Springing Forward Without Falling Back

by Mary O’Connor, Managing Editor
I haven’t done too well on my New Year’s resolutions so far. They were, in order of importance: 1) Get a job; 2) Get a job; and 3) Get a job. (Oh, and there was #4. Lose 30 pounds, but since this has been on my list unchanged for the last 20 years, I think we can assume it was a goal that wasn ‘t going to be met.)
It didn’t help that this was a dreary, snowy winter with bad news on many fronts, including the economic. We had day after day of the sort of weather that, if I were employed, I would describe as a great day to go back to bed with a book and a cup of tea.. When one is actually able to do that with no one noticing, action and achievement become difficult.
So I’ve decided to give myself a do-over on the resolutions. This time, they will coincide with the beginning of spring: warmer weather, buds on the trees, crocuses in the garden. And I’ve decided to make my spring resolutions a bit more specific than the last set. Here they are:
1. I will set my priorities and then obey them. I love to-do lists. I love them so much that I include things I’ve already finished just for the pleasure of crossing them off. But I tend to have very important tasks that appear week after week without ever getting that check mark. From now on, I’m going to pay the most attention to those things on the list that are the most crucial. (Follow-up phone calls to possible employers? Very important. Sorting my socks by color? Not so much.) I think this way I’ll stand a better chance of achieving something meaningful.
2. I will reach out. Like many of us, I find it difficult and awkward to connect with strangers, especially if I’m asking for help or trying to sell myself. And to be honest, until my job search started, when I heard the word “network” I thought of CBS and ABC, not of reaching out to people and introducing myself. But I can learn.
3. I will center my attitude. Since I was laid off last November, I’ve found my attitude careening between two extremes: blithe denial (“Who needs a job?”) and abject despair (“I’m never going to work again and we’ll all starve to death”). Neither of these attitudes is either sensible or helpful. So I resolve to strike a realistic—yet positive—middle ground.
I’m sure you all have your own spring resolutions. Good luck to all of us in carrying them out!
Featured Stories In This Issue:
HIRED LEARNING—Secrets of Traditional Networking by George Hunter
PSGCNJ EVENTS—A Job Fair to Remember by Carolyn Moody
COMMITTEE SPOTLIGHT—Formatting and Distributing Your Resume by Julius Alberici and Curlin Beck
HELPFUL TIPS—When to Pull the Emergency Chute on Your Job Search by Brian Parish
Federal Grant Money Available by John Phelps