10 Professional Resolutions for the New Year

Career Plans You Can Borrow from the Pros
by Caroline M.L. Potter, Yahoo! HotJobs


The end of the year typically prompts people to reflect on what they've accomplished in the last 12 months -- and what they might do better in the coming 12 months. Have the lessons of a tumultuous 2008 informed how you will approach 2009? Have you even thought that far ahead yet?

If you're not sure about your goals, consider borrowing one of these 10 resolutions from professionals who have already decided what they will focus on in the new year.

In 2009, I resolve to ...

1. Focus on passion, not the passing of days.
Holistic health counselor Trish Balbert shares, "I am going back to school for my Ph.D. in clinical psychology. It will be at least six years before I finish, and a lot of people have balked at that. They comment that it's such a long time, but my feeling is six years are going to pass one way or another. What do I want to have at the end of them? Would I rather spend them doing something I only mostly like or sort of like? Or would I rather spend them doing something that I really like that's going to get me doing something I really love?"

2. Take better advantage of your talents.
Just as the cobbler's children often have no shoes, advertising executive Jim Ellis's agency, Ellis + Potter Advertising, has been so busy providing marketing solutions for clients that they've neglected their own marketing. Ellis says, "In 2009, we resolve to ramp up our website and use its inherent strengths and benefits as more of a new business building tool to create opportunities."

3. Ignore the hype.
Tired of all the bad news? Tune it out! Jennifer DeSpagna, director of Timber Lake West Camp, says, "Well, I don't know if you would call this a resolution, but as my boss put it, 'We are choosing not to participate in this recession!' That is where I'll be coming from in 2009!"

4. Let someone else sweat the small stuff.
Lisa Steadman, also known as "The Relationship Journalist" and founder of Breakupchronicles.com, is ready to grow her business in 2009 -- with a little help. "I resolve to spend more time working ON my business and less time working IN my business. I've already hired a virtual assistant who does amazing work, and I am in the process of interviewing a part-time office assistant that my husband and I can share between our businesses."

5. Raise my profile.
Maya Kalman, president of Swank Productions, a Manhattan-based event-planning agency, shares, "My resolution is to do more publicity and public relations this year. I'm going to focus on doing more press -- because press equals exposure, which equals money!" She adds, "I'm also focusing on staying positive to move the company in the right direction, despite the current economy."

6. Spend money to make more money.
Brooklyn photographer Michael Harlan Turkell, who specializes in the culinary arts, reveals, "I've realized you have to spend money to make money. I had to turn down a lot of jobs this year because I didn't have a commercial space, but I realize how much more productive I could have been with an actual space."

As a freelancer, however, cash flow is always a concern, so Turkell is also on a quest to find a CPA who can help him spend wisely over the course of the year. "Right now, it's about not knowing what to spend and I'm investigating how a quarterly schedule might work best for a freelancer."

7. Recharge to continue to charge ahead.
Daisy Swan, a career coach and strategist and president of Daisy Swan & Associates, promises, "This past year taught me that taking time to regroup and recharge is essential to being able to give my gifts and effectively wear all of the hats that I wear every day! I vow to take time each week (and I do now) to meditate, connect with a larger, greater picture of my life to get centered and present. I know that tuning into the intuition and energy that I am informed by will aid me in making important decisions in the new year that is guaranteed to be loaded with new adventures."

8. Commit to getting commitments.
National workplace columnist and career advisor Liz Ryan admits her resolution took her by surprise. "It's become evident that this year more than ever before, lots and lots of people are scared witless at the prospect of launching a job search. I wish I had seen that sooner. A job-search advisor like me needs not only to share tips, methods, and moral support, but to hold a job seeker to a set of commitments to overcome that 'Oh, goodness, no! Anything but more job-search activity!' inertia."

9. Find the 'hire' power.
Michelle Madhok, founder of Shefinds.com, a popular online shopping blog, is not going to suffer poor performers and will take more time in trying to separate the wheat from the chaff. She says, "This year I will hire slow and fire fast. I will not settle for average employees!"

10. Avoid taking business matters personally.
Career coach Hallie Crawford, author of "Flying Solo: Career Transition Tips for Singles," was inspired by a key line from "The Godfather" film for her resolution. She says, "My resolution is to: Remember it's business, not personal. My peers', clients' or co-workers' decisions are not always about me as a person!"

