5 Ways To Create Your Own Luck

Make your own opportunities.


A good friend of mine was laid off in the early part of the year from his job as a contracted government systems administrator. He had seen it coming and made a decision not to actively look for a new job right away. Because he had the benefit of being prepared, he decided to use the time to work on making a career change by going back to school.


After a month or so, he called up some of his previous co-workers, just to keep in touch. Before the day was over, he was told about a new job opening at the same place he had previously worked. The job was basically doing the same thing as he had been, but the pay was considerably higher. He sent in his resume and was quickly hired. After all, he had several employees who recommended him and he had been good at his job.


Still, seeing how quickly he found a new job, many people say that he just got lucky. Indeed, he did. However, it isn't just luck. Creating your own opportunities requires skill and an attitude of success.


If you want to create your own luck, here are 5 ways to do it:


Pay attention to everything - Be curious and ask questions. Get to know the people around you and watch how things unfold. Look for things that you can do better, things that can make work easier for everyone. Be the person who knows what's going on, both in your office and in your industry. This will make you an integral part of a team and your previous co-workers will be quick to think of you when new opportunities arise.


Care about what you do - You have to think that your work is very important. If you don't value what you do, how will anyone else? When you care about what you do, it will show in your work performance. The more important you think your work is, the more others will value it. As it goes, they will be more likely to look for other ways to use your talents.


Be aware of your image - Everything you do is important. People will gather information about you by the way you carry yourself. Be mindful of your actions and make sure that you are projecting the image you want. When others view you as a competent professional, they will think more highly of you and want you on their team.


Look for opportunities - There are always opportunities, the key is to be able to see them. Treat everyone you meet as a potential networking contact. Sometimes the best breaks come in unexpected places. Look for them.

Be willing to take a chance - If you are offered a new opportunity, take it. It might not be exactly what you were looking for but it might be a chance to grow an important skill set. Of course that doesn't mean that you should take jobs that aren't right for you, but don't be afraid to open the door when opportunity knocks.


What most of us call luck is actually being aware of what's going on and not being afraid to seize the day. Take a look at how you approach your job search and make your own luck.


What do you think of this list? Do you think it's all luck? Please share your thoughts in the comments.


By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for HealthcareJobsiteBlog and Beyond.com.. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

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5 Apps To Make Holiday Shopping Easy

Image via Wikipedia

Using technology to save money this holiday season.

Saving money is hard enough as it is, but for many of us, this holiday season is going to be tighter than ever. Especially for those who are struggling with the rising cost of living, are underemployed or looking for jobs, saving money on gifts is really important.

The problem is that shopping for the best bargain when the malls are packed with other holiday shoppers isn't easy. It can get so crowded and frantic that it is tempting to just buy it where you find it and leave it at that. However, if you have a smartphone, getting the best deal is easy with a few great apps.

Here are 5 great apps for saving money this holiday season:

Price Check by Amazon - This app is amazing. You can search for items by typing in the description or name or even by scanning the barcode. The app will search Amazon to find the best deal.

RedLaser by Ebay - Redlaser is sort of like Price Check, but it searches local stores and online stores, not just Amazon. It has the same barcode scanning ability as Price Check but it can keep lists of products you've scanned previously.

Gift Plan - This app doesn't actually find deals, but it gives you the ability to organize and plan your gift lists. You can create a profile for each person you will be shopping for and keep track of their likes and dislikes and, more importantly, their sizes. By having all of the information handy, you can take advantage of great sales without worrying that they will be the wrong gift, or accidentally buying more presents for one person than another.

Shopkick - This app turns shopping into a game. Like Foursquare, this app gives you points for visiting specific places. The difference is that you get points for doing specific actions at participating stores. As you rack up points, you can cash them in for discounts and gift cards to places like Target and Best Buy.

Lemon - One of the more frustrating things about holiday shopping is keeping all of the receipts that pile up. The Lemon app allows you to take a picture of the receipt. The Lemon service stores the image and the location of the store for safe keeping. You can also keep track of your purchases and organize them. When you shop online, you can even have the receipts sent to Lemon directly.

Holiday shopping doesn't have to be a pain. With these apps, hopefully yours can actually be fun this year.

What are your favorite shopping apps? Let me know in the comments.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for PhillyJobsBlog and Beyond.com, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

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3 Super Lazy Ways to Find a Job

Image by Robert S. Donovan via Flickr

Find a job by being lazy.

Looking for a job is tough and it's easy to feel frantic. There is so much pressure put on finding the new job that it becomes really tempting to just send out mass resumes and apply for every job listing you are even remotely qualified for. We all know that this sort of approach doesn't really work, but we keep doing it. And that isn't a bad thing.

We are all hard workers with strong work ethics. It's hard to set aside the idea that all we need to do to find a new job is work harder. If you want something badly, all it takes is hard work. However, the truth is rarely ever that easy. Sometimes the best way to find a new job is to take a break and stop putting so much pressure on one thing.

