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4 Strategies to make your time between job opportunities as epically lit as possible!

Did you know Millennials make up the largest generation in the labor force ( 33%) yet 48% of the unemployed population are millennials in this country? #MindBlown.

The level of un/underemployed millennials is steadily rising in today’s economy, it can take anywhere from 6 months to 2+ years to find your next job opportunity. So what can millennials do to make the most of this “free” time?!?!

Many millennials are taking control of their destiny and creating their own path (aka entrepreneurship). Let’s use that same work ethic and creativity to embark on these four strategies to ensure your time between jobs is strategic, fulfilling and as epically lit as possible.

Strategy # 1- Learn new Skills -( AKA Invest in yourself)

Every year more and more millennials are getting educated and competition within the current job market is extremely tough, to say the least. In order to combat the side eyes regarding the gap in your employment history, it is of utmost importance you invest in making yourself more marketable. Investing in yourself can come in numerous ways from conferences, podcasts, online courses etc. As someone on a tight budget (man do those unemployment checks dry up fast), I stumbled upon CareerAcademy.com an excellent online resource that allowed me to learn a plethora of new technical and industry specific skills to keep on top of current trends.

Millennial travel blogger

If you are considering a career transition, I would suggest checking out internships.com. An internship is great because it works two-fold in getting your foot in the door and impressing recruiters looking for real world experience. The easiest way to find such opportunities is to reach out to people/organizations within your network that aligns with where you see yourself growing professionally. Volunteering is a good option as well because in giving unto others, you learn so much about who you are as a person and what you really want in life. Volunteering keeps you humble enough to continue to walk in your purpose.

As a generation, we often tend to be overly focused on the latest technical skills that we fail to enhance our soft skills as well. Recruiters love to hire people that are multifaceted with various interests. Perhaps you have always wanted to learn how to crochet or make soaps. Invest in yourself and take a class, it could turn into your side hustle or just a way to relax from the stress of job hunting. A surefire way to make yourself stand out as a candidate is to highlight what you have been actively teaching yourself ( insert ABC) skill which will yield (insert XYZ) for the company.

Strategy # 2- Start a Passion Project ( AKA- Focus your passions into a results-driven solution)

I decided to take control of my vision and focus on my passions(the plight of the millennial, writing/speaking and social media). During this down period, I prayed on what I could do to provide a platform for others in my generation of positivity, encouragement, and community, hence AccordingtoGenY was created.

Millennial travel blogger

Every day I wake up, eat and sleep AccordingtoGenY because of that my vision has become even clearer. The love and support from the blogging community have actually been my muse for taking AccordingtoGenY from a passion project to a full blown business. I hope to launch the site and monetize down the line to achieve my dream of a location independent lifestyle.

During this uncertain time in your life, lean in on your passion and focus your energy on a project you can immerse yourself with. Your passion project could be creating a blog, podcast or nonprofit organization that is aligned with your interests. Passion projects are awesome for building a portfolio and showing companies you have diverse interests and possess project management skills. Companies love to hire people that are positive and go-getters. So let’s get going on developing your Passion Project!!!

Strategy # 3- Travel – Explore your city like a tourist ( AKA- Go on a Staycation!!)

Due to mounting student loan debt,limited vacation time/funds (only two weeks really?!?!?), staycations are currently trending for young professionals. The minimal planning and low cost are key aspects for why staycations appeal to the millennials desire for adventure.

Millennial travel blogger

Staycations are an excellent way to explore your local area. If you are lucky enough to live in a large metropolitan area, you can easily find a plethora of fun low-cost touristy things to do. If you live in a rural area, consider taking a mini road trip to the closest major city for a day. Grab some friends and get on the road..it’s calling your name!!

I had a good friend visit me in Atlanta (aka the dopest city in America) from Abu Dabi and we decided to ride bikes on the beltline. It was a great way to explore all of the various eclectic communities around the city. Not to mention as a health nut and blogger it was pretty cool to have good company, be active and even indulge in an impromptu photo shoot. If you live in an area with great weather, take advantage of that. Being active outside of your normal routine, allows you to reap the benefits of endorphins and vitamin D which give you the mental clarity to keep moving forward during the job search. When you push yourself outside of your comfort zone that increases your confidence which is crucial for landing your next job opportunity.

