A Prescription for a Positive Attitude

Being unemployed or in a difficult situation at home or work can make it hard for us to keep positive all the time. Our attitude is infectious and we can pass on our positivity or drag others down if we are negative and pessamistic!
I’ve had this cold/flu bug lately and it occurred to me that it would be great if we could have a Lemsip or Benelyn for our attitude when it gets a bit run down!
So how do you build and keep a positive attitude that ensures your success? Just follow this Prescription,focus on a different skill each day and keep repeating the cycle until you’ve built an invincible attitude. It works!
Day 1: Fill your mind with positives.
Instead of living your life on autopilot, letting any and all thoughts come into your mind, consciously feed your mind positive input – start the day by repeating to yourself “I greet this day with love in my heart!”. Read inspirational books; listen to uplifting music, or call an upbeat person. And by all means, avoid the cynics and gripers.
Keep a “Book of Abundance notebook” and at the end of each day write down all the wonderful things that have happened. Include even small things... like enjoying your coffee or waking up alive! The more you pay attention to the good things in life, the more they will show up....we are just too blessed to be stressed!
Day 2: Affirm yourself.
To build a positive attitude you must remind yourself of you at your best, celebrate past victories. Congratulate yourself on the good you have done and will do. Refuse to let any self-doubt enter your mind. Just tell yourself over and over, "I am joyful, blessing, accepting loving and grateful” or “I am a strong, confident and competent person."
If you make a mistake, learn the lesson in that mistake and laugh at yourself... and affirm the fact you’re learning and growing.
Consciously feed yourself with positive affirmations. As boxing champ Sugar Ray Robinson said, "To be a champ, you have to believe in yourself when nobody else will." And Dolly Parton added, "I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know that I'm not dumb... and I also know that I'm not blonde."

Day 3: Think only good things about people.
Don't allow ill thoughts to enter your mind. Look for something you like in everyone you meet. One person might have a great smile, and another one might be extremely dedicated to their work. You can always find something you like.
Remember to also edit your thoughts about yourself. Think only good thoughts about yourself – see yourself at your best and avoid the temptation to pick fault – try smiling in the mirror, see yourself as others see you!
Day 4: Speak only positive words.
In order to build and maintain a positive attitude, you must speak hopefully about everything -- your job, your customers, your manager, your employees, your children, your health, and your future. Go out of your way to talk optimistically about everything.
You may have to talk yourself out of uttering negative words. When you have a positive attitude, you refuse to use a loser’s language. If you talk like a loser, you’ll end up losing.
And Now The Challenge: Start Building a Positive Attitude Today.
Nothing... absolutely nothing... contributes more to your success than your attitude. The good news is you can have a powerful, positive attitude... if you keep repeating these 4 steps over and over it will work and you will succeed in whatever you do- it’s worked for thousands of people I have worked with..... Now it’s your turn.
Good luck and if you are looking for a job take a look at www.codepro.co.uk and see how Job Prospector could help you to succeed!

CodePro program does the work for jobseekers

A software developer has launched a product aimed at job seekers, inspired by his own experience during a period of unemployment. Lionel Potter's Job Prospector is a desk top program which enables users to organise their job search activities.
The software enables people looking for work to catalogue job vacancies, applications, replies and contact names and numbers into a working database.
It aims to simplify a process which can become confused when dealing with numerous recruitment agency staff, tailoring CV's to be job-specific and keeping track of the latest opportunities.
Unable to secure work in IT following his redundancy, Mr. Potter, a former systems analyst from Exeter, took on night shifts as a security supervisor. In December 2008, he quit his job to work full-time on the new software, which he is now marketing through CodePro, the company that he established with his business partner and employment trainer, Julie Seddon.
"It was a big risk, but Lionel is passionate about creating software and wanted to develop something that was helpful to people, rather than the businesses themselves," Ms Seddon said.
"We are determined to get Job Prospector out to everyone who needs it to help them get back to work. We were both aware that seeking work really is a minefield. Even during normal economic times, job hunting is a gruelling and exhausting process. The current economic crisis and the shrinking job market make the process much harder and longer."
The software is being sold via the company's website, www.codepro.co.uk, and the firm is also in discussions with JobCentre Plus, the Connexions Service, A4e and the Shaw Trust to provide the £20 Job Prospector for their job-ready clients.
The company also has its sights on attracting corporate clients who might offer the software as part of their redundancy packages.
"Job Prospector also generates an activity report which can be printed by clients as proof of job searches while they are unemployed," Ms Seddon said. "The onus is very much on individuals to demonstrate that they are actively seeking work."
"Job Prospector is not a job search program - it is the first personal employment information management system to be available for individuals to download to their own PC and use to get an advantage."
CodePro is also providing free "how to" guides from its website to help users make the most of the software.
"The main attraction for job seekers is that Job Prospector is easy to use and enables them to get organised and save lots of time when dealing with all the different agencies and job sources they may be using," Ms Seddon said. "Just getting everything organised helps people to feel more confident and in control, and this can help them to make better applications and perform better at interview."
Mr. Potter is now developing a similar system, Job Prospector Plus, a career management program aimed at graduates and professionals.
Sources: Western Morning News
Reporter: Catherine Barnes
Copyright: Western Morning News