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Basic Tips on Applying to Nursing Schools

By Kathy Mercado

A number of young students opt for nursing courses right after they finish school. Having a diploma or degree in nursing from a reputed nursing school is something that can help anyone to have a bright career. You don't have to read thick books and there is little hard work involved. Nursing field is a light but sensitive field where your attitude and personality is more important that intelligence quotient. If you are a people person, nursing field may prove excellent for you in long term. Here are a few basic tips on applying to nursing schools -

1. Check online as well as local schools in the region. When it comes to online schools, you should choose the ones recognized in your state or territory. There are countless websites that claim to be accredited within the nursing program.

2. Accredited nursing schools will provide various nursing courses ranging from Bachelor's degree to Master of Science. One of the fastest job placements are ensured by degree courses in nursing programs. At present, nursing is one of the fast growing professions in entire United States.

3. BSN (Bachelor's in Nursing) will take around 4 years to complete and MSN (Master's in Science) will take nearly 2 years. Make your plans according to the budget you can afford for a specific period of time. Some of the nursing schools will relax tuition fees when you are an intern.

4. As a BSN you can easily find a job by checking newspapers on daily basis. A number of healthcare centers, nursing homes and retirement homes are continuously looking for nursing professionals. Before you apply to nursing school, learn about their placement records and ratio of graduates inducted directly into major healthcare organizations. A reputable nursing school can push forward your nursing career by giving you the right platform to begin with.

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10 Do's and Don'ts for a Stealthy Job Search

Networking Tips That Won't Blow Your Cover
by Caroline M.L. Potter, Yahoo! HotJobs


If you've got a job, you probably want to hold on to it until you find another one, even if it's less than ideal. But remember, in most states, employment is at-will, meaning you can be fired for almost any reason (so long as it is not discriminatory) -- including looking for a new position.

So how can a job seeker tap the full power of her network without blowing her cover with her boss? Use these tips from national workplace columnist and career advisor Liz Ryan (asklizryan.com) to keep your job search under wraps.

Do...

1. Tell your people -- in person.

Ryan believes your network is your best resource for finding new opportunities, but she cautions: "Because even our most well-meaning friends can inadvertently spill the beans in unfortunate ways, it's best to share this news in person, while you're looking in someone's eyes." This will allow you to stress how important discretion is.

2. Mix and mingle.

Start going to face-to-face networking events to expand your network. To keep things discrete, Ryan advises, "Don't announce, 'I'm job-hunting!' Instead, tell other attendees, 'I work for XYZ company doing A, B, and C. Of course, like everyone else, I've got my eyes open right now!'"

3. Build your profile to raise your profile.

Network from the comfort of your own home by expanding your LinkedIn profile (or creating one if you don't already have one). She says, "Build your LinkedIn profile and your LinkedIn network by inviting friends and colleagues -- all but the people you work with right now -- to join your network."

4. Tap your resources when doing research.

When thinking about where you want to work next, Ryan says look first to your network. "Begin to research employers and reach out to them through trusted friends and colleagues who either work there now, used to work there, or know people who can make introductions to the employer for you."

5. Expand your network and knowledge online.

Another way to build your network is to participate in online discussion groups. Ryan reveals, "Look for groups devoted to job-search and career topics, such as the 'Ask Liz Ryan' Yahoo! Group, to grow your knowledge base and contacts."

Don't...

1. Broadcast your intentions.

Ryan strongly advises job seekers to avoid any means of broadcast communications. "If you use a LinkedIn broadcast message or a group email to tell friends you're job hunting, there's an excellent chance that someone will not read it carefully and inadvertently tip your hand to the wrong people." She also reminds folks with a vested interest in secrecy not to list their job-hunting status on any social-networking sites.

2. Find out how you'll fare at a job fair.

Job fairs are attracting record numbers of attendees. If you are among them, there's a strong possibility you could run into someone who knows both you and your current employer, creating an awkward situation that could cost you your job. Therefore, says Ryan, "Avoid attending job fairs as a method to meet prospective employers."

3. Count on coworkers.

Keep your search a secret from even your most trusted colleagues. Ryan says, "Asking
current coworkers for help or advice with your job search puts them in a bad situation, torn between loyalty to you and their paycheck. Don't ask them to do that."

