A lot of my friends are crafty at earning money. Yes, they may also be clever at creating income sources, but what I really mean is that they are full or part time artists/crafters.
They call fall/winter “crafty season” – so many holiday arts & crafts show start in October & go strong through Christmas.
Many job seekers are also looking for ANY part-time/temporary/alternative ways to bring in a few extra bucks. SO — do you make Halloween candy bags, costumes, Thanksgiving turkey placemats, ornaments or other holiday related crafts or products you could sell to small local retailers, or through your friends and family that know your quality handiwork? Local fairs are one option,but there is also Etsy, an online site for homemade crafter/artists. As an introduction if you’re not familiar, you can check out my friends pages: TinyAnt, DemiGod Studio and Crafty Hag
Knit Necklace with Hard Drive piece by Tiny Ant
Also, start thinking of fall/winter and any local events or seasons you can tie into creatively. Maybe your neck of the woods has an annual Hayride/Pumpkin Patch, Snowman Building Contest or some similar local festivity that you can capitalize on in some way – put your creativity cap on & brainstorm some ideas!
A bonus to getting out there, earning some money “creatively” is that you will meet TONS of people – the perfect NETWORKING opportunity while doing a hobby – so have your 30 second commercial/Elevator Speech about the other work you do ready to mention, as opportunity arises, oh so casually over the handcrafted picture frames you made . . .
Finally, when considering taking on short term work of any kind, if you are receiving unemployment compensation, you will want to understand exactly how, if at all, your working will affect your benefits BEFORE you start working.
May you have a creative and crafty holiday season!
I came upon this from a post from a page I am a “fan” of on my Facebook Page & thought how fun it would be to make some of these & secretly, randomly post them around town – and I just might! And I encourage you to do, so, too, if so inspired! (and then write & tell me about it!)
Then I thought, “If I did a Positive Thoughts just for Job Seekers” version, what should it say?
Here’s a few of my thoughts – love you to add yours in the comments below. Oh, and if you make any version of one of these to post, I’ll give you a free resume critique if you send me a picture of it wherever you plant it around town, and permission to share that picture to inspire others, of course!
Okay, so I’m thinking:
POSITIVE THOUGHTS FOR JOB SEEKERS:
I have strong, marketable skills
I’m so thankful for my references & their willingness to help me
The right job in the right timing shows up for me
I’m a great interviewee, completely comfortable at all times
I remain motivated to search out perfect work for me. I trust it IS out there.
I write attention-grabbing, impactful cover letters with ease, quickly
I enjoy this free-time I now have as often as I can after doing my job search due-diligence regularly
And for now, how about just:
I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people want to hire me! *
“Turn and face the strange, changes . . . ,” croons David Bowie in his hit song titled the same.
The average person will make this change 9 or more times in their lifetime.
It can be a rite of passage from childhood to adulthood or even a change of life passage as we grow older. It can be an integral part of a mid-life crisis as well.
A favorite author/artist of mine, SARK, claims to have made this transition 250 times – admittedly, much more than many of us.
How many times have you started a new job?
Whether we’re moving from our current field into another, transitioning into a fun ‘retirement job’ out of our long-standing career positions, or just starting fresh and new into the world of work, there are several steps we should take to navigate our ch-ch-ch-change from old to new work as smoothly as possible.
First, say goodbye to the old, then don’t look back; second, take time for a little R & R; and third, ease into the new, with confidence.
Number One – Closure: “Ride the horse in the direction that it’s going.” Werner Erhard
Whether you’re leaving an old position, or your former life as a student, homemaker, or coming out of retirement, any time you are reentering the workforce, take time to review your last situation with awareness of what you liked, what you didn’t like, what you will miss, and what you will not. Face the change squarely, acknowledge the changes you dread, and also find things to look forward to. Don’t hold on to what is quickly becoming the past.
Prepare instead, for your future by preparing for perfect closure. Make notes about what you learned there, what you gained, and what you’re looking forward to now. Be sure to include your accomplishments and major projects you completed in the last stage, as they will probably help you update (or create) your resume for your next step.
If you are leaving a current position, regardless of the reason, (new job, lay off, dowsized, etc.), tie up loose ends and leave instructions for the co-workers or new hire taking over your duties. Being responsible and professional up to the end will always feel better, and be better in the long run. Make sure you let clients, key customers, and other departments know you are leaving, and who they can contact in the future.
Doing all of these things helps you make peace with your transition in any circumstance, and brings a healthy sense of closure to your experience. On your last day, look around and acknowledge that place, those people, that role in your life, and appreciate all you learned there. Be mindful, and say goodbye with intention, as you might to a fond friend or acquaintance in a far off place you know you’ll likely never see again. When you walk away, don’t look back. Then you are ready for stage two.
Number Two – Rejuvenate: “Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen.” Leonardo Da Vinci
Make sure you take at least a long weekend, if not more time in between one major post in life and another. Allowing down time in between jobs, school and job, or even semi-retirement and jobs is an important part of preparation for the rest of the transition into the new. Literal time and space clears your mind, mends your heart, and rests your body to aid you in creating a clean slate, fresh start for that new position. Take some time to make a ‘wish list’ of your perfect job – the ideal work environment, perks, co-workers, boss, as well as the goals you have for yourself in this new venture, the skills you’d like to sharpen, etc. Getting clear on where you’re headed will help you get there faster.
Number Three – In the Beginning: ““Talk low, talk slow, and don’t say too much.” John Wayne
As you begin your new position, it’s always prudent, at least in the first weeks and maybe months, to practice listening, observing, and learning all you can. Read up, ask pertinent, well informed questions, and make sure you do the little things like being on time for work, meetings, break times, as well as leaving your work space neat and doing quality work, all ways to start making a good impression without stepping on any toes.
Also, take stock of your strengths to help boost your confidence during the challenges of adjusting to a new environment. Take things slow, focus on building relationships, and know there will be time to shine once you’ve been accepted and assimilated into the new team.
No matter how many times you’ve made the passage (even if it’s 250 or more!), there’s always a learning curve. Allow for that. A stumble often avoids a fall, the best way out is always through. Accept the change, take a breath, and celebrate! A brand new door awaits your passage.
“Still round the corner there may wait, a new road or a secret gate.” – JRR Tolkein
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