The 7 Must Read SlideShare Presentations for Job Seekers

Here's a link I came across recently while going sorting through a backlog of unread e-mails. It's from SlideShare, 'the business media site for sharing presentations, documents and pdfs'. It's called The 7 Must Read SlideShare Presentations for Job Seekers. 

Before confining it to oblivion I thought I would share JSU members and blog readers. Click the link to view The 7 Must Read SlideShare Presentations for Job Seekers. 

The Role of Self-Confidence in Success

How we see ourselves is more important than how anyone else sees us.

If we don't work at loving and accepting ourselves, nothing anyone else thinks matters.

How To Build Self-Confidence

• There is no one else like you on this planet. No one looks like you, has the same talents, experiences or perspective as you do. You are unique and are therefore here to make your unique contribution. If we each focus on what we bring into the world to share, there can be no comparisons, envy or regret. We are here to "contribute a verse".
• Give it Your Best. When you do the best you can, with the best of what you've got, you can't help but feel good about yourself and that confidence comes through in everything that you do.  
• Persevere. Everybody has setbacks and obstacles to contend with. Don't let them undermine your confidence. Treat them as opportunities to strengthen your resolve and then persevere. 
• Overcome adversity. Overcoming adversity builds and strengthens self-confidence. The greatest songs, works of art and literary pieces have been written by those who have experienced the depths of despair, loss and emptiness and overcame them. Experiencing sadness and loss and then rising above them gives rise to hope and triumph. It makes you stretch and become more than you were.
• Accomplish something. Set goals for yourself and then push yourself to reach them. Self-confidence soars when you know you can do what you put your mind to. It makes you feel unstoppable.
• Separate Yourself From the Event. You are not what happens to you or how you believe others see you. In other words, you are not defined by what happens to you or how others see you. You are who you choose to be - a person of character, dignity and self-confidence.
• Confront your fears. There's nothing that destroys self-confidence more than succumbing to fear. Everyone feels fear at various times; we're human, however facing circumstances with courage and poise strengthens character and builds self-confidence.
• Good looks do not equal self-confidence. Some of the most attractive people in the world are insecure and lack self-confidence. Marilyn Monroe was considered to be one of the sexiest most beautiful people in the world yet she lacked a positive self-image. She misguidedly allowed external factors to determine her self worth. Good looks help you feel good about yourself, but are by no means enough. 
• Learn how to give yourself a pep talk. We all have our down moments, moments of doubt, confusion and uncertainty. When that happens we have to learn how to restore our self-confidence. One way is to understand that everyone goes through such moments. When that happens the thing to do is remember past successes, visualise the desired outcome and keep at it. Practice makes perfect.

Self-confidence is absolutely essential to achieving success in any endeavor. You acquire it by doing, learning, accomplishing and persisting.
 
If you watch successful people you will usually find that they are very self-confidant. Self-confidence may have come to these people on account of their success, but usually self-confidence is present in people before they become successful. Once they start working toward success, usually self-confidence and success run parallel, each fueling the other.

Being a confident person has many benefits not just in your personal life, but also in business. Whatever may be your ambitions, building up your self confidence to a certain level will play a major role in you achieving success and facing crises that come your way as you travel the path to success.

The best way to gain confidence is to allow your positive attitude to come forth. If you are swamped with negative thoughts, you will be hampering your chances of succeeding in business. When you think positively, it will give an impetus to your progress and you will be able to overcome difficult periods when success seems a distant dream.

While success and self-confidence are related, there is no guarantee that one will lead the other. Self-confidence does not equal egocentric people. These people display high levels of self-confidence together with arrogance. They feel they are masters and know everything there is to know about their trade. This often is mistaken for self-confidence and can hamper success. It is our ego that upholds our importance and will often get in the way of attracting our best life. It is therefore necessary that we reduce the importance of our ego. When you decide to reduce your ego (the part of you that is full of fight and always wanting to feel justified and be right) you begin to expand your self, your wisdom and the memory of your soul – who you are, in essence. The goal here is to bring those outer qualities to your world and refrain from constantly trying to massage your ego with affirmations of how important you are. If you can do this, you will produce changes in your life in a gentler, more low-impact way.

Though success and self-confidence exist in progressive harmony, if you work towards improving your confidence, your growing confidence will support you on each step as you work towards success. And as you get successful, your self-confidence will increase. As your self-confidence increases you will become like a magnetic in that people will desire to be in your company.

If you feel ready for help in boosting your self-confidence I am here to help.

Call Nuala Duignan, Dip, Business and Life Coaching if you feel like a little support towards your goals at: 087 2532675
or info@nualaduignanlifecoach.com

View my web page at:
www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com

Whose Recession Is It Anyway? part ii - Telling Family and Friends

I found it hard to accept it when I lost my job. I’d never been unemployed before. Telling family and friends was particularly hard. I felt like a failure.