4. Blindly respond to blind ads.

Employers often use blind advertisements to attempt to find a replacement for a current employee who does not yet know he is about to be fired. Responding to one, then, puts you in jeopardy of applying to the very company for which you work (perhaps even for your very job!). Even if it isn't the same position or a lateral one, Ryan says, "Don't send your resume to any blind job ads in which the employer is not clearly identified."

5. Give out references at your current company.

It's hard to get a job without references. In fact, solid references are often what seals the deal. However, you shouldn't use your current team members or supervisors as references. Ryan notes, "You'll use these folks as reference-givers down the road, but while you're still working at XYZ Corp, it's not ethical or appropriate to ask XYZ-affiliated people to recommend you for a different job."

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Finding a newspaper career

Making your way into that newspaper room door is not an impossible task. In fact, it’s fairly a breezy one, IF you possess a few of the traits needed to get your foot in that very busy door. Open your eyes to an exciting field of opportunity. Here’s the scoop:

You may start out with a typical scenario as this one: You see an ad in the local newspaper for Reporters at your local community/weekly newspaper. You respond to it with a modest resume and a couple of modest writing samples. They like what you have to offer, and they use you occasionally as a stringer. A “stringer” is a reporter or “correspondent” that is on call for newsworthy happenings and events in their local area. This may mean a correspondent is called on to cover an event that a staff writer is not available to cover. The correspondent, proceeds to go out to cover the story, which is usually a local one or one within the parameters of a certain county. A correspondent may also be responsible for a few different towns, if needed. The correspondent usually works offsite.This is the initial way of getting in the news room door. Although, the correspondent is not fully IN at this point, but if persistent, can get further in...read on...

After a while of stringing for a newspaper and proving one’s writing abilities and reliability, stringing becomes a good stepping stone for a hot seat at the newspaper itself (in the actual news room at an acutal desk--onsite!). Yes, this is a very tangible possibility. Many times, news rooms are considered to have “revolving doors”, because writer’s tend to get their experience, pick up, and use the place as a stepping stone to another opportunity. Reporting/Writing positions at newspapers often do not pay well and working conditions could be rather scarce. *In other words, spots are ALWAYS available in the newspaper field. A person just has to be persistent, quick and assertive to get them. Not to mention, a writing ability has to be present (not a perfected one, but a good one).

*Note: This means at lower levels. Upper level reporter jobs at daily newspapers require a little more experience and possibly a substantial knowledge or background in a particular town or area.

Having the spot as a correspondent puts the fledgling reporter in the perfect position of getting ready to fulfill a staff writer seat. A correspondent has to continue his/her reliability with stories, follow ups, phone calls, accuracy and availability when it comes to this field. Aggressiveness and friendliness are a good mix and will work to propel a young reporter, as well.

It’s a good idea to keep an eye and ear out for an open spot. Editors at newspapers are usually tough, but friendly. Typically, they want to see who is newspaper material, by initialling putting people off and being aloof. But, when their needs are sufficed, they react in a positive manner and give those who are persistent, reliable and trustworthy a “shot.” They really do!

Experience at a local/weekly newspaper serves a person well if they wants to work up to a daily newspaper or magazine position. Or, the experience can be taken to other areas, as well, including: technical writing, television, public relations, speechwriting or proposal writing.

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Improve your supervisor skills

The ramifications of being promoted to supervisor is shocking. Your lifelong friends are now your subordinates. Suddenly you realize that "budget" is not really just an excuse to deny requests.

The first day that you're in your new office is most important.

#1. Observe. Now is not the time to say things that you will regret at a later date. Your perspective is going to change as you review your budget and begin to understand the dynamics of interoffice relations.

#2. Take notes. Begin your organizational habits from day one. Buy a yellow legal notepad and begin to make lists of things that are vital to remember. Make a list of equipment that you will need. Make a list of questions that you will need answers to. There will be an overwhelming avalanche of information that you will be responsible for and the fact is that most of us cannot remember every little detail. If you don't write it down, it will be forgotten.

#3. Find a mentor. With a little luck, you can find a mentor that is not in your own chain of command. This will allow you to confide some details and situations that should not land on your own supervisors desk. #4. Think through scenarios. Constantly ask yourself how situations should be handled. If you can decide on a proper course of action prior to actually confronting the problem, it increases the odds of you performing as a respected supervisor.

#5. Leave work at work. A strong work ethic is vital to your success but you must realize that if your not sleeping and taking care of yourself, you will become sick. A sick supervisor is not an effective supervisor. Allow yourself time to relax and refuel your reserves.