Never give up…..tips for staying positive (and Sane) while Job Seeking!

"To be a great champion, you must believe you are the best. If you’re not, pretend you are."
—Muhammad Ali

You are a special person. You know it. Your mum knows it. Your dad knows it. Your siblings know it (but probably will not admit it). Your friends and relatives know it. But unless you convince prospective employers of your special talents and abilities, you will fade into that great dark abyss of opportunities lost. In order to convince them, you have to get in front of them, to get in front of them you need to make job applications and in order to do that you have to take ACTION!

Here are some top tips for getting your job search activities organised and keeping your confidence high.

 Use a range of sources to look for a job — Internet; Recruitment Agency; Careers Advisors; Networking; Friends and Acquaintances; Job Centre Plus; Newspapers; etc Use all avenues / methods - do not rely on just 1 method. Set time aside each day to check out all your sources and make a not of any vacancy that could be of interest.
 Not all jobs are advertised, so it is a very good idea to use contacts, ask around and try to network. If people can't help you themselves, they may be able to put you in touch with those who can. Aim to make or research at least 1 speculative approach each day.
 Tailor your CV and cover letter to the job/employer you are applying to. Take your time over your job applications and do not rush. Research the company and the role. Tailor your content to the position you are going for. Keep a note of what exactly you have sent to each employer and when you sent it.
 Always follow up your applications. Make yourself stand out from the crowd. By calling potential employers, you will look eager and you will also gain peace of mind knowing where you stand.
In the next Bolg we’ll be looking at staying positive and sane about Job Interviews......In the meantime, take a look at www.codepro.co.uk and discover how Job Prospector has been designed specifically to help you with your job search – take the pressure off yourself and use Job Prospector!

Good luck with your Job search!

Network your way to a Job

Looking at job adverts is quick, easy, and a useful way to learn what jobs are available, but presents a few problems as a starting point for a job search.
Firstly, adverts are not designed to help you understand what different kinds of jobs involve - they are for people who are sure of exactly the job they want. Many are vague and others can swamp you with detail.
Secondly, many jobs are not even advertised, leaving you to miss out on a wide variety of options. Todays thoughts consider how you can network your way to a job by making yourself known to potential employers.
Every day, someone, somewhere, is offered a job that was never advertised, possibly without even making an application. How does this happen?
It is a myth that all jobs must be advertised by law. Open recruitment is considered best practice, but is not a legal obligation. Advertising is expensive and employers may prefer to recruit internally by promoting or seconding a member of staff or may take personal recommendations from staff as the best option.
They may also draw on personal contacts to find suitably qualified candidates. This is particularly true in small businesses, and for popular types of work where there is a permanent supply of keen applicants.
To unlock these hidden jobs you need to make yourself known to potential employers.
A direct, carefully planned approach can be effective. Your CV and covering letter should be specifically tailored to the Business and the job role you are seeking so research and preparation are essential. Recruiters easily spot generic CVs, which are likely to go straight in the recycling bin just like any other unsolicited, impersonal junk mail.
To improve your chances:
• Prepare a general CV and covering letter geared towards a particular industry sector, and then adapt it to target individual Businesses.
• Do your research e.g. market position, key stakeholders, suppliers, customers and business development. You need to gather as much information as possible about the responsibilities of the role you are aiming for and the team you would join.
• Get the name of the contact in your chosen business function or human resources/personnel before approaching - this may take some perseverance, but is worthwhile.
• Ensure that your letter starts by clearly stating what you are looking for - a job, contract or project work, work experience, work shadowing - and include details of your availability.
• Focus on explaining what skills and experience you have to offer and what you could contribute to the organisation, rather than simply what you hope to gain for yourself.
• Follow up your letter with a phone call to show your genuine interest and try to arrange a meeting to discuss job possibilities, review your application or gain further contacts.
People often find jobs through their own contacts. Contacts might be friends, relatives, or people you have met through leisure interests, voluntary work or part-time jobs, previous employers and even casual acquaintances. Combine contacts from all sources into your personal professional network.
Even if these people do not directly help you, they might put you in touch with others who do. They may help you find an opportunity or even get you an interview.
Remember to pursue networking opportunities yourself. Networking opportunities include:
• Temporary or part-time work to enhance your marketability and industry knowledge and to meet people in your target sector.
• Voluntary work to build experience and show your commitment - be clear what you are offering to do and for how long.
• Professional associations, which may run networking events or useful training and conferences where you can forge new links.
• Careers events where you can speak with representatives from many organisations in one place.
Further study, training and work experience also gives you an edge in the job market.
Activate your network by letting everyone know your ambitions and plans, so your contacts pass on any information they hear as soon as possible. When you approach a new potential employer, mention who suggested contacting them, as it will increase the chances of your application being read.
Job Prospector is a computer program which has been designed to enable you to search for a job your way and organise all your employer, vacancy, personal and contact information in one place, on your own computer, right at your fingertips! Download it today from www.codepro.co.uk and get an advantage.
We wish you success!

