Author: Mike Balof

A retired Air Force Master Sergeant, Mike used to lay in bed at night and worry about what would happen if his plant closed or found himself without a job. One day his plant closed. Rather than panic and hysteria (OK, maybe a little) Mike found himself carried away on the adventure of his life. Mike started with the best job he ever had working at Home Depot. He spent 8 years working with job seekers at a local workforce center, helping them to find employment. He then started his own company developing courses, writing books and urging others to follow their own paths into the future. Mike holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Training and a Bachelor of Business Management, earned through the University of Phoenix and an AAS degree in Electronics Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force. Mike is a member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society.

Need a Job?

When I worked at a workforce center, many people came in and told me they wanted a job and needed it starting yesterday. As I talked with them, it became apparent that they did not know what skills they had, did not have a resume or cover letter, and did not know how to use a computer to make those items. Many could not tell me the dates they had worked in the past.

When I would tell them of some stores that were hiring and some open positions, they would often come back to me with, “Don’t look too hard. I still have 13 weeks of unemployment.” It was apparent that they did not know how getting a job worked.

We are again in a recession and I would like to give some thoughts and advice based on what I learned during the Great Recession, helping people find jobs back then. This week I will post 5 blogs on how to find gainful employment during a recession.

The topics will be

  • Being honest with yourself and your needs.
  • Doing the work
  • Priming the Pump
  • Making Your Mark
  • Handling the Climb

I hope you will find enjoyment and a good use for the information I have to share.

Working With Small Businesses

Most of the advice given for finding a job deals with big businesses. There are, however, still small businesses or mom-and-pop stores that are not the same as the more prominent brands. These stores and shops can be great places to get a job, especially if you are a little older.

Getting hired at a small business can be good with the right approach. Here are some tips to help you land that job:

  1. Before approaching the store owner, research the business. Learn as much as you can about its products, services, and values. This will show the owner that you are genuinely interested in working for them.
  2. First impressions are everything. Dress appropriately for the job you seek, and make sure you look clean and presentable.
  3. Confidence is critical when asking for a job. Introduce yourself to the store owner and explain why you want to work for their business. Highlight your skills and any relevant experience you have.
  4. Don’t be afraid to ask the store owner if any job openings are available. If there aren’t any positions open, ask if you can leave your resume in case openings arise.
  5. Make sure to follow up with the store owner from time to time. This shows you are serious about the job and can help you stand out from other candidates.

Asking for a job can be nerve-racking, but the right approach can lead to a rewarding career. Good luck with your job search!

Volunteering

Finding a place to volunteer while looking for a job or new career is an excellent use of your time. It is a fulfilling and rewarding experience that benefits both the volunteer and the organization. It is a great way to be out amongst people who may be able to help you find employers who are hiring. Below are a few tips to help:

  • Think about the causes you are passionate about and your skills that can be useful to a non-profit organization.
  • Look for non-profit organizations in your community that align with your interests and values. Check their websites and social media pages to learn about their mission, programs, and volunteer opportunities.
  • Evaluate the organization’s reputation, financial stability, and impact. You can use online resources like Guidestar or Charity Navigator to research and compare non-profit organizations.
  • Contact the organization’s volunteer coordinator or staff to learn more about their volunteer opportunities, requirements, and expectations. Remember that you do not want to volunteer full-time. Once or twice a week would be great.
  • Start with a short-term or one-time volunteer opportunity to see if the organization fits you. This will also give you a better sense of the work and impact of the organization.

Volunteering is not only a way to give back to your community and make a difference. It is a great way to be seen in a good work environment.

Finding A Job When You Need One

When you have to go out and look for a job, you want to get one requiring the skills you usually get paid for. Sometimes those skills may not be in demand. Rather than not working, you can look at all your strengths and skills to find needed jobs.

Many trainers will talk about making lists of what you have done, can do, and love to do. It is an excellent start to matching specific skills to jobs that need filling.

Many workforce centers and local community colleges offer a personality test (usually free) to help you determine what kinds of jobs you have a personality for. If you go to www.onetonline.org you can take an outstanding assessment for free. It only takes about 20 minutes to do it and get some ry

It is also good to seek feedback from trusted friends, family, or colleagues. Remember, when you are out of work and looking for a job, it is the time to let everyone know.

Try getting out and doing some volunteer work. Do some to get out and work with folks that will see you doing things. Do not let it take up all your time.

Keep a journal of what works well for you and what isn’t helping. Not everything works immediately, so have some patience.

Remember, it’s never too late to discover new talents and passions.

How can Habit Stacking help me save time?

Habit stacking is a productivity technique where you link a new habit to an existing one. It creates a chain of actions that can be performed with less effort over time. This technique can help you save time by streamlining your routine and reducing decision fatigue.

