Week 4 - It Seems, Your Bags are Already Packed!!!

The Trip
One of the best, most rewarding jobs of my life was awarded to me even though I had no experience in the field…or so I thought.

I wanted to enter an emerging industry and quite frankly at the time, there weren’t many people out there who knew how to do the job. So I was fortunate enough to get an interview with a company that was looking for someone that had other skills that were “related” to what they really needed. After a series of meetings, I got the gig and loved working in an environment where I was free to shape the course of that company’s future success.

This week, our guest speaker at Dress for Success Hudson County’s Going Places by Walmart workshop, was Ms. Pamela O'Halloran formerly of Dress for Success Worldwide. The topic of this session was Transferable Job Skills; in other words how to identify and use what you've already got.
Pamela started off the discussion by asking clients to think about how to apply their life experiences to:
  • Asses the skills they already have
  • Extract key terms from those life experiences
  • Come up with language to put in their resumes
This task may seem like a waste of time to some, but a couple of really cool examples of how to apply this exercise to roles a few of us take for granted:

   BUSY MOTHER                          EFFICIENT MULTI-TASKER
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EXPLAINING A PROCESS               TRAINING PEOPLE
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Your Guide
  • Networking is valuable – Talk to friends and reach out to former colleagues to help refresh your memory about certain results you accomplished
  • Borrow Language - Use wording from job postings in your resume
  • Volunteering builds skills and your network – let the people you’re working with and for, that you are serious about working there full-time if an opportunity presents itself

Words from Your Fellow Travelers

“Treat volunteer work like it’s your real job!”
“I like the energy in this group!”
“Looking forward to working on my resume more to change some of the wording.”
“When I get feedback about certain skills I lack, I go out and get training to learn that skill.”
“I have MANY interviews now!”
“Create the highest, grandest, vision possible for your life because you become what you believe” - Oprah Winfrey

Travel Advisory

Rising Tide Capital – The Community Business Academy
Linkedin – Get the most from your professional network

Week 3 - Visiting The Richest Man in Babylon


Tiffany "TheBudgetnista" Aliche with the ladies of the Dress for Success Going Place Network by Walmart

The Trip
Volunteer work takes a very personal turn…

I have disrespected money…blatantly for most of my life.
This was an epiphany I had just after this week’s session.  It’s one of the harshest things I’ve had to admit about myself in a long time, but now that I’ve said it, I am sure there is something I can do to rectify the offense.

After a review of Week 2 with the clients, the group was introduced to our guest speaker: Ms. Tiffany “TheBudgetnista” Aliche.  Right away I became keenly aware of her exuberant energy.  She took charge right away and began her presentation by telling us the story of the first bicycle she ever bought…as a kid. 

I’m not sure what everyone else expected to hear from Tiffany and as I mentioned in last week’s post, I left my expectations home.  I purposefully decided NOT to do any research on her because I wanted to be completely objective upon our introduction.  Her next story was a quick synopsis of the book The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason.  The basic premise provides the reader with the "golden rules" of money that we should all live by.

Next up! The session, which was a flurry of opinions, ideals, and disagreements all surrounding the issue of money philosophies, was masterfully facilitated by Tiffany.  In the end, most of the women confirmed they were in trouble and I was certainly right there with them.  Tiffany made us all take a cold hard look at our poor spending habits directly in the face so that we could become more accountable for our actions yet motivated to make positive changes moving forward.  Tiffany walked the group through a portion of Day One in her book; The One Week Budget, where clients were asked to:

1.   list every single expense
2.   apply a monthly dollar amount to each expense
3.   subtract that amount from their monthly income
4.   determine if they had money left or if they were in the hole
  
After the calculations were tallied, you could hear a pin drop.  We all know what that meant.  But instead of seeing fear or discouragement on the faces of the women, I saw the look of realization and personal strength; the determination to make a change.