GOOD DAYS or BAD DAYS?

Whether we have a good day or bad day is often more about how we think about things rather than about what is actually happening. The meaning we choose to make of one event can set us up for the rest of the day in either a positive or negative frame of mind.
We are what our thoughts make us! There is now overwhelming evidence that shows that optimism is healthier than pessimism. Not only is a positive outlook healthier it also helps you to be more successful, have greater resilience to stress, be better able to cope under pressure, be more inspiring to others and generally a more pleasant person to be around!
Optimism and pessimism can be considered as chains of thought that relate to the future and structure our thinking about what we predict may happen in response to some event in our lives. It is interesting that pessimists when challenged about their negativity often reply by saying they are simply being realistic. Likewise the optimist when challenged about being overly positive also says they are just being realistic! So who is right?
Well the fact is that we cannot predict the future anyway so neither is right - as yet! However our thoughts about the future can become self-fulfilling prophesies. So on balance if you think the worst not only is this draining your energy but you are kind of programming yourself to make the worst more likely to happen, think more positively about future outcomes then you are making them more likely to become reality.
So how can you consistently maintain optimistic and positive thoughts (have more good days!) particularly when under pressure or when things are more difficult? The answer lies partly in understanding the structures behind your thinking and knowing how to adjust these to hold more of the kind of thoughts that you want – the ones that empower you to succeed and are good for your health!
It begins with a real event, to this event our minds can then make up future possible scenarios that are linked together like a chain. These chains of imagined future possibilities can follow a more optimistic direction or a more pessimistic direction depending on our general de-fault way of thinking and also depending on just how we are feeling at the time. (and by the way the more we practice a particular way of thinking the better we get at it!)
The first step is to recognise what your brain is doing, be aware of your thought chains and how they are working either for you or against you. The aim once aware is to create another possible thought chain, a more optimistic one, to run in parallel with the pessimistic one and ultimately for this new chain to become the more dominant pathway. Begin to do this by questioning the meaning you are making of events and challenging the links (loosening the connections)!
Keeping positive when you are Job Seeking is hard to do. People using Job Prospector tell us that it helps them to feel in control and on top of their activities and that helps them to feel more confident and willing to persevere. We hope that you'll invest in yourslef and use Job prospector to help you have more good days and eventual success with your job search. Please let us know how it helps you
Keep similing and have a fantastic week!

Internet Job Search is Only Part of the Story...

All of the statistics show that job boards on the internet are a low-return way of finding a job. Unless you have a skill set that is in high demand, and one that can be easily described by keywords, finding a good match on a job site will be a challenge. Most people have to send out a lot of enquiries. Each enquiry requires follow-up to be effective, few result in any feedback, and it is a challenging job search approach.