You’d be amazed at the extent some people go to try to avoid people finding out they’ve lost their job. I answered a phone call at work once from a woman whose husband used to work in my office. He’d been let go about 6 weeks earlier. He hadn’t told anyone, not even his wife. She was phoning the office to tell her husband something important had happened to one of their children. Apparently he was leaving home every morning to go to work as usual, sandwiches and all. If the weather was good, he sat in the park until going home time. If it was raining, he went to the library. The poor woman got an awful shock when we had to explain to her that he didn’t work with us anymore. I have no idea what happened when he got home that night, but my heart went out to both of them.

People don’t want to tell the family because they’re ashamed. They feel a failure. They don’t want to burden them; they don’t want them to worry. The best advice is tell them immediately. They’ve a right to know. You losing your job will affect them almost as much as it affects you. They need to know the effect it’s going to have on them. They need to adjust their lifestyle, cut back. They need to spend less. They have a right to know.

Tell them you’ve lost your job. Tell them you are upset about this, but it’s not the end of the world. Explain things will need to be different. There will be less money, but you’re not going to starve or lose your house and nothing dreadful is going to happen. Reassure them that if you’re all sensible and adjust your spending then everything will work out ok.

Teenage children can find it particularly hard if their parent loses his or her job. They may be reluctant to tell their friend or social circle. Discuss this with them. Explain it isn’t a social stigma to lose your job anymore. Be understanding if they feel embarrassed or ashamed though. Don’t take it personally. They are at a vulnerable stage in their lives, blending in with the crowd and keeping up appearances are important to them.

If other members of the family are working, tell them they are the lucky ones and remind them how valuable jobs are these days. Don’t put pressure on them so they think they have to keep their job at all costs. Don’t prepare them for a guilt trip if they have the misfortune to lose their job in the future.

Coping with a problem on your own is far harder than sharing it with someone else. It may seem unfair to burden other people with your difficulties. Isn’t that what families are supposed to be all about?
‘A problem shared is a problem halved. There’s no problem so big, that it can’t be solved over a cup of tea.’

As for the neighbours, or other members of the golf club, or your mates in the pub? Tell them too. They’ll find out soon enough anyway. They’ll notice the change in your routine. Better to come out straight and tell them, than have them speculating about you behind your back.

Telling other people that you’ve lost your job is good therapy. It helps you get used to the idea and adjust to your new reality. Putting off the evil day just prolongs the agony.

You’d be surprised too how willing people are to help. In my opinion the Celtic Tiger destroyed one of Ireland’s traditional strengths - neighbourliness. Everyone has been so busy chasing the Tiger’s tail. The courtesies that Ireland was famous for have disappeared behind high wrought iron fences, security gates, CCTV and intercoms.

They say every cloud has a silver lining. Maybe this recession will give us back the Ireland that we once knew and loved. Some good must surely come out of all this doom and gloom.

Copyright © David Jones 2009

Second in a five part series. The next installment examines the hurdle of getting a job in today's recessionary times. 

The Secret of Looking Good and Feeling Great!

“The most attractive thing anyone can wear is a smile, something money can’t buy and shops don’t sell! Looking good comes as much from within, Confidence, happiness and joy, that inner beauty”.

Your Clothes Tell a Story...

Your clothes say so much about you. What you wear can tell people “I am confident,” “I am successful,” and even, “I am happy with who I am.” And who doesn't love the feeling of putting on an amazing outfit and leaving the house knowing you’re looking as good as you feel?

Everyone at some time in their lives finds themselves in a rut; you may feel that your own personal style is out of date, dowdy, boring or just doesn’t reflect who you want to be! You want to make the most of yourself and be the best you can be every day but don’t know where to start.

With a little guidance from a style coach you can learn the secrets of true style! advice on the best clothes to suit your individual body shape while bearing in mind your everyday lifestyle to help you create a style that works and is achievable every day!

When you have the right ideas on grooming your self-confidence will be boosted and your self esteem will be raised to a new high and you will feel really empowered! You must always remember that you are more than just an image in the mirror - “looking good is only half the picture”! It’s great to look good in the mirror but why stop there when the most important image is the one we see in our mind’s eye! The mind / body link – the way we see ourselves on the outside has a huge effect on how we see ourselves on the inside, and vice versa!

You can undertake the process of looking good and feeling great, step-by-step with the assistance of a Style/Life Coach. I can set goals around what you’d like to achieve and you will start to see a clear picture of the style - and life - you’d like to create. Everything that we create starts from within (a picture in our minds) - You can visualise the end result you desire and then we can create a tailor-made Action Plan for making your dream a reality!

You will learn how to recognise styles which will enhance your figure - no matter what your age, height or dress size! As your coach I can also help you to analyse and “de-clutter” your current wardrobe - I can help you to make the most of what you already have, and instead of feeling you must go on a shopping spree I help you to create a frustration-free, colourful and exciting wardrobe with what you already have! You will learn how to save time and money by shopping with effectiveness and efficiency - no more expensive mistakes and a wardrobe full of guilt! Open the doors to a selection of outfits and accessories which help you to look and feel your best, no matter what the day holds in store!