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How to write a cover letter for a job

When applying for a job, it’s important that you take advantage of every opportunity to make a positive, strong first impression. Your resume is one way to do this, but another often overlooked way to make sure your resume gets the attention you want is to write a strong cover letter. Many people either don’t write cover letters, or don’t consider them important and worth spending any time on. Don’t make this mistake!

Cover letters give you the opportunity to show your personality to a potential employer and the chance to focus on some “soft skills” you have that might be hard to communicate in a resume. These include things like personal communication skills, enthusiasm, dedication, attention to detail, and professionalism, to name just a few.

The first and by far most important thing about a cover letter is to make sure that you spell check and double check your letter for grammar! This seems like a small point to make, but it’s far too common for a cover letter to contain errors that instantly communicate two negative points: that you’re not detail oriented, and that you don’t care about this job enough to take a few minutes to check your letter. Don’t make this mistake!

The content of your cover letter is also very important. Before you start writing your letter, consider the kind of job you’re applying for. Is it a formal setting, like a legal office, or a more relaxed creative atmosphere, like an advertising agency? You’ll want the tone of your writing to be appropriate to the audience – this is not to say that you should ever be too casual in your cover letter, but you can probably be a little less formal if you know your audience is going to be relaxed.

As you write, make sure that you explain why you’re applying for this particular job with this particular company. Take moment to research the office or company a bit, so that you can drop some details into your letter that will let the hiring manager know that you’re knowledgeable about their company. This kind of small detail can make you stand out as a more serious, more interested candidate. You’ll also want to compliment the company if you can do so without it seeming forced, to let them know that you look forward to being part of such a quality enterprise.

Lastly, let your cover letter be a chance to communicate some unique details about you and your skill set that might not come through in your resume. For example, if you have hobbies relevant to the job opening, or some short work-related anecdote that communications your strong interpersonal skills, your cover letter is the place for this information. Remember, your cover letter can be the difference between someone reading your resume or putting your resume in the “no” pile!

Again, the most important recommendation of all is this: Don’t forget to proofread! Good luck with your job hunting, and happy writing!

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Resume help: free cover letter samples and examples for human resources

Many people believe that when applying for a job, the cover letter is an optional addition to the resume. However, most hiring managers expect a cover letter and do not even consider resumes that do not come with one attached.

While the resume is in fact the meat and potatoes of your presentation to a potential employer, the cover letter acts as the spice that makes the meal worth sitting down to eat. Your resume is where your accomplishments are listed, but your cover letter is where you highlight some of the more relevant ones and pitch yourself as the person the company should hire. There may be hundreds of other candidates with equally impressive resumes, so use your cover letter to stand out.

Be original, but don't be "cute". To be original is to present your unique ability to handle the job requirements, whereas to be cute is to use the highly unprofessional "giggle factor", hoping your humor will get you a call back. It won't.

Your cover letter should be addressed to the person whose job it is to hire you for the position. If you do not know his or her name, call the company and ask. Make sure you have the correct spelling and title for this person. Of course, make sure you have meticulously checked your spelling and grammar.

The person who will hire you probably doesn't have much time for all the resumes on his or her desk, not to mention the other work that he or she needs to get done. Therefore, getting to the point and putting as much information as you can in as few words as possible will raise your letter's chances of being read in its entirety. An effective cover letter would read something like this:

DATE

Mr. John Doe

President

Big Company

123 Any Street

New York, NY 00000

Dear Mr. Doe:

Please find enclosed my resume for your consideration for the position of ____________.

Your ad in the New York Times specifies that the ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree or three years experience in ___________. I have recently completed my bachelor's degree, and I also have over two years of experience in the field.

My coursework in __________ has provided a solid foundation for work in _____________. Furthermore, my experience in ____________ began with my first job at Dynamo Company and continues into my present employment with ABC Corporation. I understand the importance of ___________ to Big Company, and am excited about the opportunity to help enhance it.

I have references available upon your request. I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you. I can be reached at (phone) or by email at (email address).

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Of course, you can't just take any cover letter, change the name and address, and send it off to every employer. Nor can you simply fill in the blanks in the suggested format shown above. The point of your cover letter is to let specific employers know that you have knowledge of their company and demonstrated skills that you can offer them.

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