Career WorkShop - May 14th.

Unemployment keeps creeping up every month.  In fact, there are more people out of work now than in  the past 20 years.  Not bringing in a regular paycheck is stressful to say the least.  It's affecting our health, both mental and physical plus it's adding a huge strain on our relationships.

If you have already gotten your pink slip, or think one is coming any day now, here's something that could be of help to you. 

LivePerson is hosting a free, 4-hour online career workshop this Thursday May 14 from 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. ET at http://www.liveperson.com/lp/webinar. 

Participants will learn how to get the job of their dreams, launch a successful business or market themselves using social media in these workshops:

• Launching Powerfully and Succeeding as a Small Business Owner led by LivePerson CEO Robert LoCascio, who founded his industry leading and publicly traded company during the last recession, financial expert Thomas Crawford, and private equity expert Max Lyon
• Perfecting a Standout Resume with LivePerson career and recruitment experts Jamie Parker, Elena Kaspi, and Vicki Salemi, who will also discuss which industries are currently hiring
• Marketing Yourself on Social Networking Platforms, featuring tips from LivePerson experts Jessica Smith and Myke Mansberger on how to land jobs using tools like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook
• Reinvention: Turning Your Passion Into a Paycheck with career and life coaches Michael Hodosh, Rebecca Rodskog, and Jennifer Tuma-Young.

This is the time to start learning new skills or even consider launching your own business.  Everything LivePerson is presenting on Thursday is necessary to stay on top of your game.

Executive Interns - A Good Way To Start Over

All of us are familiar with the traditional definition of an intern.  It's usually a student that you invite into your business to lend a hand, in return for course credit and some on-the-job training. But this downturn in the economy has turned the world of interning on its ear.

Now, interns with marketable life skills are exploring ways to keep themselves up-to-date for today's job market.  It's kind of a win/win situation.  The company benefits from the experience of the intern for little or no money.  And, the intern learn new skills that will lead them to the next job.

Interning is something I did myself.  It wasn't easy to re-invent myself after Wall Street, but I thought it would be fun to try breaking into in the exciting world of communication.  I had zero experience in that field so I wondered how I could get on-the-job training without any media background.  So this is what I did.

One day I walked into WNYC the New York City public radio station and asked if I could intern.  They were surprised but actually receptive to the idea.  I started my new adventure by workng every Tuesday as an assistant to the producers for the Brian Lehrer Show. My job was to look for potential guests, cover press conferences, and since this was a call-in show, I got to be in the studio working as their call screener. All of that was great exposure to the world of radio don't you think?  I got to do a little bit of everything.  

My year as an intern was a gift.  It helped me get clear about what I wanted to do next.  I was becoming more sure that my second career would somehow be involved in communication.  

Before deciding to become an intern you have to get over yourself. Chances are you will the the oldest member of the team.  You will be taking your marching orders from someone young enough to be your kid and sometimes that will be a challenge for your ego.  But, the experience you get will help you find a place in today's job market or the confidence to start a new business doing what you love.

Women In Business Want To Stretch The Envelope

This is an interesting tidbit to chew on. Almost half of the female business professionals around the world believe they are insufficiently challenged, despite being confident of their skills and capabilities.

A survey of 3,600 professionals working in medium to large organizations  found that 46 percent of women are not being challenged significantly in their current roles.  These roles include the ability to manage their workload, delegate tasks and to negotiate.  

The research just just released as part of Accenture’s celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8th. They also found that almost six in 10 women  believe that their careers are successful or very successful.  And, nearly half (46 percent) of women who consider themselves very successful reported that they are in jobs that require them to stretch way beyond their expected responsibilities.  

If you are curious to see if you have the skills to succeed in the global business world click here to take Accenture's quiz.

Which Sex Is Suffering More In This Financial Crisis?

This horrible financial crisis is affecting all of us in some way or another.  It seems every day there is a new after shock that has us quaking in our boots.  This week it's Bernard Madoff's $50 billion dollar ponzi scheme.  After months and months of being bombarded by bad news it's natural for it to have an effect on your psyche.  But, which sex is experiencing the worst case of psychological damage?

If you guessed the men, then you are right.  Of course, we all have the right to feel anxious - it's normal.  But something more than anxiety if emerging with the male population.  It's an overwhelming erosion of self confidence.  This is not the same as clinicial depression.  It's believing success and accomplishment is intimately tied to your financial status.  More and more men aren't able to feel confident or good about themselves without the almighty dollar dictating their value.

Richard A. Friedman, a professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College, reports his male patients are telling him they used to see themselves as masters of the universe.  Now the present circumstances have cut them down to size.  Dr. Friedman has plenty of female patients who work in finance at high levels, but none of them has had this kind of psychological reaction.  He is now asking himself - do men rely disproportionately more on their work for their self-esteem than women do? Or are they just more vulnerable to the inevitable narcissistic injury that comes with performing poorly or losing one’s job? 

