Hiring Spree in Los Angeles County: Come Meet More than 80 Employers !

Registration for this event is FREE for all job seekers.

Come meet more than 80 employers face to face at our 5th Annual “SPRING INTO SUMMER” Hiring Spree. This year’s job fair will be in the city of Carson on April 15th! See flyer for exact location and time.

Some big name employers this year include Starbucks, Bestbuy, Chipotle, Jiffy Lube, Cinemark, Metro, See’s Candies, and more! We have representation from various industries, including  retail, hospitality, medical, construction, and government.

This year, we will also host a free resource fair in addition to career development workshops on topics such as Social Media Strategies for Job Seekers.

Come join me and our Hiring Spree Committee to find your next job !

Register online at : Hiring Spree

For Tips on How to Prepare for a Job Fair, Click Here: How to Impress at Job Fair

Happy Job Hunting!

Mirror Mirror on the Wall: Why I Need You to Say, “I LOVE ME”

 

When was the last time someone told you that he/she loved you?

How about the last time you told yourself that you loved YOU?

We use the word “love” casually in so many different ways: I love that book! I totally love that movie! I love mint-chocolate chip ice cream! (I really do.)

And yet, when I ask people to say, “I love ME”, almost everyone stares at each other uncomfortably, as if I just asked them to do something highly inappropriate.

The question on their minds is: “Is it OK to say I love ME?”

And my answer is Yes, Yes, and YES!!!

I work in a welfare-to-work program where all of my clients have faced or are still facing numerous barriers to employment and self-sufficiency.

All of them are single parents, and mostly single moms living under the national poverty level. Some have had devastating struggles with substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental health. Some are homeless. Some struggle with various learning disabilities. Some have grown up in abusive homes or foster care systems.

But when I ask them why they are in my program to learn and to find employment, most of them answer, “because I want to better my life for my kids. I love my kids.”

As with any parent, my clients’ devotion to their children is immeasurable.

But for so many of them, the “mirror exercise” is the toughest activity in our curriculum. Most of them will refuse to participate or try to laugh it off and walk away.

And so when I ask them, “ How can you be a motivator and a great educator for your child if you cannot learn to love yourself?”

They answer, “because I love THEM, and I don’t need to love myself. I’m not where I want to be in life.”

We forgive those we love and sometimes we suffer silently in anguish when people we love hurt us. And yet, we are not as forgiving or readily accepting with ourselves.

Sometimes, we learn to forgive and learn to love another person as who they are – flaws and all, and yet we fail to learn to love ourselves as who we are. We have a tendency to pick out all of our flaws and analyze each flaw, ever so systematically, and perhaps even categorize each flaw into different sections like body image, finances, intelligence, humor, even popularity.

Think about all the ways you tell yourself you’re not beautiful or unworthy every day. You may be doing it without even realizing it.

I tell my class that love begins with the word “ME”.

“I love you” has a subject and it is “I”.

It starts with “I”.

Just like success begins with “I can”.

Yes, it’s important to recognize our shortcomings and to work on them, proactively. However, it is one thing to recognize our flaws for the sake of self-development and another thing to put ourselves down in a cycle of negative thinking.

So stand in front of a mirror, even on your worst days.

And tell yourself, it’s ok. I love you.

Yes, you can. Say it out loud!

WHY IT’S BETTER TO JUST TAKE THAT JOB

UNEMPLOYED, BRILLIANT & RESTLESS

Argument for : Why It’s Better to Just Take That Job

I know what you might think.

You’re too good for this.

You’ve studied too much and worked too hard for this. And somehow, you remember all your aunts and uncles telling you, since you were five, that YOU would grow up to be the most successful of them all.

Translation: You are going to have the MOST AMAZING CAREER then CHANGE THE WORLD !

Reality: You are the only one who is UNEMPLOYED

Well, what can I say…reality bites

But sometimes, at a certain point, you need to stop weighing your options and dive in.

Let me just give it to you plain and simple.

Just take that job. (Yes. The only offer you have. And it’s not because the other ones thought you were over-qualified. Sorry!)

And let me tell you why.

Here are 4 great reasons why you should just TAKE that job right now.

• You need to keep moving (moving your brain). Unless you are the next Steve Jobs, staying at home will likely lead to a bloated body and a deflated self esteem.
• Finances – Don’t you want extra income? (Or any income)
• Networking with new people – meeting new people helps you to open the door of new opportunities, possibly leading to that one job you truly want!
• Keep yourself “employable”. Employers are more likely to hire someone who has a good track record of work history. This means that you’re risking your potential as a candidate if you have long gaps in unemployment history.

As long as your employer isn’t a creepy unknown individual from a sketchy craigslist ad, chances are that you’ll position yourself for a much better offer down the road. You are building experience and strengthening your expertise.

Just remember to keep a positive attitude, an open mind, and continue updating your resume with relevant skills.  Make sure you keep looking for a better job while you learn and grow in your current one.

Happy Job Hunting!