You can re-gain a state of inner confidence and grow in self-esteem. True “style” comes from a combination of inner and outer confidence - Style Coaching offers endless possibilities and is always focused on YOU! As your Style Coach I can tailor my range of services to suit your needs. I recognise and enhance the very best in every client, even (and especially) when people cannot see it for themselves. I can offer them advice, guidance, support and encouragement and help them understand why certain styles and colours work and empower them to make their own choices and to grow in confidence.

Style Coaching focuses on every client as an individual and I aim to facilitate the client in finding and expressing their own sense of style – a style which suits their personality and is unique to them, but that also takes into consideration their body shape and very importantly, their everyday lifestyle! With my guidance you will avoid mis-purchases.

“I really enjoy working with clients who need to develop their individual style strategies. I have the privilege to witness every step of their transformation; they walk taller, smile more and love the way they feel with their newly developed sense of style. It is very gratifying.”

It’s not about always dressing up,

it’s about feeling great when you look in the mirror.”

If you feel ready for refining your look, I am here to help. My philosophy is that everyone can look good no matter what size or shape.

Call Nuala, Dip. Life and Business Coaching at: 087 2532675 or info@nualaduignanlifecoach.com

View my web pages at:
www.nualaduignanlifecoach.com

Whose Recession Is It Anyway? part i - Losing your job

Losing your job in the current economic climate is a devastating experience. Your first reaction is obviously one of shock, followed by confusion. “What am I going to do?” is the first question on everyone’s mind; “How am I going to find another job?”

It takes a few days for it to really sink in. Telling your family and friends is difficult; unfortunately there is still a stigma attached to losing your job. There’s a huge sense of rejection; a feeling of not being wanted. Your mind keeps wondering, “Why me? What did I do wrong?”

It’s really important to remember that people are losing their jobs today through no fault of their own. They haven’t done anything wrong. It’s not their fault there’s a worldwide recession; they can do nothing about the banking crisis. People who are being made redundant are not being singled out because they are bad employees; they’re losing their jobs simply because their employer is facing financial difficulties. Their employer can no longer afford to keep employing them. It’s that simple.

I lost my job in January of this year; I know what it’s like. In my own case I found there was very little help available to tell me what to do. I’d never been unemployed before. I had no idea what my entitlements were; I didn’t know how to go about signing on or anything like that.

That’s why I wrote my book, Oh no; I’ve lost my job. What am I going to do? In a way it was a kind of therapy for me. Writing it gave me a sense of purpose, something positive to be doing. You’ll find my book in most of the local bookshops. [You can also purchase it online from the website of The Job Seekers Union. Price €4.99 plus P&P. - ed.] It tells you everything you need to know if you’ve lost your job; including how to deal with debts, how to get your spending under control; as well as your welfare entitlements and how to go about claiming them. There’s advice too on how to go about looking for another job; how to write your CV, prepare for an interview and so on.

As with everything in life; if you find yourself unemployed, it’s important to try to stay positive. Boredom can quickly lead to depression; so try to stay active and busy. Tackle those jobs around the house that you never got around to; get busy in the garden, take up a hobby.

No matter what your circumstances; it really is important to register with your local social welfare office. The sooner you sign on, the sooner your jobseekers benefit or jobseekers allowance can be processed. It’s takes a while for the first payment to come through, but it will be back dated to the date you first signed on.

If you are in financial difficulty while you are waiting for your benefits to come through, you can get temporary assistance from the Community Welfare Officer. You can find their number in the Phonebook under Community Welfare Services or call your Local Health Centre.

They say looking for a job is a job in itself. Unfortunately there aren’t many vacancies about at the moment, but there are some. Try to be positive, and remember nothing lasts forever. You might have sent off hundreds of CV’s and got no response so far, but you never know what’s around the corner; so don’t give up trying.

Losing your job needn’t be the end of the world; it may be the opportunity to re-invent yourself and do something you’ve always wanted to do. Maybe you’ve always wanted to start a new business, or take up studying? In my own case it gave me the chance to write a book, which I never thought I’d do. I’ve a second book written, so who knows, maybe it’s the start of a new career for me as an author? [David Jones' second book, The Pothole Republic is also available from The Job Seekers Union at a special discount price of €4.99 plus P&P. Click here for more info. - ed]

It’s hard to believe there are over 400,000 unemployed people in the country; that’s a massive number for a country as small as ours. I recently set up a self help organisation called The Job Seekers Union. You can check it out at www.thejobseekersunion.com.

Incidentally, feel free to write to me with your experiences of unemployment. I’m compiling a book of people’s stories which I hope to publish later in the year.

You can contact me through The Job Seekers Union where you can also email me - david@thejobseekersunion.com.

Copyright © David Jones 2009

This is the first in a series of five articles. In the next installment David addresses the issues of 'Telling Your Family and Friends' that you have lost your job.