Personally, I think this erosion in self confidence has more to do with how much of your identity is attached to what you do, not your sex.  If money and business are the dominant forces in a women's life, she is more likely to fall apart when it is taken away.  I have experienced the loss of a business identity and it took years to recover.  I have talked to hundreds of other women and I can assure you I don't stand alone in that feeling.  All of us agree it takes hard work to regain faith in yourself and move ahead after a crisis of confidence.

Dr. Friedman's story appeared in Tuesday's New York Times to read it click here. 

Jean Chatzky - She's Back to Basics In The Midst Of A Financial Meltdown

On Monday I attended the MORE Magazine Reinvention Convention.  They had a who's-who roster of speakers including Carly Fiorina, Cybill Shepherd, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, Isaac Mizzrahi and Jean Chatzsky - to name just a few. In my opinion, the thread that connected all the women who traveled from near and far to attend was confusion.  Changes in their bodies, their relationships and their careers are creating uncertainty - too much hitting all at once.  They want to see light at the end of the tunnel, but aren't sure how to make that happen.

As you would imagine the meltdown of our financial markets is adding an ton of anxiety about the future.  Women usually don't talk about the stock market and their investments, but on Monday they did.  The room was packed when Jean Chatzky took the floor.  All of us were looking for sage advice on what to do in this crisis, but what we got fell way short.  Maybe I am being harsh but what we heard was the same old vanilla rhetoric. Here's a few of Jean's steps for going forward, see what you think.

• Get organized - set up a filing system
• Pay bills as they come in and pay them online to save time
• Protect yourself with estate planning - living will, power of attorney etc.
• Educate yourself - Read the Personal Section of the Wall Street Journal twice a week
• Give Back - Be charitable even when your own assets have shrunk
• Don't be consumed by wanting more - be grateful for what you have
• Money doesn't buy happiness

My advice - don't panic and keep your money safe - cash is king for at least the next three months.  Right now the country is building a "bridge of confidence" and we have to see if that bridge holds the tremendous amount of weight being piled on it.  There will be many opportunities for all of us to make make what we've lost but let's see some signs of stabilization before we dive into the the markets - both stock and real estate.

Real Cougar Women With MBA's Are More Likely To Divorce

Women with MBA's are twice as likely to get divorced as their male counterparts.  And, women with medical or law degrees are experiencing the same thing. Maybe that's the reason "The Real Cougar Woman" who is strong, smart, independent and over 40, isn't rushing to the altar? 

Smart women have finally figured it out.  Jumping into a marriage because it's the expected thing to do isn't necessarily the best option. In fact, now a woman working the same job and making exactly the same amount of money as a man, is more likely to stay single.

Women For Hire - Worth Looking Into

Women for Hire is the first and only company devoted to a comprehensive array of recruitment services for women, Women For Hire offers signature career expos, inspiring speeches and seminars, a popular career-focused magazine, customized marketing programs, and an online job board that helps leading employers connect with top-notch professional women in all fields.

Crying: Does it Get Us What We Want?

In today's news it's all about "the cry".  Did Hillary Clinton win New Hampshire because of her emotional reveal on Monday?  Do a women's tears soften the heart or is it viewed as just another tactic to get what we want?

Crying does make you appear more sensitive but if used too often that effect wears off.very quickly.  When women use this indirect method of speech with other women there is usually not a problem - women are by nature more sensitive to picking up on the real meaning.  It can, however be disastrous when used on men.  They like the more direct approach without emotions getting in the way of rational thinking.

When I was at the gym yesterday the Hillary cry came up.  The men I talked to didn't buy into it at all, in fact it was a real turnoff for them.  They all agreed they would never vote for someone who's emotions got in the way of doing the job. Now, I'm not sure I buy into that.  There is nothing wrong with heart. In fact if there was more it around, perhaps this world would be a better place for all of us. 

Starbucks: How It Became A Spiritual Retreat For Michael Gill

I had to run to my computer and write this blog after watching Michael GIll on CBS's Sunday Morning program. 

When I finished reading Eat Pray Love I thought I had reached the top of the mountain when it came to inspirational stories.  But, today Michael Gill took me to new heights.  I haven't read the book yet, but have no doubt whatsoever, that Michael was on a path that the universe had in store for him all along. A path we will all go down as part of our own spiritual journey.

What I heard this morning was how an affluent man fell from grace.  And, how that experience opened his heart, allowing him to experience a new and profound kind of joy.

Women Hate Working For Other Women

Is it more difficult for a woman to work for another woman?  Are women sabotaging their female competition if they feel threatened?  Why aren't women willing to help other women? I've been hearing a lot of debate on this hot topic, and the general consensus is - - if you are a woman it's better for your career to work for a man. 

Because my own career path took me to Wall Street, I only worked with men, and frankly, I loved it. Sure, with men you have to set boundaries, but if you can do that successfully, the benefits can be very rewarding. As the woman, you are the apple in a barrel full of oranges, so you do get noticed. But isn't that what you want? The only way to get ahead is to have your accomplishments recognized.

Yes, I do believe women have to work harder to succeed in business, but the road to success is far less treacherous if you don't have a jealous woman throwing grenades at you along the way.