Keeping Positive During The Job Search

Searching for a nonprofit job during these tough times can be a real test for your self esteem. If you are like most Americans, you spend day after day applying for jobs only to be rejected or -- even worse -- not hear back. How is one supposed to stay positive during the job search?

The first thing you need to realize is that this is a completely natural feeling. All job hunters will feel down at one point or another, it's just the nature of the beast. Therefore, the first step to keeping up your self esteem is to acknowledge there is to not blame yourself for this predicament. As long as you are doing all you can to get a job, there is no reason to think you are at fault.

Here are three other tips to get you back on a positive train of thought:

• Stay Realistic: The nature of today's job market is very competitive. Acknowledging to yourself that it's going to be very tough to get the job of your dreams will help you become more relaxed, and will help erase those feelings of despair should you get a rejection letter.
• Hang Out With Other Job Seekers: Meet regularly with friends who are also looking for work. You can use this time to share stories and blow off steam. It's much better to vocalize your frustrations with people in a similar situation than to internalize them.
• Stay Active: The worst thing you can do when feeling down is to wait for others to contact you. Use LinkedIn to find out if you know anybody who has connections at the organization you wish to join. If you do, find out if they can give you a leg up on the competition.

6 Outdated Job Search Rules

As times change so do conventions. Things that were commonplace 10 years ago are now obsolete. This is especially true when it comes to the job search.

There are many rules that are associated with the job search that, while true years ago, are now obsolete. Here are six of them that you should no longer follow when applying for work:

• Limit your resume to one page. Two-page resumes are perfectly acceptable assuming you need that amount of room to list all of your credentials. You should still avoid them if the two pages are filled with mostly irrelevant information.
• Write formally. It's actually not advisable to write in this kind of style. You don't want to be unprofessional sounding, but you also don't want to sound stiff.
• Education comes first. Your college career is not going to be your best selling point for nonprofit jobs. Employers are much more interested in your relevant work/volunteer experience.
• Call the employer to schedule an interview: Job seekers don't get to decide when an interview happens; the employer does. Doing this will make you come off as pushy and arrogant.
• Arrive to the office early: It's actually a very good idea to arrive early to the area where your interview is, but don't go into the office early. There's a reason why you were given a specific time.
• Include "references available upon request" at the end of your resume. This is an unnecessary addition to your resume. Employers these days assume you will provide references, so there is no need to mention this.

Not all of these outdated rules will disqualify you from a job, but they should still be avoided. What other old aspects of the job search do you find obsolete now? Let us know in the comments section below.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Family Teaching Couple

The opportunity to help improve the lives at-risk children is something that appeals to a lot of Americans. If you count yourself among that group, and are married, NPT Jobs has a job that is sure to appeal to you.

New York City-based Boys Town is looking for a couple that has been married for at least 1 year to become the organization's new Family Teaching Couple. After undergoing a two-week paid training session, the chosen candidates will live in the nonprofit's residential homes to create a family environment for children ranging from 10 to 18.

This is probably one of the more unique positions we have ever received. As such, you should be prepared for the challenges it will present. You and your spouse will be expected to change the lives of these kids for the better by providing counseling to them, and helping to meet their emotional, educational, and daily needs. You must be positive, energetic, and have a strong passion to help at-risk kids.

For such a demanding job, it shouldn't be surprising that there are very strict qualifications applicants must meet to be considered. Make sure you meet these requirements:

• Must be at least 21 years of age, and married at least one year.
• Must pocess valid driver's licenses, and pass a thorough backround check.
• Must have a high school diploma.

If you want to learn more about this position, head on over to our career center. Best of luck to all applicants hoping to land this potentially exciting job!

Don't Judge A Job By Its Title

You're probably well aware of the expression "don't judge a book by its cover." It means that you shouldn't decide whether you like something before you try it. This same philosophy also applies to the job search.