I believe that job sites have a role in your job search strategy, but those roles should be limited (unless you are one of the lucky few with an easily-described, highly desirable skill set). As a job candidate, you need to focus on results and progress, rather than on activity for its own sake. The challenge of job sites is they can mask a lack of progress by providing lots of opportunity for non-productive work.
So to get the best from internet job listings, first, choose 3 of the bigger job boards (i.e., Monster.com, Job site etc) and establish your profile. You may also want to choose job sites that are specific to your chosen field or geographic location. Set up an alert so that as jobs that are posted which match your interests, you will get an email. You can then respond and apply to those jobs. Spend one day setting up your profiles and one hour per week responding.
Next, be sure to include the exact keywords you see in the job details on your C.V. or letter of application. C.V. scanners are typically used to scan resumes that will be reviewed and those scanners work much like a Google search. The closer the keywords match the job posting, the more likely it is that your details will pop up.
Finally, you will need to follow up to make sure they have received your CV (unless the posting specifically asked you NOT to follow up). Allow five business days after you posted for the job and call or email the human resources department. The goal of the first follow up is just to make sure your application was received and to ask about the hiring process. If you can’t find a contact name, do a search on Linked In for someone in that organisation, preferably in the department you want to work in and follow up that way. Continue to follow up until you either get an interview or are told that you have been screened out.
Remember that although job sites can be helpful in the job search, don’t spend too much time on them and be mindful of the work that they require for each opportunity that comes from them. A listing is not an opportunity until someone expresses an active interest in you. If you periodically check the number of opportunities arising from your job site efforts, and appropriately manage the time that you spend working on them, you can keep them a positive resource for your search.
Remember networking still accounts for approximately 80% of all jobs filled! Whatever your job search methods, Job Prospector gives you unmatched convenience, flexibility and security. It is a powerful tool that will help you to take control of all your job search activities, manage your connections and network and spend time on what matters!
Take a look at www.codepro.co.uk
Good luck with your Job Search

Job Hunting – Have you got a system?

Let’s face it, the old ways of managing a job search using a binder or even a spreadsheet just will not work in today’s environment. Post it notes also leave a lot to be desired! There is too much information online, too many ways to connect to jobs, companies, and people, to master your job search using out-of-date tools.

The complexity is in the breadth of the five things that you need to organise for a modern job search:

• Activities: Tasks or To-Do items, meetings and follow-up.
• Contacts: Networking and relationships.
• Documents: Everything from CV’s, Application forms, all your personal data and Cover letters to research and tips.
• Vacancies themselves.
• Organisations: Companies, social organisations, schools, and other groups that people belong to. Tracking these are critical for you to expand your universe of available jobs.

In addition, you need a system to keep track of your search overall. Your system needs to help you track those opportunities that you have applied for or enquired about without spending a lot of time on them. Until you get a response. Then you need somewhere you can store all your useful research on the company.
At the same time that you are responding to vacancies, you should pursue a targeted approach–focused on a set of companies, or people you want to work with, or a specific type of job. For this part of your search, you need to be sifting and sorting a lot of information to figure out how and where to present your skills and abilities at their best. Later, when you identify an opportunity, you need to make this research instantly useful.

When you do make applications you need an easy way to keep track of what you have sent to whom and when. You also need a way of keeping track of interview and follow up dates to make sure you never miss out.

An automated system can do all this for you, and do them well. Take a step forward with your job search today and download Job Prospector from www.codepro.co.uk

It has been designed to make your life easier and will help you to get an advantage!

Good luck

Project Positive Expectations

Words are powerful because they shape our thoughts, determine our actions, and chart the course of our lives. This is true whether the words are positive, giving hope and encouragement, or negative utterances that steal our joy and confidence.

Wherever we are in our lives, personal relationships, or careers, the words we have used consistently are partly responsible. Think about the words you use in your job applications or during important meetings or interviews. We need to be aware of the power our words have on a subconscious level

This fact should prompt us to become more aware of our words, and when needed, to change them so that we can begin to get the results we really desire.

So today I’ll share some thoughts on how to project positive expectations and say what you mean more of the time.
Project positive expectations:
I’ll be glad to….. instead of I’ll have to…..
I will… instead of I’ll try to….
I want to…. instead of I’d hate to…..
I can…. instead of I can’t….
Challenge instead of Problem
Opportunity instead of Difficulty
And instead of But
I Choose to instead of I should or I have to

Give credit where it’s due
— Stop making excuses and apologising for some imagined shortcoming. Either change it or forget it.
— You’re not “Just” or “Only” anything. Describe yourself, your beliefs, your accomplishments positively and proudly...I am …..I can…..I will…..!!!
Tell the truth & Keep to your agreements/promises
When everything you say is honest, there’s no need to warn anyone that you’re about to tell the truth. Get rid of expressions such as “To tell the truth….” “To be perfectly honest….” “ I have to say….”
Say “No” when you mean no and “Yes” when you mean “Yes”
When you tell the truth, people respect you…...When you do what you will say you will do, people trust you……..When you do this consistently, people like you!
Whenever you make a mistake admit it readily and say you are sorry.
Listen attentively
What a person is saying is important to them. To give less than your full attention shows lack of respect for that person’s view.
If we concentrate fully on the speaker, we also ‘listen’ to the unspoken message. We listen on two levels; firstly to the content—the words used—and secondly to the non-verbal signals sent out by the speaker, picking up clues from the gestures and facial expressions.
A good listener encourages effective communication. Effective listening is an essential factor in building relationships.
Never TRY
I don't know about you, but each time someone has said these words to me, or the few times that I have used them in conversations with others, whatever the subject of "I'll try" was, rarely, if ever, got done. Replace "I'll try" with "I will." Either do it or don’t....trying will get you nowhere!

