How far would you go to help someone who won't admit they need it.

Tonight I was asked to help a young person in crisis. Friday nights are my training nights, I had recently arrived at the martial arts studio where I train, Plus One Defense Systems (@teamplusone) in West Hartford, when my Sensei pulled me aside as I was beginning my work out and asked me if I would sit with a young person who admitted they had no place to sleep for the night; he was hoping that I might be able to offer some assistance. As a former law-enforcement officer in a different state, my Sensei had a sense for some of the resources that might be available in his home state, but was not intimately familiar with the kinds of support or resource that would immediately help this person. As someone who is committed to community service and helping others I was happy to step in at his request and speak with this young person in hopes of identifying a potential solution for their housing crisis. As it turns out the individual was not readily willing to take some of the steps necessary to receive help i.e. share any personal information, go to emergency room or answer a series of personal questions posed by an emergency crisis counselor, whom I was able to connect with them. The individual did their very best to assure me that they would be fine and my assistance, while appreciated, was not necessary. Not being completely settled with that I continued to work with the counselor at the emergency crisis center and was able to make a connection that resulted in two counselors coming to the martial arts studio to meet with the individual and hopefully connect them with housing for the evening. I left this exchange feeling somewhat contented in the support that I was able to provide, however, I'm left wondering how far would you go to help someone who's not willing to admit they in fact really need the help. 

How far do we go to help our job seeker customers who aren't willing yet to admit they really need the help we provide. How far are we willing to go to help someone that may be in crisis that's unwilling to admit the severity of their situation and who gets to make that determination. Perhaps I went too far, perhaps this individual really did have the means to find temporary housing for themselves even though they reached out to my sensei for assistance, maybe they had a plan b that they'd rather not resort to, but does in fact exists. Maybe I stepped over the line in trying to help this person. As workforce development professionals do we ever step over the line, do we ever go too far? What do you think?

Mentor Management Model - new prezi

Click on the arrow to begin the Prezi.

Accomplishments - no longer resume optional

In times past it was acceptable to have a resumé that was little more than a grocery list of outdated tasks and duties that were performed at one point and time, but are no longer. My friend Jay Block (@JayBlockCareers) referred to these documents as "chronological obituaries". They did very little to accurately portray the individual's value  or communicate the kind of skills the individual has acquired overtime. In the last four years the job market has changed considerably and along with it the resumé has changed.

Where as accomplishments my have once been considered an optional component of the resumé; something that could be included in the rare occasion that someone actually contributed something spectacular to their place of employment, that is no longer the case. Accomplishments, achievements, value add, recognition, etc, are among the most critical elements of the resume because they serve as the differentiating factor when all other factors are equal. In other words, accomplishments represent the individual's unique value.

Accomplishments are an illustration of the individual's value or demonstrated abilities/impact on the job. Therefore an accomplishment can range from the more visible forms of impact or contribution, such as receiving an award, merit increase, or promotion from the organization where they are employed, to more subtle illustrations of value, such as assisting in the transition of new leadership or serving as the point of contact for a particular scenario or circumstance, i.e. technical assistance or support when difficult occurrences present themselves. Accomplishments are critical because they demonstrate, to the prospective employer, the individuals practical abilities and skills. Accomplishments paint a picture, in a manner of speaking, of the value the individual can add to an organization. This is what makes accomplishments so critical and why they are a necessary component of the resume. To that end, ideally the individual is able to articulate 2 - 3 accomplishments from each of their previous employment opportunities listed on the resume. Including accomplishments everywhere the individual has worked demonstrates to the employer that the individual consistently adds value regardless of job title or organization. In this way the individual is associated with consistency and impact. As a result the employer is more apt to extend an invitation for an interview because they have a good idea of the kind of value the individual can add.

Appearance on Fox Connecticut's Morning Show

Third annual appearance on Fox 61's morning show, Good Morning CT.

Charles Botts III, a business service consultant at CT Works, talks about how to effectively use social media tools in their job search. He focuses on LinkedIn and shares some tips on the Morning Extra.