What I mean is you shouldn't completely dismiss a job based on its title. A lot of job seekers are often put off or intimidated by the names of the positions they find online. Words like "senior" or "assistant" can paint preconceived notions of what the work will be like, and whether they are qualified. The first instinct in these instances would be to not waste any time and move on to the next position. This would be a mistake.

Just as you wouldn't judge a book by its cover you also shouldn't judge a job by its title. Before deciding you are too good/not good enough for the employment, take a look at the job description. The names given to positions are not always indicative of seniority. For example, HR policies can dictate that less impressive titles are not doled as often, leaving pretty important jobs with less than important names.

At the end of the day, the words at the top of the wanted aren't what is important -- it's the work you will be doing that matters.

When Employee Conflict Is Positive

Arguments in the office are usually considered a bad thing. It's hard to imagine any silver lining coming from tension between employees but, according to two Human Resources experts, conflict can actually be positive for an organization.

In "The Big Book of HR," Barbara Mitchell and Cornelia Gamlem clarify that while it is preferable to avoid conflicts in the workplace, there is a lot you can learn from them as long as the correct steps are taken. How a conflict is handled can go a long way to determining the effect on your employees' morale. The actions you take as a manger will ultimately play a role in whether a conflict ends up being negative or positive in the long run.

Mitchell and Gamlem wrote that a conflict is negative when:

• Differences are not addressed;
• Expectations are not managed;
• Assumptions rather than facts are central to the disagreement; and,
• The individuals involved or affected don’t want to be part of the solution.

You can avoid all of the issues that come with those mistakes by addressing the conflict in a positive manner. You do this by:

• Respecting the value of the conflict and making sure differences are honored and respected;
• Making sure issues are open and not masked;
• Ensuring ideas and personalities are central; and,
• Managing emotions and making sure points of view are expressed in a skillful and respectful manner.

Expanding Your Career Network Without Social Networks

It goes without saying that social networks are extremely popular these days. These sites are useful for catching up with old friends and -- most importantly for your job search -- making connections for your career. Yet as useful as sites like LinkedIn are, face-to-face networking still remains an effective tool.

One of the advantages of traditional career networking is the personal connection. You can learn a lot more about a person by seeing their mannerisms and hearing their voice than by communicating via e-mail. If you are one of those individuals that prefers the "old school" method of networking, here are four tips to help expand your connections:

• Talk to your seat-mates on the train. You never know if that person sitting next to you could hold the key for your career. Making conversation with complete strangers isn't exactly easy, but it can be very valuable if you can do it.
• Start volunteering. This is one of the best ways to build connections in the nonprofit sector. Becoming a volunteer almost guarantees you will meet someone who can be of help to you. It also doesn't look half-bad on your resume.
• Sign up for an alumni newsletter. There's a very good chance you will learn about upcoming networking events, which will help you re-establish ties with old classmates or professors.
• Join clubs. These don't have to necessarily be related to your job search. You are just as likely to find potential networking contacts at a chess club than job search related activities.

All of this is not to say you should completely abandon online networking. On the contrary, you should continue to use it to enhance your job search. Just don't make the mistake of thinking that a social networking site is the ultimate answer for all your problems.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Controller

Family Life Communications, a nonprofit Christian organization based in Tuscon, Ariz., is looking to hire a Controller to handle the financial activities of the organization.

Working with both the Executive Leadership Team and the Board of Directors, the accepted applicant will ensure the financial health of the ministry and its entities by directing and overseeing all activities. This includes preparation of current financial reports and summaries as well as forecasting for future business growth.

Please make sure you meet the following qualifications before applying:

• Bachelor’s in Finance/Accounting (or in Business with an emphasis in Accounting.
• Three years experience in a controller role and having worked with budgets of $10m or greater.
• Experience using and/or assisting in the selection and implementation of fully integrated accounting systems.
• Excellent cash management skills with a working knowledge of non-profit accounting rules including FASB and GAAP procedures.
• CPA designation and non-profit and/or public accounting experience highly preferred.

Don't live in Arizona? Not a problem -- Family Life Communications will pay for relocation costs. If all of this interests you, head on over to our career center and apply today!