4. Meet new People ( AKA-Date and Network Often)

I am going to let you in on a little secret about myself…wait for it…ok, I am a classic Extroverted Introvert. This has been one of the most challenging strategies to consistently implement. When I am in a room with people I know networking, I can totally be in my element. However, in unfamiliar situations where I have to meet new people from a purely social perspective I clam up. I am currently, slowly building and nurturing my small group of friends into the positive, inspirational and flat out dope squad I know we can be for each other.

Millennial travel blogger

I would highly suggest signing up for meetup.com to find other like-minded people who share a common interest. Social media (Instagram/Twitter) is a great resource as well for finding local young professional events in your area. These are excellent events to network with others and spread the word about your passion project. Also during this downtime invest in your dating life. There is nothing that takes your mind off the job hunt more than getting dolled up to meet someone you have a mutual interest in. So dust off your Tinder/POF profiles and put yourself out there!!!

The goal of any downtime between employment is to be able to tell a story of how you turned a negative into a positive and made yourself more marketable to better serve the company.

There is no reason why your downtime between jobs should be any kind of pity party. Let that negative ish go!!, what is done is done and trust me you will be better for it. This time should be lit! it should be a time for renewed focus, stretching yourself outside of your comfort zone and enjoying connecting with others along the way.

I hope these strategies keep your spirits up while you search for the next job opportunity and above all don’t settle for average when you know you deserve greatness. Keep pushing and never give up on yourself.

If you would like to learn more about my personal brand and connect with me on social media, visit- porschajohnson.com. Also, please show some love and let me know your thoughts on how you spent your downtime between jobs below.

Be Blessed, Stay Woke, Love Life

xoxo~AccordingtoGenY

Author Bio

Porscha Johnson is a conscious creative, foodie and music lover who currently resides in Atlanta, GA. She is the founder of AccordingtoGenY.com a labor of love “coming soon” which will focus on Gen Y professional women who want to thrive within health, career and travel. These are the three areas of life that have consistently inspired, encouraged and challenged her during the Glo Up. Porscha holds a BA in International Affairs from The University of Georgia. You can learn more about the face behind the brand, connect via social media and sign up to receive your #FREE One on One Guide at http://www.porschajohnson.com/.

Instagram-@AccordingtoGenY

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Periscope- @AccordingtoGenY

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3 Job Search Tips That Increase Your Success

written by Sidney Walker

1) Approach finding a job as if it were a full-time job, because it is. If you had a job, you would report to work at the same time each day (like 8 am), take an hour (or less) for lunch, and quit at the same time each day (like 5 pm). You would work five days every week. And you would work hard to accomplish as much as you could because your career depended upon it.

When you are searching for a job, you should follow the same type of schedule because your future depends upon it.

Treating your job search like a part-time hobby guarantees that it will take longer.

So, begin tomorrow by reporting to work and spending the day on tasks that lead to a job.

2) Approach finding a job as if it were a project. That means you should set goals for yourself, make plans, and monitor your progress. You should apply all of the tools and skills that you used in your last job to the project of finding your next job.

As you must expect, this is an important project. The sooner you complete it, the sooner you gain a promotion into a job.

3) Be your own boss. Set expectations for what you need to accomplish, provide direction, and monitor your work.

Meet with yourself once each week to evaluate your performance. I recommend doing this by writing two reports. The first is a candid evaluation of what you accomplished during the previous week. The second is a description of your plans for the coming week. Your plans should include your goals, actions, and priorities.

The first time that you write these reports, write an evaluation of what you have done so far. Describe the results that this effort has produced. And compare these results with what you wanted to have.

Next, map out a realistic plan for the next week based on achievable goals. For example, you could set goals for the number of people you will call, the number of networking meetings you will attend, and the research you will conduct.

In the coming weeks, compare the results that you obtained during the previous week with the goals that you set. For example, if you planned to attend twelve networking meetings and you attended only two, you should a) explain why this happened and b) plan actions that will correct such a difference. You should also analyze why you missed your goal because this provides insights on what you need to do differently. For example, Your goal (e.g., of attending twelve networking meetings) may have been set too high. Or maybe there are things you can do that will make it easier to achieve your job search goals, such as car pooling with a friend who is also looking for a job.

Finding a job is a full-time job. Work through it with a plan and the support of a good boss (yourself).

I wish you the best of success.