"Five Steps to a Successful Career Campaign"

As the Labor Market released it numbers for the month of June we all learned today the economy continues to lag in its rate of growth. I had the privaledge of meeting with a group of 60 bright eyed college freshmen that are saavy enough to be spending a portion of their summer studying and preparing for life after college. Below is the Prezi I developed for them to aid them in the very early stages of their career campaigns. However, wherever you are in your career you may find these steps of value. Enjoy and feel free to comment.

5 Steps to a Successful Career Campaign on Prezi

This is a great article from one of Fox Sport's best writers Jason Whitlock. An interesting commentary on the capitalism, the prison industrial complex and how Michael Jordan and Ronald Regan have crippled poor minorities living in this country's urban centers.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/whitlock-adidas-js-roundhouse-mids-shackle-shoes-an-attempt-to-capitalize-on-prison-culture-061912

Branding is not for the big boys anymore

Branding is not for the big boys anymore. Traditionally we have come to associate brands with large retail corporations; “Just Do It”, “The best part of waking up”, “I’m Loving It”, “America Runs on Dunkin”. These are familiar tag lines and messages that we have come to associate with a particular organization and experience. Brands resonate with the consumer and when done correctly we can recognize a brand almost immediately. Being able to describe the attributes and values of a product in a brief and meaningful way is as much an art as it is a science. Corporations spend millions developing a brand that will have an impact, communicate the company’s value, and distinguish them from their competitors. Research has proven there is a bottom line impact on the effectiveness of a company’s brand message. Consumers are attracted to a company’s advertising, the more effective the brand message the more profitable the company. Executives and senior level professionals appreciate this concept and have utilized it in their own careers. For years executives have hired marketing consultants to help package themselves and present their organizational value, strategic leadership and profitability impact. The business community has known for decades; it’s not just about what you can do, it’s also about the value you can provide and the kind of impact you can make.

For many in today’s job market branding is an unfamiliar concept. Perhaps a term someone may have heard once or twice, but certainly not anything they would have considered relevant to their career campaign. While individual job seekers may not be as familiar with the concept of branding, it is a concept that every job seeker needs to embrace. The more competitive the job market becomes the more crucial it will be for individuals engaged in a rigorous career campaign to develop a unique value message that communicates their value-add and core strengths. In other words, in order for job seekers to transition from seeking employment to having found employment the individual must establish a brand. Unfortunately most unemployed individuals seeking full time employment are not in the position to hire a brand or marketing consultant that can help them craft an impactful message that will both communicate the individual’s value as well as set them apart from their competition. In fact many individuals are uncertain as to what exactly a brand message is, let alone be able to develop one on their own. If you have never taken the time to develop a brand message or if you have an idea, but are just not sure how to start the following five steps will help you to establish your personal brand message.

1.       Determine your values. Take the time to dig into your beliefs and identify those ideas that you hold most dear. Our values are often times good places to excavate and find hidden motivators.  When we are motivated by our work and environment we are productive and successful. This exercise will also help you to determine the kind of organization for which you want to work.

2.       Identify commonalities. There are threads that exist among our previous work experience. There are certain characteristics that we portray in all of our work assignments regardless of the job or industry. For example if you are a process oriented person than that is a trait that you express in all your employment experiences. Similarly if you are the kind of person that is able to engage customers than you are that way in some fashion in all your work life.

3.       Consider your passions. What kinds of work activities generate a sense of enthusiasm and excitement inside of you? When we are passionate about something we are able to concentrate longer, work harder and generally invest more effort and energy.

4.       List your accomplishments. Any recognition received, specific company awards, any special assignments or projects in which you were asked to participate or lead. Accomplishments communicate impact to prospective employers and that translates to opportunity.

5.       Describe your goals. It is critical not only for your potential future employer, but also for yourself to articulate your immediate and longer terms goals. Goals provide vision, motivation and focus. By knowing what your goals are you can determine the best course of action to their achievement.

By completing these five steps you will have a solid foundation upon which to develop a strong brand message that will deliver results. An effective brand message will provide employers with a clear sense of your value and the potential impact you will have in the company. Branding articulates your unique characteristics and passions. Ultimately a strong brand message will focus your career campaign and lead to permanent employment in a rewarding career.

If you are interested in receiving more help developing your personal brand message or for any additional assistance with your other workforce development needs, stop into your local CT Works One Stop Center. Within its walls your will find experts and resources to help you achieve your career goals and provide you will tools and resources to be successful.