For example, if you want to start reading more, you could stack the habit of reading a few pages with your morning coffee or before bed. Also, if you wish to exercise more, you could stack a short workout routine with your morning shower or after work.

When you link new habits to existing ones, you can take advantage of the momentum already created by your existing routine. It makes sticking to your new habits easier. Over time, these small habits can add up to considerable time savings and increased productivity.

Habit stacking also helps to reduce decision fatigue by removing the need to constantly make choices about what to do next. Instead, you simply follow your established routine, freeing up mental energy for more critical tasks.

Habit stacking is a fantastic tool that can help you save time, boost productivity, and achieve your goals more efficiently.

Mapping Your Time For The Week

Mapping your time is an effective way to stay organized and ensure you make the most of your time. To begin, create a schedule or planner that outlines your weekly tasks and responsibilities. This can include work assignments, appointments, exercise routines, and social activities.

Start by prioritizing your most important tasks and allocating specific time slots to complete them. Schedule breaks and downtime to avoid burnout and maintain productivity throughout the week.

Consider using time management tools such as:

  • timers,
  • calendars,
  • and to-do lists

To stay on track and monitor your progress. You may also want to consider delegating tasks or seeking help from others to ease your workload.

Remember to be flexible and adaptable as unexpected events arise throughout the week. A clear plan can help you stay focused and achieve your goals. By mapping your time for the week, you can maximize your efficiency and make the most of your valuable time.

Keeping Your Time Your Own

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Keeping your time your own can be challenging in a world of distractions and
demands. However, there are strategies that you can employ to maintain control over your schedule and prioritize your tasks effectively.

One approach is to set clear boundaries around your time. This will involve
saying no to requests that don’t align with your goals or values. You may need
to delegate tasks to others and avoid time-wasting activities like social media
or excessive email checking.

Another helpful tactic is establishing a routine or schedule that you can
stick to. This can help you stay on track with your priorities and avoid distractions
or procrastination.

Additionally, it can be beneficial to develop a system for tracking your
tasks and progress. This can help you stay organized and focused and notice
areas where you may need to adjust your approach.

Ultimately, keeping your time your own requires a combination of the
following:

·        Discipline

·        Focus

·        self-awareness

You can do this by:

·     setting clear boundaries

·        establishing routines

·        staying organize

·        take control of your schedule

 

How to make your time work better for you.

Making the most of your time can help you achieve your goals and increase productivity. Here are some tips for making your time work better for you

  1. Make a to-do list, prioritizing tasks based on importance and urgency.
  2. Set specific and achievable goals for yourself. This should help you stay focused and motivated.
  3. Minimize distractions such as:
  4. social media
  5. emails
  6. phone notifications.

       Try to work in a quiet and organized space.

  • Taking short breaks may help you recharge and refocus. Try taking a five-minute break every hour or two.
  • Don’t take on too much work or activities. Be selective in your commitments, and learn to say no when necessary.
  • If possible, delegate tasks to others better suited for the job. This will free up your time for more critical work.
  • Use tools, calendars, reminders, and productivity apps to help you stay organized and on track.

Implementing these ideas will help you better use your time and achieve goals more efficiently.

How Time Gets Wasted

Time is a limited resource. Many of us struggle to make the most of it and waste much of our time. We each have a limited supply depending on how long we stay alive. There are a lot of various ways in which time can be wasted, some of which include:

  1. You have probably wasted time if you keep putting off tasks until the last minute or simply not starting them.
  2. If you get sidetracked by social media, emails, and other interruptions, that detract from the task at hand, that time is gone.
  3. If you take on too many tasks or commitments, resulting in a lack of focus and productivity, you are wasting time.

If you fail to plan or have a schedule you follow, it is effortless to waste time.

  • Meetings are a waste of time if they do not pertain to you or if they become unproductive.

Other factors contributing to time waste include:

  • lack of motivation
  • fatigue
  • disorganization

It is essential to identify and overcome these problems to make the most of our limited time. By prioritizing tasks, minimizing distractions, and creating a clear action plan, we can increase productivity and efficiently achieve our goals.

A Better Education for All

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has this set to revolutionize education. It can go to more places where human teachers are under threat. AI can offer personalized and efficient teaching experiences. AI can enhance teaching in the classroom by automatically providing real-time feedback and identifying areas where students need more help. AI-powered virtual assistants can also answer students’ questions and support teachers when unavailable.

With Online learning AI can create personalized learning paths for each student, tailoring the content and pace of the course to their individual needs. AI can track students’ progress with fast feedback on their strengths and weaknesses.

AI can provide tools for students with disabilities. Speech recognition technology can transcribe lectures for hearing-impaired students. At the same time, language translation software can help non-native speakers to understand the content.

AI should not totally replace human teachers. Instead, AI should be used to augment and support human instructors. In this way, AI can help to create a more personalized and practical learning experience for students.