Later, after a giggly photo session (see group pic above), Tiffany was nice enough to offer me a ride to the PATH station…poor girl!  It was like putting a chronically ill hypochondriac in a car with a doctor.  I think I spilled my entire financial guts to her in less than five minutes.  You gotta give it to her, she’s a good listener!  One of the last things I recall muttering to her before I got out of the car was that I had an “existential philosophy” about money…hahahaaaaaaa.  What in the world was I talking about? Pure gibberish!  Excuses, excuses, excuses…

As soon I got home, I started browsing her book first as she suggested and have marked a day this week to start my Day One calculations.  In the meantime, I’m still reading The Richest Man in Babylon and I am totally captivated by its simple yet enlightening message that will indeed “change your money mindset”.  It has for me.  Thanks Tiffany!

Your Guide
Rules to live by: From the Richest Man in Babylon
Acquire Money - A part of all you earn is yours to keep. It should be not less than a tenth no matter how little you earn. It can be as much more as you can afford. Pay yourself first.
Keep Money - Advice is one thing that is freely given away, but watch that you take only what is worth having. He, who takes advice about his savings from one who is inexperienced in such matters, shall pay with his savings for proving the falsity of their opinions.
Use Money - make gold (money) work for you

Rules to live by: From TheBudgetnista
“Need” means what you CAN’T LIVE without
“You don’t have to have a lot to have a lot”

Words from Your Fellow Travelers
Tiffany,
I was just in the Going Places Networking Workshop. You were/are amazing and have changed my life! Thank you! Your Seminar today was great! Extremely helpful, you have encouraged me to take on a different/better life. I am so glad to have crossed paths with you! Thank you so much!! You are amazing! Glad you kept going because you are helping so many people. :) Congratulations and good luck on all the great things coming in the future!
From a DFS client


Hello Linda,
Thanks SOOOOOOO much for inviting me to facilitate the workshop. The ladies truly touched my heart and reminded me exactly why I began working as "TheBudgetnista" in the first place. I decided in college that I wanted to live a life of service, and I've chosen financial literacy as my vehicle. I'm really grateful for the platform you've provided in letting me help others, learn how to help themselves. I look forward to the next one.
All the best and more,
Tiffany


Travel Advisory

The One Week Budget – Learn to create your money management system in 7 days or less!


Photos from Our Trip


Week 2 - Mapping Out Your Adventure


The Trip
The ladies seemed more relaxed today.  I think that since the orientation last week, they know what to expect and what’s expected of them.
Have you ever walked into someone’s home or office space and knew right away, what type of organizer they were?  The messy ones (like me) always claim: “I know exactly where everything is!”
While that may be true to a certain extent, what we really need is to ask ourselves is “How long does it take me to find exactly what I’m looking for?”
Organization is really a subset of time management.  It’s not enough to “know” where everything is. It’s more important to be able to find things quickly so that you can better use your time for more important tasks.
This week the discussion started off with the topic of goal setting, and although we touched on this briefly last week, this week's session was more hands-on as we identified more tangible goals and steps to achieve those goals.
Your Guide
  • The Secret behind setting Goals - Narrow them down and make them more attainable so that you can achieve them reasonably
  • Busy Schedule? – Make sure you carve out some time each day for your job search.
  • Location, Location, Location – Organize your search and identify a space (either at home or outside) where you will conduct the daily “business” of finding a job.
  • Keep it Simple - Instead of making broad strokes, clients were asked to keep the goal and more short-term so that they would feel a sense of accomplishment once each goal was met.
Words from Your Fellow Travelers
Here are some of the goals we identified this week:

I want to get a good job in a big company
·         Joined Going Places
·         Research companies in my immediate area and see if they’re hiring

I want to become an anesthesiologist
·         Get HS diploma in July
·         Research colleges

I want to become an RN
·         Get HS diploma in July
·         Intern
·         Research colleges
·         Get help editing resume

I would like to find a job in Social Work (that doesn’t require an advanced Masters (MSW) degree)
·         Research roles in social work that don’t require an advanced degree
·         Get help editing resume

   

Week 1 - Time to Pack


The Trip
There's something about new beginnings...

I've always had a problem with managing my expectations about new experiences in my life.  For me, the problem with setting unrealistic expectations has always been that I always made the wrong assumptions about what's going to happen.  I mean, I basically get the gist of how I should behave, what is expected of me and what the outcome should involve.  But what I always used to get wrong (and I have no idea why), were my pre-conceived notions about the people I would encounter.

