Your Personal Image- Does it make you marketable?

With my personal experience and observation, image has been a huge factor in the hiring process (even with anti-discriminatory laws) and social acceptance. Not always but in most cases. That can be viewed as a disappointment to some but the reality is that if your image is not up to par (depending on the audience) then you can't be part of the team because you won't "fit in". It sounds so highschoolish but there are reasons why it happens. Let's look at our culture. We are so blown away with cool ads and marketing which makes you want to buy the latest and greatest. And then they add the very attractive woman and man, you feel that if you purchase it, you're just as cool.

Your clubs, associations, your confidence plays another factor that are part of your image. Educational institutions aside, where and who you hang out in that country club or night club can be a free ticket to acceptance. Let me give you an example. Just the other night, my friend and I went to this event which had free cover charge and drinks for 3 hrs. It was so popular that the line was around the block. At 39 yrs, there was no way I was going to wait..... I went to talk to the bouncer at a separate entrance, and asked if it made sense to have a drink somewhere else and come back later. He said that may be a good idea and I thought he was nice and honest so I asked his name and shook his hand. It just so happened then, that another guy was standing there and I decided to ask his name and shake his hand. Out of courtesy, I explained myself and he just happened to be the General Manager. Now this is where you do your homework, I read who was who on the club's website. I said, " Oh so you're...." Well that was a green light and my friend and I ended up going in a separate entrance to the event. Keep it in mind, that meeting owners, partners or general managers are important since that can really be a great network for fundraisers and business events so entrepreneurs and executives, take note.

The bottom line is that depending on where you want to "fit in" you need to research where you want to be part of and look at your self positively and tweak yourself accordingly. This process is not about beauty but in simple terms, don't show up at a job interview in shorts at corporate America or in a ball gown at an ACDC concert, resourcefully speaking.

Resourcefully Speaking: Networking skills-Where and When.

In today's economy, people think that there are no jobs are out there. The reality is that there is a influx of employment, but companies are cutting down on recruiting and marketing expenses used for on line advertisements like Monster or outwardly expensive creative recruiting like open house parties, sky writing, or even advertising buses to name a few. Therefore, folks are taking the intiatives to go back to basics like old fashion networking. Take advantage of your alumni association get togethers, even your religious group get togethers. I have met very interesting people in my field that referred me to other interesting people. It sounds too simple because it is! As a society, we tend to be wrapped up in quick communication and efficiency which tends to make us inefficient in our in person soft skills. Since the email and texting generation came to play, folks are forgetting how to write and spell these days. What about those acronyms...OMG and LOL? If you think about this issue, if makes you wonder about that English teacher that gave you a hard time in elementary school for grammar.

What about social networking? Now this is powerful since I found my first job out of college when I met this guy wearing a cast in a Sunset Boulevard night club. I didn't even think about socializing since I was there to dance. Simply, he asked me "What do you do?" and I said,"I'm looking for a job". He handed me a business card and said to call him in the AM. Now, to make a long story short, I did get hired as an Administrative Assistant and worked for his family business for a year and a half. You're thinking, "But that's for recent grads". You're wrong. That was just a story in its simplicity. But for mid- management and executive level, I know that folks have met leads in cigar bars. What about friends referring friends? Been there, done that. Don't forget that fundraising party where you get to have fun and do a great deed. That's the best place to go for both professional and social reasons.

So keep the faith that networking is important in person where you must shake that hand and give good eye contact. Does this mean forget about Facebook and Linked in? Remember, they are great for insightful readers and networking tools but keep it in mind, that presenting your self in person is most powerful, resourcefully speaking.

Humanly speaking: How to be optimistic in today's layed off world

People say that I have a positive way of looking at life when the economy is lousy and unemployment is high. So what if you just lost your job to corporate America's change management decisions. It's happening everywhere globally.

So is it doom and gloom for you professionally? The answer is simply "no". Since I'm no stranger to change management, I always look at the bright side since I had nothing to do with a company's decision of cutting costs or mergers and aquisitions. Most recently layed off folks generally receive a decent severance package and unemployment benefits tumbling after. Honestly, this is not a bad deal since there are countries out there who never heard of unemployment. Seriously, our US system gives us an opportunity to look for other prospects and gives us time to think about the next step. It does help if you know how to save for the rainy day fund and Susie Orman is your hero but did you ever begin to think about the other stuff that makes you a complete person? For example, parents who work themselves to death for the sake of making their kids happy by stashing funds for the disney world vacations or the toy they always wanted. C'mon parents! Speaking as a parent, you child will live. Think of the free and quality time you will have with your child! You'll get to do fun stuff like going to the beach and movies. Working parents tend to over compensate due to the lack of time they spend with their child. My kid is thrilled that I'm in transition.

What about the single folks? Well, this change not a bad deal at all. I mean you don't have to have any responsibilities but to yourself. So what if you don't have enough money to party with? There are inexpensive ways to have fun. So have your buds over for drinks and make a pot luck party with a theme. Professionally speaking, you have an opportunity to travel, search and see what is out there. Money shouldn't be a primary factor especially if you are trying to get out of your industry. Even if a new job doesn't pay enough, think about the learning experience that you will gain for an adventure.

How about taking advantage of your life's passion which in most cases turns into the bucket list if you wait too long. This could be a good time to paint that picture and display it in Starbucks for fun. Just the other day, I watched this documentary on how this four year old became this overnight sensation due to the parents displaying their daughter's canvas painting in a coffee shop. I mean if you think about it, what do you have to lose? So what if no one buys your painting? It wasn't your primary profession to begin with. What I am saying is that instead of freaking out and getting depressed on where you're suppose to be in your professional life, why not just taking some time and reflect and focus your energy on the less serious stuff in life and try to have some fun in the mean time. You never know what will happen. Just an example, I sold this collector plate for $15 dollars at an antique fair and bought it for $5 at an estate sale. You're thinking "big deal". Well, it is if you're thinking percentages. I'm not saying that I've decided to change my profession but simply, its not the end of the world and there is more than one way to make a buck and have fun doing it while living off of unemployment.

Well, we all know that severance and unemployment benefits will run out. So take that mediocre contracting job and that job offer which pays you a little less. Trust me, things aren't that bad, humanly speaking.