Federal Benefits Update

If you haven’t yet heard of the threats to federal benefits contained in President Trump’s 2018 budget proposal, you haven’t been paying attention.  However, if you’re receiving the Solutions for the Workplace monthly newsletter, the odds are good that you’re aware of the danger on the horizon.

Most of the proposals are a re-hash of those that have been presented in the past and have gotten nowhere.  The Congressional Budget Office, the Simpson-Bowles Commission and budget proposals coming from the House of Representatives have made the same or similar proposals over the last several years.  The difference is that now the same party controls both houses of Congress and the Presidency, making the changes somewhat more likely to be enacted.  Note that I used the modifier “somewhat” in the previous sentence; it’s no slam dunk to enact such major changes to long-time benefits.

Read more

Creating a Job Search Plan

I often hear comments along the lines of, “I’ve never had to look for a job, they have always just fallen into my lap!” While that may have been true in the past, for most of us, a successful job search requires organization and effort. You will need to develop a routine to be successful in your job search. It is important to do something to move your job search forward every day.   You will need to create a new set of priorities and schedules—and write it down so you can hold yourself accountable.

Read more

Conduct a Social Media Audit, Part 1

Nancy Segal is now the weekly career columnist for FEDWeek. This article was originally posted in the FEDWeek Career Forum.

Your online social media profile can positively or negatively impact your job search. While social media is currently more important in private sector employment than federal, do not let the sloppy management of your social media affect your career! This audit will help you evaluate whether your online accounts are helping or hurting your chances of employment.

More than half of employers say they have rejected an applicant because of what they have found on the jobseeker’s social media profiles.

Read more

7 Reasons Why You Should Be on LinkedIn

What? You’re not on LinkedIn yet? What are you waiting for? Join the 350 million people already there. These seven reasons outline why you should be on the social networking site.

  1. Because That’s Where The People Are. LinkedIn is the number one social network for professionals — and, arguably, the most important website for jobseekers — with more than 347 million members worldwide. Not only are people you know already on the site, but so are people you should get to know — recruiters, hiring managers, and your future co-workers.

Read more