So if you recall from the last post, I finally met the "elusive" Linda Street from Dress for Success Hudson County.  She's great! Check!  She recruits me as a volunteer to document the workshops she organized for the Going Places Network by Walmart. Check!  She sends me some literature on the program and links me to their website.  Check!  I read up on everything.  I jot down ideas about the blog. Check and Check! And then, (here's where it used to go wrong)...I would start daydreaming about people I hadn't even met yet.  Usually this would end with me being totally surprised (or disappointed depending on the circumstances) and caught off guard.  I've recently changed this about myself and I was fortunate enough to meet the Dress for Success clients with this new found attitude...and I'm so glad I did!

Linda gave a very comprehensive presentation which outlined:
  • An Introduction to the Program
  • Standards of Accountability - "rules of the road" and what to expect from the workshops
  • Goal Setting - brainstorming about what the clients want to get out of the program
  • Lead Topics - Change Management and Organizing Your Job Search
I sat there scribbling notes, making sure to catch as many important points as I could.  I tried to stay completely neutral until Linda posed an innocent enough question to the group:
"What strengths do you fall back on when you are struggling?"
The answer from one woman was equally innocent (to paraphrase):

"I know I have to take care of my children so I keep going; knowing that I have to care for them not matter what."

Something about her answer created excitable feedback from the other clients which in turn transformed into a very emotional discussion surrounding the issue of personal strength, self-valuation, and the fighting power in all of us. 

Tears were shed, consoling ensued, and I felt like we all had that sisterhood bondy-thingy moment that always tends to happens when you stick a bunch of women in a room long enough…very enlightening indeed…sigh.

Your Guide

·    Manage Your Expectations – develop realistic ones and measure what is working and what isn’t
·    Stay Motivated – Take care of yourself emotionally, physically and financially
·    Overcoming Obstacles - Having a positive attitude from the start will help increase the chances of an employment opportunity.  Once there is positive self-talk then the next step is planning for occupational goals.
·    Create a Support Network - Continue participation in Going Places Network by Walmart and schedule appointments with one friend a week for two months
·    Focus on Your Personal Strengths – Taking a cue from the discussion mentioned above “What doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger.” and from George Elliott, “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.”


Words from Fellow Travelers
Quotes from clients when asked about their personal strengths:

“I love my strong personality”
“My mother is my role model”
“I’m proud of the fact that I’m a good mother”
“God is my strength”

Preparing for The Journey

The Trip
It's so "interesting" how God, The Universe, Fate, or whatever celestial energy you believe in, works.  I'm always amazed at how people and/or opportunities enter my life just when I need them.
Here's an example for yall...
My daughters and I have been getting our hair done at the same salon for over four years.  The salon owner, Jennifer, and I have become good friends during this time and every once in a while she would always mention another friend of hers named Linda who I have never met; which was strange in itself because I have met many of her friends over the years and Linda wasn't one of them. 
I was starting to think that Linda was a figment of Jennifer's imagination...
When I finally did meet Linda, it was totally by chance and that's a crazy thing to say since we eventually did meet at a networking event...IN THE SALON!  No one introduced us.  She was just a random woman who started a conversation with me and whose name didn't click until later on in the day when Jennifer asked me, "Did you meet Linda?"

Needless to say (but I will), timing is everything. A chance meeting is everything. 

When she and I eventually sat down for a good 'ole chat, we discovered that our paths were in parallel.  Linda Street works for Dress for Success Hudson County and is the Program Coordinator for the Going Places Network by Walmart.

This program, funded by a national grant from the Walmart Foundation, is designed to help unemployed and under-employed Dress for Success clients gain professional skills, accelerate their job search and build confidence through weekly training sessions, one-on-one career coaching and networking in a supportive environment.

Linda was thinking it would be nice to have someone sit in and document the program's workshops so that she could post the summaries and outcomes on their website, and guess who was working towards beefing up her blogging activities??? Amazing.  I met Linda almost two weeks before the program was about to begin and this is the preview post written to prepare myself and the reader for our journey.