Hope these have given you food for thought!

Job hunting tips with Job Prospector

Job hunting can be emotionally exhausting, especially if the search lasts for a long time. You can improve your chances of finding a job by getting yourself organised and doing something every day to find out about vacancies and potential employers. You can also caste a wide net, polish up your CV and practise your interview technique. There are various government and private agencies that can help you. For example, JobCentre Plus or A4e offer education, training and career information.
We’ve created Job Prospector to help you organise your job search activities and keep on track. It is an easy to use computer program that will help you to get the advantage.

Where to look for jobs
Jobs are listed in many different media. Sometimes, just spreading the word that you’re looking for work can get you an interview or two. Other suggestions include:
• Newspapers
• Trade magazines and newspapers
• Internet job-search websites
• JobCentre Plus offices and on line
• Recruitment firms
• Network with colleagues in the industry
• Join professional organisations
• Attend public conferences and workshops in your field
• Volunteer work in your chosen field may get your foot in the door, or at least broaden your network.
Using Job Prospector will help you keep the details on all potential vacancies, employers and agencies you are interested in. You can store all the information you gather in one place and find it all easily when you need it.
CV suggestions
Estimates suggest that prospective employers will spend between 10 seconds and two minutes looking at your CV before deciding whether or not they want to interview you. Make sure it grabs their attention and demands a second look. Suggestions include:
• If possible, tailor your CV to fit the particular job.
• Remember that a CV is only a summary, not a full-blown account of your every career move. Keep it brief - three pages is more than enough detail.
• Include basic information (such as full name, address, telephone number and other contact details) on the top of the first page.
• Next, list your educational qualifications, starting from the most recent and working backwards.
• Then, list your employment history, once again starting from the most recent. Include position, company and length of employment.
• For each previous job, only list pertinent and interesting details. Don’t just retype your job description - write about your accomplishments.
• Include specific information if you can. Use numbers and figures. For example, instead of saying ‘raised funds for projects’, put ‘raised over £100,000 per annum’; rather than ‘supervisory position’, write ‘supervision of 25 people’.
• Explain any gaps in employment history, if you have them. For example, you may have taken time off to travel or further your education.
• Consider including a summary paragraph of your work skills.
• Include any other skills that may be relevant such as first aid training, a forklift licence or typing ability.
• Include industry awards.
• Include references or contact details for referees.
• Avoid using gags or novelty tactics to flag attention to your resume. Always type your resume on white A4 paper, and don’t include little gifts or send your resume in unusual packaging. These tactics are just annoying.
• Attach a short, to-the-point and professional cover letter. Include a summary paragraph to sell your experience and qualifications.
Once you’ve completed the Personal details section of Job Prospector you can use it as a CV builder. Copy and paste relevant information into your CV and keep a record of what you have sent to who by logging every application in the applications section.
Job interview suggestions
Your CV impressed a potential employer, and now you have an interview. Suggestions include:
• Research the company or organisation. Be familiar with its products and goals.
• Think about what you want to say in the interview. Imagine the kind of questions you might be asked, and rehearse a few answers.
• Prepare questions of your own. For example, you could ask them to tell you about the working environment.
• Dress conservatively and in a business-like fashion.
• Make sure your personal grooming (such as fingernails and hair) is up to scratch.
• Arrive on time.
• Try to be polite, positive and friendly to everyone you meet during the job interview.
• Don’t use slang or swear words.
• Display positive body language - such as good posture, firm handshake, relaxed smile and make eye contact - these can make a great first impression.
• Don’t say anything negative about previous employers.
• Let the interviewer take the lead. Don’t try to control the conversation.
• Avoid talking about salary and employee benefits too early.
You can record notes on the interview in Job Prospector and this will help you to improve your approach and learn from your experience.
Keeping up your morale
It is important to approach every interview with confidence because a defeated attitude won’t impress a prospective employer. However, job hunting can be difficult and sometimes demoralising. Suggestions on how to keep up your spirits include:
• Look after yourself. Eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and get plenty of rest.
• Consider limiting your job hunting to certain days of the week, leaving the other days free for hobbies, personal interests and other rewarding pursuits.
• Remind yourself of the positive efforts you are making.
• Seek support from family and friends.
Using Job Prospector means you can keep track of all your activities and track your progress. This will help you to feel organised and confident in your approach. The most important thing is to keep on keeping on until we find the perfect job.
Take a look at www.codepro.co.uk – we wish you success!

