Blogging4Jobs

Hitting Reset

Personally as well as professionally October seems to be a time of changes, resets, and renews. In October 2004, I separated from my first husband and ended our very unhappy marriage. In October 2009, I left my corporate gig and started out on my own as an entrepreneur. In October 2010, I changed my focus in [...]

October 31, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Saying “You’re Fired!” for the Whole

by Ray_anne

Several years ago, I was directing a one-act play; the show included five actresses and one actor. Given that it was merely a one-act, it was a little less involved than a full-length production. The actors were expected to show up for rehearsals prepared, meaning know their lines and remembering their blocking->the actor’s movement on stage. I have worked [...]

October 31, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

The Fountain of Youth – Exploring Ageism

by Ray_anne

Every day brings new challenges to face and conquer. Whether or not you are able to triumph will depend upon, not only skill, but also resolve. Distractions line the way, as does discouragement. And as you age or become more entrenched in your work, the distractions change, as do the things that discourage you. I guess I [...]

October 28, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

The STAR Job Interview Technique

by Jessica Miller-Merrell

Yesterday I spent the afternoon with high school students who are planning, preparing, and building a resume and portfolio for college admissions, after graduation, and into for the future professional working world. The format was free flowing. They asked questions, I asked questions. We both answered. This task reminded why I started blogging in the [...]

October 28, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

The Price of Experience – Exploring Ageism

by Ray_anne

Long ago, in a galaxy far away, I attended my first health care human resource conference as an exhibitor. I was nervous and had pieced together an outfit as I didn’t even own a full-fledged suit yet. What was I thinking? I am NOT a salesman or so I kept telling my boss. The retained search firm [...]

October 27, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

The Leaky Bucket Theory

by Jessica Miller-Merrell

This week I’m taking a break from the blog, and I’ve chosen to feature some of my best and favorite blog posts over the past four years. Today’s post written in May of 2010 was titled “HR’s Leaky Bucket.” The blog discusses the role that social media and mobile technologies will now play in HR [...]

October 27, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

The “Scary HR” Carnival of HR

by Jessica Miller-Merrell

Halloween is one of my most favorite holidays of the year. But for human resources and recruiting, the Halloween holiday can be filled with challenges like skanky scantily clad employees in costume, sick employees who consumed far too many jello shots and candy corns, and corralling those out of control managers who seem to be eager to [...]

October 26, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

3 EASY Steps to Secure Mutual Satisfaction in Business

by Ray_anne

You know how when you drive on a country road and you hit a dip doing about fifty and your stomach feels like it’s in your throat? Have you ever had that same feeling while speaking a client or a lead? Or worse, your boss? Did you say the wrong thing or did the conversation take a [...]

October 26, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

8 Sure Fire Ways to Network for the Holidays

by Jessica Miller-Merrell

You may not be aware but we are 73 days away from Christmas, and many retail companies are already knee deep in holiday staffing for the busy and profitable holiday shopping season. I myself, still have yet to even put up my Halloween decorations. I’ll probably get to putting those up around Wednesday of this [...]

October 25, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Control Your Most Precious Resource: Your Data

by Ray_anne

There are very few things in life you can control. I have a neighbor with a barking dog – it keeps us awake at night or wakes us up too early. It has barked for up to four hours straight. We have talked to the neightbor numerous times, face-to-face. We have called animal control, we [...]

October 25, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

My Sock Drawer, Elmo, & The Week Ahead

by Jessica Miller-Merrell

Quite a few of you last week read about my thought process involving blogging burnout and how I’m thinking of hanging up the blog. In fact, haven’t blogged since then, and yes the above picture has nothing to do with this blog. I just thought this picture was funny especially considering the fact I work [...]

October 24, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Breathe, Balance, and Clarity: Focus

by Ray_anne

The current generation of business has heard a great deal about bringing diversity to their skill set and how imperative it is to be a multitasking guru. However, in this pursuit of multitasking mania, we seem to have lost focus. And lost focus leads to lost time. How many of us spend time on the phone [...]

October 24, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Recruitment Leadership – The Phoenix Infection, part 10

by Ray_anne

Does a recruiter need to be a leader? There will be differing responses to this question, I am sure. Recruiters work in a world that requires constant interaction with people, whether that interaction is done face-to-face, in a video conference, email/internet, or through phone use, the interaction is real and necessary in order to achieve [...]

October 21, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Google Me & Exposition

by Ray_anne

Five years ago, I sat in a conference room interviewing a woman for a Manager of Training position. A vast, highly polished oak table separated us as we conversed and I tried to lull the candidate into my web of “start-up joy“. She leaned across the table, allowing her weight to bear down a bit, [...]

October 21, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

“There’s No Crying” Leadership – The Phoenix Infection, part 9

by Ray_anne

Teams don’t always play well, nor do they always win. Winning or not winning, poor or unfair play just comes with the territory of being on a team, be it sports or departmental or even within a family. Having a common goal and divided responsibilities in order to reach that goal, because it would be impossible to [...]

October 20, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Wasting Time = Wasting Money

by Ray_anne

There are 168 hours in a week. That’s what we are given. Forty or more of those hours are typically devoted toward a career, toward making a difference in a chosen field, toward providing for individual or familial needs. Mark Zuckerberg has the same amount of time as you or I, that just seems [...]

October 20, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Thought Leadership – The Phoenix Infection, part 8

by Ray_anne

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” -Calvin Coolidge Leaders are born. Leaders are born. [...]

October 19, 2011 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

No Excuse Leadership: Reasons, yes.

by Ray_anne

Several years ago, I faced a very difficult time. I had left a long-time position as an executive recruiter but was soon working as an in-house recruiting manager and recognized rather quickly that I wanted more for myself. I had tampered with completing my business degree but was so caught up in my work and [...]