Your Guide 
  • Always tell people you meet, what it is that you do or want to do - I have a good friend who teases me about this.  Every time we hang out and meet new people, I always ask them "What do you do?".  She thinks it's a turn-off for guys, but I don't care.  I'm not trying to find out how much money they make.  I want to know so I can see if there is any way we can help one another...that's all :)
  • Always follow-up - even if you can't put your finger on what it is you have in common with someone you meet, make sure you follow-up with a phone call, text, or email.  You never know when you will need to reach out to that person and you want to make sure they remember you.
  • Keep your mind and heart open - being positive has never failed me.  I didn't say it was easy, BUT keeping your mind focused on the goals you want to achieve and visualizing yourself doing what you want to do, makes that "dream" a reality...cliche, but true.

The first program group  of 15-20 women will meet every Wednesday 10a-12p April 13 – June 29 at a lovely loft complex in Jersey City, NJ.  Stay tuned for more!


  

Week 6 - Visting Fellow Travelers


This blog post, courtesy of fellow blogger AND DFS Hudson County client Cristina Nieves!!
The Trip
Sometimes all you need is a great story or some encouraging words to spark the rocket that sends you shooting straight towards your dreams.

We were all very grateful when a former client of Dress for Success paid us a visit. Carol Graham, a Weight Loss Consultant and Life Coach for Jenny Craig, created a great wave of encouragement when she came to visit. Her beautiful words and personal experience allowed us to relate to someone who was able to overcome most of the problems we are currently facing. It was uplifting and simply what the doctor ordered. Carol had great advice and you could feel it and almost see it coming straight from her heart.

 

Your Guide
  • Get out of the "I just have to do something/anything" mindset
  • It takes the same amount of energy to do what you like and what you don't like, so why not do what you like?
  • We find ourselves focusing on what we can't do, focus on what you can!
  • Take the baby steps and with the work and strength you'll reach your goals
  • Don't stop! You're in your meantime.
As Carol spoke you could see the effect she was having on all of us. It was extremely inspirational. She gave us two assignments to complete.
The first was to create a list of what you like to do and also what you are good at. What is the same on both lists? Find your passion!

The other was to make a promise to yourself to [think it] [speak it] [live it]. She wanted to stress the importance of knowing what you are capable of doing. Don't be afraid, let go, let her out! My favorite piece of advice was a very powerful statement, "They say the sky is the limit but that is not true. There is space beyond the sky, get there!" Carol Graham. Take the time to complete these two assignments because they will allow you to create a better relationship with yourself. You need to make sure you make time to listen to yourself. To realize your desires, your dreams and what you deserve.


ASK YOURSELF



STAND UP AND SAY IT!


Words from Your Fellow Travelers
"They say the sky is the limit but that is not true. There is space beyond the sky, get there!"
"I will let her out!"
"I am ready!"
"Focus on what you CAN do."
"Don't stop. You're in your meantime."
"You really changed my life today, thank you!"

Travel Advisory
Daily Inspiration!



Week 5 - Do NOT Over-Pack



This blog post, courtesy of fellow blogger AND DFS Hudson County client Cristina Nieves!!
The Trip
I personally view a resume as your transcript for the “real” world. You want to make sure it has everything and not too much at the same time.

Yes I know it sounds a little confusing. You want to let the employer know enough but not overwhelm them with an over-packed resume. We were lucky enough to have Debra Stark at this week’s session to help answer a few of the “confusing” questions about Resumes and Cover Letters.

Debra is the Assistant Director of Employer Relations and Alumni Career Development for Ramapo College of NJ. The girls were very enthusiastic about working on their resumes and cover letters after Debra’s wonderful presentation. She came back to the Dress for Success Hudson County Computer Room to personally assist a few women with their resumes and contacted others via email. She had a lot of useful information to share.

Your Guide
Resumes: Be clear, concise (one page) but compelling
  • Remember a resume is used as a tool to match you to opportunities and generate interest
  • First rate resumes describe duties and responsibilities while focusing on accomplishments and achievements
  • You want to show them that you go beyond just taking care of the duties

Cover Letters: Block Format with a Salutation and Closure and make sure to include the whys:
  • Why are you writing 
  • Why are you qualified?
  • Why are you the right fit?
Words from your Fellow Travelers
“She was extremely helpful, I am very confident about my resume now.”
“She killed it.”
“I learned how to write an eye-catching resume.”
“I feel more secure when I give out my resume.”

Travel Advisory
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/search.php
http://www.linkedin.com/in/debrajstark