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5 Things to do Before Starting Your New Job

written by Sidney Walker

When you have landed a new job, or even your first job, there are a few things that you should do before you start work. Taking care of these five simple things will help your transition into your new job go smoothly, and make your overall life much easier.

1. Establish A Bank Account. Most employers encourage the use of direct deposit for your paychecks. Establishing a bank account prior to starting your job will allow you to take advantage of this convenience. Look for a bank account that offers a free debit card and little or no fees attached to the account. As a bonus, most people that use direct deposit have access to their paychecks earlier than those who receive a paper check. You can use local directories such as Bizwiki to find banks near you.

2. Fine Tune Transportation. If you are using your own car, make sure that it is physically sound so that you have no problems getting back and forth to work. If you are using public transportation, make sure that you have a pass and that you review the route and any transfers you may have to take before you go the first day.

3. Purchase Suitable Clothing. You want to make sure that you have the right clothes for your new job. Try to have enough clothes to get through the first week and that can be interchanged for the second week. You can keep adding to your wardrobe once your pay starts coming in. It is always important to make a good first impression during your initial week at work.

4. Clean Out Your Wallet or Purse. During your first week at work, you will be asked for identification and other things for company paperwork. You do not want to open your wallet or purse and have a barrage of things fall out. Many employers will judge you based on how your wallet or purse appears when it is opened. A messy or cluttered wallet can give the impression of a messy or cluttered employee.

5. Take A Relax Day. When you start your new job, you want to look and feel great. You do not want to feel tired or sore. You want to look alert and have a fresh outlook. Take the day before you start a new job and truly relax. Get a good night of sleep and eat right so that you start your new job off in the right direction.

These five simple things take very little effort to accomplish, but they can make a really big difference in your new career.

Are you starting a new job? Tell us about it in the comment section below!

For More Career Tips Please Subscribe To “The Urban Millennial” & Add me On Social Media At The Links Below.

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6 Way To Brainstorm The Perfect Career

written by Sidney Walker

Have you ever felt stuck in your career? Employee stress and burn out can account for a lot of dissatisfaction in your life. After all, you are at work some 8 hours a day or more. That’s 1/3 of your day if you don’t count sleep. That’s a long time to be dissatisfied.

If you feel stuck, here are 6 great ways to find your ideal career:

1. Brainstorm on a sheet of paper – I’ve talked about this before and it’s a strategy I use all the time. Take a pad of paper and write down at the top your objective in question form. Then, simply list out 20 answers to your question. For example, you could write “What should I be doing with my time and life?” Then stay seated for a half hour to an hour coming up with answers to that question. The key to this exercise is coming up with 20 answers – don’t quit until you have 20 answers. You can repeat every day until you get the answer you seek.

2. Ask 3 close friends – Sometimes our friends know us better than ourselves. While meeting with one of your friends, mention you are at a crossroads in your life and career. Ask what they think you’d enjoy doing. You might be surprised at how easily they can zero in to your strengths and abilities and report a perfect job area.

3. Ask your boss and coworkers – much like your friends in the example above, your boss and coworkers most likely see you in a way you do not see yourself. In fact, they are likely most familiar with your strengths and weaknesses in the work environment. Compile all the answers you get from them and see if there are any common threads you can explore.

4. Call a headhunter – If you are searching in your career, it’s likely you have a resume. Sometimes you can catch a headhunter or recruiter during their slow times and meet with them to pick through what you might be good at. I’ve done this at different times in my life and the people seem open to talking with people. After all, if you don’t get paid, they don’t either. The ideas I get are usually good.

5. Take a career assessment test – There are several sites on the Internet you might be able to take one of these tests for a fee. But using my headhunter tip above, many headhunters have this software and don’t mind you taking the test in their office. I’ve taken these tests two times in my life and they usually take an hour or two, but they are thorough. They ask you to answer a series of questions about what you are good at, what you like to do, what you prefer doing over what you don’t. If you take one, you will likely see some new exciting areas to explore in your life.

6. Keep a journal – Do you keep a journal? If so, read through, looking for common threads in your writing. Keep your eyes peeled for trends and activities you like as well as don’t like. In fact, finding examples of what you don’t like and what frustrates you is almost as important as finding what you do like. For example, if you hate an overwhelming boss, you’d probably like a self-directed position. If you hate nosy coworkers you’d probably prefer your own office.