Don’t worry…..be happy!

With the recent news about more people becoming unemployed or under threat of redundancy; the media delighting in sharing bad news stories and tales of doom and gloom it’s easy to lose our perspective and get depressed.
I’d like to share some thoughts today on staying happy and being happy in your life no matter what!
Are you truly happy? Do you even know what it means to be happy and what it takes to achieve happiness? These are important questions for anyone who is seeking happiness to ask themselves. If you want to be happy you need to understand that you can be happy and that you should be happy. Many people make the mistake of believing that they don’t deserve happiness and accept their unhappy state as their destiny. The truth of the matter is that happiness, like anything else in life, needs to be nurtured. The following are a few tips that I hope will help you to look on the bright side of life!
• Understand what it is that will make you happy. What makes one person happy may be very different from what makes someone else happy. Revel in your individuality and do not worry about whether or not your desires are comparable to those of your peers.
• Make a plan for attaining goals that you believe will make you happy. Your mood will very likely increase as your pursue your goal because you will feel better about yourself for going after something you value.
• Surround yourself with happy people. It is easy to begin to think negatively when you are surrounded by people who think that way. Conversely, if you are around people who are happy their emotional state will be infectious.
• When something goes wrong try to figure out a solution instead of wallowing in self pity. Truly happy people don’t allow set backs to affect their mood because they know that with a little thought they can turn the circumstances back to their favour. If what you are doing isn’t working, do something else!
• Spend a few minutes each day thinking about the things that make you happy. These few minutes will give you the opportunity to focus on the positive things in your life and will lead you to continued happiness.
• It’s also important to take some time each day to do something nice for yourself. Whether you treat yourself to lunch, take a long, relaxing bath or simply spend a few extra minutes on your appearance you will be subconsciously putting yourself in a better mood.
• Finding the humour in situations can also lead to happiness. While there are times that require you to be serious, when it is appropriate, find a way to make light of a situation that would otherwise make you unhappy.
• Maintaining your health is another way to achieve happiness. Eating a healthy diet and doing 20 minutes of exercise a day has been known to release endorphins that give you a feeling of happiness.
• Finally, it is important to understand that you deserve happiness. Those who believe that they are not worthy of happiness may subconsciously sabotage their efforts to achieve happiness. If necessary, tell yourself each day that you deserve to be happy and remind yourself what steps you will take to achieve the happiness you desire.
If you are under threat of redundancy or have become unemployed things can look quite gloomy and it can be hard to stay happy and positive. That is why we created and launched Job Prospector, because it will help you to manage all your job search activities and put you in control of your job hunting. It’s an easy to use computer program and you can be up and running in minutes. Take a look at www.codepro.co.uk and if you want more information please do get in touch.
Wishing you lasting happiness!

Get back to work with Job Prospector

If you are unemployed or facing redundancy Job Prospector could help you.

With the news that one in ten households in the UK have someone unemployed, CodePro is making people’s lives easier and helping people get back to work with Job Prospector a new computer program which helps people to organise and manage their job search activities.

Even during normal economic times, job hunting is a gruelling and exhausting for people. With the unemployment figures due out any day and economists predicting that it is likely to hit 3 million this year in the UK, more and more workers are growing increasingly concerned over the security of their jobs. Competition for jobs is fierce and job seekers need to get every advantage to achieve success.

Job Prospector is the first personal employment information management system for job seekers to download to their own PC. CodePro are also providing free How To guides from their website to help users make the most of the program. Because Job Prospector is downloaded to your own computer, your information is safe from identity theft and the comprehensive personal details section will be useful long after you have found a job!

The main attraction for job seekers is that Job Prospector is easy to use and enables them to get organised and save lots of time when dealing with all the different agencies and job sources they may be using. They can also print off an activities report as proof of job search for claims purposes. Just getting everything organised helps people to feel more confident and in control and this can help them to make better applications and perform better at interview.