Here are 3 ways to find a job the lazy way:

Kick back and relax - If you are stressed and hyper focused on your job search, before you know it, you'll begin to reek of desperation. There is nothing as repellent to employers as that scent. Employers want to hire enthusiastic people who have options, not someone who is practically begging for a job. So, take a deep breath and relax. Spend some time doing the things you enjoy but haven't had time to do. Volunteer or find ways to get out of the house and do something.

Don't focus on your own problems - When you are feeling frantic about your job search, it's tempting to ask every contact for help. Instead of spending so much time thinking about your own needs, think about what you can do to help others. When you attend a networking event or connect with others in your industry, look for ways to help them instead of just asking them for help. People are much more willing to go above and beyond for people when they are returning a favor. Also, helping others just makes you feel good.

Explore your options - Looking for a job is important, but it's also important to find the right job. Take some time out to explore your interests and find out what you are passionate about. Most people who love their jobs will tell you that they got the job by being in the right place at the right time. If you pay attention, you'll see that the majority of those "right places" didn't involve the workplace.

There are many ways to find a job, but being overly focused on your job search will keep you from finding many of them. Although it's important to keep looking, it's equally important to slow down.

What do you think? Have you ever found a job by being lazy? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for PhillyJobsBlog and Beyond.com, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

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Put Your Job Search In High Gear

Jump start your job search with these tips.

The holidays are a tough time to be looking for a job. Many companies put off hiring until the new year, but many are accepting applications now in order to be ready when the holidays are over.

It's easy to slack off on your job hunting during the holidays. There are so many distractions that it can be hard to stay focused. The important thing is to make the most of every opportunity.

Here are a few tips to help you stand out and put your search in high gear:

• Create an elevator pitch -An elevator pitch is something that sounds hard but really isn't. The idea is to come up with a 30 second speech that says who you are and what you offer. It should be something that you can include in a cover letter, say at an interview or networking event. Take the time to make your elevator pitch compelling and use it often.

• Don't isolate yourself - When you're out of work, it's really easy to feel isolated from society. Don't let this happen to you. Especially during the holidays, don't let shame about your job situation keep you from attending family gatherings and re-connecting with friends. You never know when one of these connections might give you the opening you need to find the right job.

• Follow up, follow up - If you submit an application, send in a resume or even have an interview, be sure to follow up with the company. A quick follow up call can remind the hiring manager who you are and give them a reason to look at your resume again. Of course, if you go overboard and harass them, you'll leave a negative impression, but a reasonable follow up will make you stand out.

• Write a custom cover letter every time - Every time you send in a resume, take the time to write a cover letter specifically for the job you want. Your cover letter doesn't have to be long, just three paragraphs. In it, be sure to mention who you are and what your experience is. Then, let the employer know why you are the best candidate for the job and then thank them for their time. Your cover letter should mention the key job requirements and how you measure up to them. Make it easy for the hiring manager to see that you are perfect for the job by showing them in the cover letter that your resume is worth reading.

• Stay positive -When you are looking for a job, depression is a real turn-off. Look for ways to stay positive and get excited about your search.

What do you do to rev up your job search? Do you find the holiday season distracting? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for HealthcareJobsiteBlog and Beyond.com.. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

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Why Being Thankful Is Important To Your Job Search

Why giving thanks should happen more often than once a year.

The holiday season has just kicked off, and every year at Thanksgiving, I think that it is important to remember that focusing on gratitude is something that is important and shouldn't only happen once a year. Giving thanks and concentrating on the positives in life can help you live a more fulfilled and balanced life.

Even if you haven't had a whole lot to celebrate this year, maybe you haven't had the career successes that you had hoped for or you have been struggling to find a job, it's even more important to stay positive. Focusing on the blessings of life is good for not only your soul but your job search.

Staying positive can help you find a job and can even help you land the job you really want. Here are 4 ways that giving thanks is good for your career:

Reasons to be grateful – When you think about the things that you are grateful for it helps you get a clear picture of what is really important. From there, you can see what you have to offer and where your talents lie. This can offer an amazing amount of insight into how you can best market yourself.

Reconnect with the people who mean the most – During the holidays, many people have the opportunity to reconnect with family and friends that they may not have seen in a long time. When you have a positive mindset, it's easier to make connection and keep in touch. You never know, the relative you haven't seen in years might be the one who can tell you about a job or connect you with someone who can help.

Reach out and network with friends – When you count the blessings in your life you will probably find that many friends are on the list. Use the spirit of the holidays to reconnect with them and network with former colleagues. When you are stuck in negativity, reaching out to others becomes even harder.

Fight depression – One of the hardest things about being out of work is how easily depression can set in. Once you fall into the trap, crawling out is tough. Employers aren't impressed by desperate job seekers. By finding things to be grateful for every day, you can keep yourself motivated and hopeful about the future.

Create enthusiasm – Spending a little bit of time each day to feel grateful will help you become more enthusiastic about your life. Enthusiasm is contagious and if you try, you infect yourself with it. When you are excited and confident, following up on leads and networking become easier. An added plus is that employers want to hire enthusiastic people.

Giving thanks isn't just about eating turkey. It's about living a fuller and healthier life.

Do you take time out to give thanks? Why or why not? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for PhillyJobsBlog and Beyond.com, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.

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