Discovering what you really want to do with your life is the most important decision you can make. We spend 1/3 or more of our lives at work. So figuring out the right career is important to keeping that 1/3 of our lives happy and productive.

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5 Creative Ways To Find A Job

written by Sidney Walker

Ok, you have posted to every internet job board and every job on Monster, CareerBuilder, and HotJobs. Youíve followed up with calls and networked until you are blue in the face. Each Sunday you take the newspaper and apply for every job in your field with little to no results. Well, try some unique ways to find a job.

Send Half of Your Resume
Find a company you want to work. Write a great cover letter on why you are a good fit, pointing to the enclosed resume. Donít seal the envelope and donít enclose a resume. Theyíll think the resume fell out in the mail. They will call and engage in a conversation. Sell yourself shamelessly.

Write A Prospecting Letter
Make use of the power of direct mail. Locate 5-10companies. Write up a letter to your contact network and ask them if they know anyone who works at any of the companies on your list. When a contact says they know someone on your list, send them your resume and ask them to forward it their contact or ask permission to send it yourself.

E-Mail Chain Letter
Create a list of 20 companies you want to work for and send an email to everyone you know to see if they know anyone who works at these companies. Ask them to contact you if they do, so that you can ask for a referral. Finally, ask them to forward your email to 10 more people. However donít do this if youíre currently employed!

Distribute A Booklet
Write a booklet with information relevant to your industry and give it away. Everyone loves free information and this demonstrates your expertise. Give the booklet away electronically and advertise it to newsgroups where hiring managers will see it.

Call Human Resources
Sounds crazy, right? Call the human resources department. Ask them what outside agency or third-party recruiting firm they use. They will ask you why do you want to know. Tell them that their company is not currently looking for someone with your skill set right now the agency may be dealing with other firms, so you are looking for a recommendation. They may very well ask you for an interview. If not at least you do get a lead. They would love to save the agency fees. Also being recommended gives you special attention. Send them a thank you note.

These are guerrilla tactics that can give you better results.

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7 Important Job Skills For Millennials

written by Sidney Walker

In today’s competitive life, employers are more inclined to find people who can contribute to the growth of the company and not just boost its productivity.

Hence, most employers tend to look for people who are endowed with the most desirable job skills in order to match the expectations and necessities of the company.

Therefore, for people who wish to make it to the jobs that they have long been dreaming of, it is important to know the most sought after job skills of most employers.

Here’s a list of the important job skills a job seeker must have in order to land a good job and keep it.

1. The ability to research

Job seekers should possess the ability to research not because they wanted to land a job in a research company but in order to do simple searches on the data needed by a particular activity.

2. Logical thinking

Most employers need people who are able to produce effective solutions and to make sensible solutions regarding a proposal or a probable activity.

3. Technologically literate

With the advent of information technology, most job openings require people who are computer literate or know how to operate different machines and office equipment.

Most employers do not necessarily need people who are technological graduates. The simple fact that job seekers know the basic principles of technology is already enough.

4. Communication skills

People who are able to land a good job are mostly those who are adept in speaking and writing. Employers hire people who are able to express their thoughts efficiently through verbal and written communications.

5. Organizational skills

No employer would like to hire somebody who is disorganized. Organization is extremely important to maintain a harmonious working relationship in the company. Hence, most employers find people who know how to arrange scheme and methods that would maintain the orderliness in the area.

6. Interpersonal skills

Because the working environment consists of various kinds of personalities, it is necessary, therefore, to acquire the skill to communicate to people form different walks of life.

7. Professional Growth

Employers hire people who are able to create a plan that will generate personal career growth. This means that the person is willing to improve him or herself professionally by learning new things he or she still does not know.

These are just some of the most wanted job skills by most employers. Hence, it is important for the job seekers to take note of these assets in order to be successful in every endeavor they make.

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Salary Negotiations For Millennials

written by Sidney Walker

Fresh out of college, most people are excited about landing that first job. Given that most grads do not have work experience or only had a part time job while studying, it is not easy to secure an executive position right away.

Starting from scratch, one has no choice but to start from the bottom in an entry-level position then in time move to the top. The challenge most grads face in applying for a job is the competition. Aside from those who just graduated, there are also those who have left the previous job and are looking for a new one.

According to hiring and compensation experts, there is not that much room to negotiate when one is just a fresh grad. This is because that person does not have substantial work experience as basis to negotiate for a higher wage compared to those who have already worked before.