Individuals can download Job Prospector now from www.codepro.co.uk

Whatever doesn’t kill us makes us stronger! (Nietzsche)

Summoning up confidence and courage isn’t impossible, if the Cowardly Lion from Oz can do it, so can you!
Dastardly things can happen when you are looking for a job. One of our clients, attending their first interview after being made redundant 4 months ago, was asked why it had taken so long to get an interview! They felt good up until then! They had not thought about how others would judge them because they had taken a break, they certainly had not thought it would make them look bad!
There is nothing like having doubts imposed on you by others and searching for a job means exposing ourselves to the views, judgements and opinions of others. The news and the media also delight in spreading doom and gloom and work tirelessly to paint the unemployed as some disadvantaged and different group of people. Keeping your individuality and rising above the opinions, judgements and views of others can be a real challenge.
Confidence can be sorely tested if you receive lots of “We’ll keep your details on file” type letters, but this happens, in all walks of life, even to the most successful. The Chicken Soup for the Soul books refer to many successes such as Walt Disney, Margaret Mitchell and Norman Vincent Peale (the father of positive thinking), who all faced rejection, debt and even bankruptcy before their books or ideas were finally successful.
Most people think they need to feel confident in order to go out and get a job, but it actually works the other way round. To do something well you have to practice and that is how you get confident. You just have to “fake it till you make it” and view each interview and speculative phone call as another step on the road to success. Every application you make will generate feedaback, you can assess your approach and note down the feedback you get and this will help you to adapt your approach in future. If what you are doing is not working, try something else!
That’s why we created Job Prospector, Lionel and I have both faced many challenges in our lives and many times when our confidence has been knocked. We’ve learnt that being organised and feeling in control helps us to keep moving forward. Job Prospector gives users an advantage because it helps them to take a proactive approach to their job seeking and it enables them to manage all the information that an active job seeker generates.
You can also try doing something every day towards securing your perfect job, make one application, read a book, learn a new skill, do some research, revisit your C.V make a few speculative phone calls. Whatever you do will move you one step closer.
We wish you luck with your Job search and hope that Job Prospector helps you to keep your confidence high – to find out more visit www.codepro.co.uk

The Ten Commandments for Simplifying Your Life

Today I woke up after a restless sleep with lots on my mind, far too much to share here, and probably not of interest to anyone but me! I then remembered some commandments I used on a Personal Development course a while ago and looked them up.

I think it’s appropriate to share them although I don’t know where they came from or who originated them – I think they are wonderful and reading them through reminds me to focus on the present and deal with everything as it happens rather than worrying about it. A good way to start the day I hope!

So here they are ............

1. Thou shalt not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities

2. Thou shalt not be fearful for most of the things we fear never come to pass

3. Thou shalt not cross bridges before you get to them for no one yet has succeeded in accomplishing this

4. Thou shalt face each problem as it comes, for you can handle only one at a time anyway

5. Thou shalt not become bogged down by frustration and self-pity, for they drain the life out of you ….

6. Thou shalt not borrow other peoples’ problems, for they can take better care of them than you can

7. Thou shalt not try to relive yesterday for good or ill – it is gone

8. Thou shalt count thy blessings, never overlooking small ones, for a lot of tiny blessings add up to a very big one

9. Thou shalt be a good listener, for only when you listen do you hear ideas different from your own

10. Thou shalt not take problems to bed with you for they make very poor bedfellows

When we are under pressure, or worrying about the future it is easy to forget these golden rules. If you are unemployed or under threat of redundancy it’s easy to forget all the good things in your life. Job Prospector was designed to give you an advantage by helping you to organise all your job search information and have a proactive approach to your job hunting. We hope it helps you to find your perfect job. Download it now from www.codepro.co.uk

Make your job search easier with Job Prospector from CodePro.

Even during normal economic times, job hunting is a gruelling and exhausting process. The current economic crisis and the shrinking job market make the process much harder and longer. A new Exeter Business, CodePro is trying to make people’s lives easier. The new computer program Job Prospector helps people to organise their job search activities and keep track of what they have sent to who and when.
Most job search programmes are linked to job search sites and involve uploading personal information to the internet and cross referencing a CV against all the jobs available. Job Prospector is not a job search programme, it is the first personal employment information management system to be available for individuals to download to their own PC and use to get an advantage. CodePro are also providing free How To guides from their website to help users make the most of the program.
The main attraction for job seekers is that Job Prospector is easy to use and enables them to get organised and save lots of time when dealing with all the different agencies and job sources they may be using, they can also print off an activities report as proof of job search. Just getting everything organised helps people to feel more confident and in control and this can help them to make better applications and perform better at interview. Because Job Prospector is downloaded on to the users own computer all their personal information is also safe from identity theft and the comprehensive personal details section will be useful long after they have found a job!
CodePro can also help to ease the trauma of being made redundant by establishing partnerships with businesses that are in a redundancy situation. This means that the company can purchase Job Prospector at a significantly reduced price and issue it to all the staff under threat of redundancy. The Directors are also working to establish partnerships with the JobCentre Plus, the Connexions Service, A4e and the Shaw trust to provide Job Prospector for their job ready clients.
Individuals can download Job Prospector from www.codepro.co.uk price £20 plus VAT.
About CodePro Limited
When the two partners Lionel Potter and Julie Seddon formed CodePro in January they wanted to create advanced software solutions made simple for the home user. Their mission is to make people’s lives easier. Job Prospector is their first program. The idea for it came after Lionel, a senior analyst programmer with over 20 years experience, had been made redundant several times and created a version of the software for his personal use. He found it so helpful he decided to create it for other users. He was supported by Julie who spent the first 10 years of her career in Job Centres during the 1970’s and 80’s when unemployment was even higher than it is now. Together the Directors have a combined 30 years experience in Software development, Management, Training and Development, a wealth of knowledge and expertise and a shared commitment to making people’s lives easier.
---CONTACT--- Julie Seddon
CodePro Ltd T.01392 435257 M.07917 302324
Email: Julie@codepro.co.uk Web: www.codepro.co.uk

