be true and claim that you will make thousands of dollars every week. There are some scams out there, but it is also possible to find actual, paying employers who need your virtual services.

By taking a look at your desired job’s section of craigslist, you will find a variety of offers, ranging from traditional, in-office positions to completely virtual positions that require little to no contact with your employer, aside from regular emails. The key is learning how to separate valid job offers from scams. To find telecommuting positions, look in the ‘Gigs’ section of any Craigslist city, choosing the appropriate subsection based on your talents. You can also find telecommuting positions under any job category, if you look hard enough. To ensure that the job offer that you apply for is legitimate, send a feeler email message with your qualifications and make sure that you arrange for a good faith upfront payment before beginning any telecommuting work.

You can also consider working as a virtual assistant, as long as you don’t mind customer service and/or working for a call center. In these types of jobs, people take calls at home for approximately $15 per hour of talk time. To find virtual assistant jobs, check out agencies that specialize in delivering customer service, like Live Ops and Working Solutions, two sites that put home based employees to work as customer sales and service agents.

There are also several work at home communities that will help you as you wade through the waters of unexplored job territory. These sites give you tips about how to avoid scams and they also point you in the right direction of opportunities that are not dead ends. Try checking out WAHM.com.

Also, don’t forget about the opportunities presented by sites like eBay, which allow you to set up your own home business as an affiliate. The eBay Affiliate Program allows you to make money without even selling anything. Your job is to help eBay get new members and to drive traffic to eBay auctions. There is a lot of money-making potential as an eBay affiliate, but it does require a lot of work and dedication, including researching eBay buying patterns, buying audiences, and creating appropriate content to turn window shoppers into paying customers. Although it is specifically prohibited to promote your own auctions through the eBay Affiliate Program, you can still run a very successful eBay auction site concurrently while acting as an eBay affiliate.

As your job search continues, remember that thinking outside of the box often gets the most results in life, and that applies to finding employment as well. The world is constantly moving forward and technology is now our main mode of communication. Keep in mind that it can also be your main mode of receiving a paycheck.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.