The range of the salary fresh grads get are based on the course one has finished in college. To those who volunteered to be surveyed, it was found that people who graduated from the sciences were able to get a higher salary compared to those who graduated from the liberal arts.

A tip that may help a little in the negotiation process is knowing your potential and not easily giving in or selling yourself short. In the course of an interview, it will boil down to the how much you will be getting. Most fresh grads accept what is given immediately and reply ok ending it there.

It is best to only talk about the salary when an offer has been made. If the interviewer is good, it can wait. During that time, one can try asking how much the company will give for someone in that position then be able to negotiate about that further later on regardless of the figure that was given.

The applicant can then ask questions such as job responsibilities and mention that the contribution one can give to the company is more important than the salary you will be receiving showing the recruiter you are a team player.

Applicants can negotiate more by doing research on how much other companies are offering for the same job before giving an immediate answer. By knowing that information, it is possible for you to negotiate the salary offered for a little more.

Getting a job is not only about a salary. This includes other things that the company offers to its employees and by thoroughly checking out the other benefits and perks, it can also help in deciding whether the applicant should accept the job or not.

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4 Tips For Young Millennials Job Search

written by Sidney Walker

Some teenagers would like to be able to get a job and earn money. Since these individuals are still in school, the next best thing to getting a real job is getting one that is part time.

When applying for a part time job, here are some tips one must remember when going up to a potential employer;

One must prepare a resume when applying for part time work. Even if the person does not have experience, it will show the employer that a little effort was made on the part of the applicant in producing something on paper. The resume may contain highlights or strengths about the applicant which could make the applicant stand out over other people that have applied for the same position and in the end get that job.

When meeting an employer, being dressed appropriately is important. It shows the sincerity one has in applying for the job. One must be that finger-nails and hair are well groomed for the interview. The outfit worn could be business casual. A polo and khaki pants will be ideal for men and a polo and skirt for the women will do well for the interview. This would mean that moderate shoes must be used to match the outfit. If one wears a lot of earrings, it is advisable to remove some to present the person better.

Getting a job is not easy and there will be a lot of times that the employer will say no. This is nothing personal but some employers will prefer someone who has some experience. Even if one is rejected, the person must not give up in getting that part time and move on to the next potential employer.

A firm handshake is always a good start. Walking in and showing ones sincerity in getting the job is another. There is only so much one say in interview so it is best to practice in selling to the person the strengths one possesses in order to get that job.

In the course of going from one employer to another, the employer will not give the answer at once if the person is hired or not. Other applicants will still be interviewed before making that decision. By keeping a list of the places where one went for interview, one will be able to call and follow up the status of the application.

Part time jobs are available in various places. One might find one while walking in the neighborhood, checking the school bulletin board or local paper and even the web for job postings.

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Online Job Search For Millennials

written by Sidney Walker

In the past, applying for a job meant looking through the classified ads in the local paper. The advent of the internet has created various job sites online making it easier for someone to apply for work in another state and in even in another country.

It has made the world a smaller place with everything at ones fingertip and just a click away. Most job sites will require a person to open an account, fill in certain information and deposit a resume.

These sites usually ask for pertinent information such as the person’s name, age, address, contact number and social security number.

Other information that will be requested includes educational background. Some companies prefer someone with a degree in a certain field or a licensed professional to do the job or perhaps a person who possesses a masters degree.

Employment history is also another thing that has to be mentioned. This includes the job description and highlights that you have experienced during your career.

With the information provided, some of these sites offer a service with a fee that will match your qualifications with jobs that are available and enable you to apply for that position. Some even promise to make your resume stand out over other applicants giving that person more priority over others, but even that is a not a guarantee that one will get the job.

One also has to mention the salary the person is receiving both in the current and previous jobs as this is matched with the job the individual wants and the salary one desires.

These sites offer various jobs to people. It caters to professionals and teenagers who want to work either for full time, part time or on a per project basis.

Applying online is not only done through job sites. A lot of companies have websites that have a section on careers which one can access and check what openings are available. One simply has to go through the process of also giving certain information that is asked for and uploading your resume.

The first impression employers or headhunters look at is your resume. Given that many people apply, this usually takes these people a short period of time to review and screen certain applicants before going to the next phase of being scheduled and called for an interview.

There are many jobs available in the market. It just takes a little effort on your part to sit down in front of a computer and look for the right job.