Keep your drive and personal energy alive!

Doing things because we should do, ought to or must do can make life a chore and we can become a victim of our circumstances. Lacking purpose can sap our drive and energy. This morning I want to reflect on what I need to do to live a more purposeful life by choosing to want to do things then accepting in good spirit the things I have chosen to do.

This is easier said than done when a day can begin with a list of “have to’s”

Having time without energy is like having a car that has run out of fuel. Perhaps we have enthusiastically set out to exercise more but when it comes to it we can’t find the energy. Or maybe we find it difficult to summon up the energy to have a meaningful conversation with our loved ones, play with our children or maintain the drive to achieve our ambitions at work. Our state of mind and physiology effects our drive and energy, determines our response to others and has a significant impact on our long term health. It can be difficult to interact effectively with other people when we are feeling down, anxious or lacking in self-belief.

I’ve been asked many times the secret for ‘keeping my battery charged’ and strengthening my resilience. Many clients have wanted to learn how to use their physiology and frame of mind to charge up their batteries and how to take control of the negative drains on their energy levels like stress, worry and conflict. In my experience it’s about using a wide variety of tools and techniques and these can be boiled down into 3 main areas.......Tenacity, Action and Optimism.

Tenacity - is about being responsible for everything that is going on in your life and holding fast to your rights and principles. My Drive and Energy come from feeling good about myself and what I am doing. Being able to look in the mirror and like what you see! Whatever happens in my life I ask myself “How am I responsible?” I create my own reality so it’s important that I take responsibility for it, even if it’s not quite what I want! At least then I am in a position to do something about it.

Feeling powerless or holding a victim mentality, failing to keep your agreements and integrity will all SAP your Energy.

True integrity is based on consistently keeping your Agreements. Every day you make agreements and every day you will be judged by others on the way you act after making those agreements. There is no such thing as a small agreement. Simply by maintaining your integrity you will stand out from the crowd …………..

When you always tell the truth – people trust you

When you do what you agree to, as promised, people respect you

When you make others feel special, people like you

Action – is just what it is. Do nothing and you get nothing. The world rewards action. Action creates movement, movement creates change, change presents challenges, challenges can be overcome. It is continuous cycle.Building habits that keep you healthy and happy, reading that book you meant to, doing that exercise class, taking that walk. Getting rid of unhealthy habits that drag you down and sap your energy such as moping about, watching depressing TV, mixing with negative people. All of these are choices and if they are choices you have the power to change them.

When I feel myself slipping into lethargy and negativity, just taking action, doing something different....anything! is the single most beneficial thing I can do.

Finally Optimism - it really does pay to be an optimist. The optimist, confronted with a crisis or a critical illness has a better chance of survival than the pessimist. Optimism can be learned and developed just like muscle and it will give you the drive and the energy you need to embrace your amazing future. If you expect the best, you will get it, if you believe that everything is happening perfectly, it probably will, if you have confidence and faith in yourself so will others.

Writing this has reminded me how important these things have been to me over the past few months as we have started our business. Sometimes I have had to strongly resist allowing negativity, pessimism and doubt to invade my mind. If you are unemplyed or looking for a job it is easy to slip into negativity and pessimism. You can keep your drive and energy high by being tenacious, taking action to apply for every suitable job, being optomistic about the future no matter how it looks on the surface and keeping on keeping on! You will eventually find your perfect job. Job Prospector will help you to organise yourself and your applications. You can find out how by visiting my website www.codepro.co.uk.

I wish you success with you day and challenge you to do something different that energises and enthuses you.....keep smiling!

Have a great day!