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!
Monday, 28 September 2009
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
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!
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!
Thursday, 17 September 2009
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!
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!
Monday, 14 September 2009
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
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
Sunday, 13 September 2009
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
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
Thursday, 10 September 2009
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
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
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
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
Sunday, 6 September 2009
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!
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Why have a Vision and Values?
When Lionel and I started CodePro in January, we had a shared vision. Having both been through failed relationships we wanted ours to succeed. As we discovered our shared vision for making people’s lives easier we decided that we owed it to ourselves to give it a go!
Being a leadership, management and Communications trainer, I have always worked to inspire people and help them to achieve their personal and Business goals. Unlikely as it sounds, as a software analyst/programmer, Lionel saw his vision as being solving people’s problems through creating software solutions that were simple and easy to use.
Together we felt we could make a real difference and CodePro was born. 8 months down the road, there have been many challenges and keeping the vision alive and living true to our values has not always been easy. Today I want to reflect on exactly what I need to do to stay on course. I hope my musing may also give you some ideas.
Having a clear vision and purpose enables us to focus on what is most important to us both now and in the future. Having focus enables us to plan and take action to achieve the future we want in line with our purpose in life, this boosts our self esteem and confidence, strengthens our congruence and influence, and makes it more likely that we will achieve what we want.
Living a purposeful life reduces stress, increases energy, creates optimism and happiness. Once our vision and purpose become clearer we can take stock of the current situation and begin to identify priorities and desired changes to create our amazing future.
“The best way to predict the future is to create it”
To stay focused on my Vision and Future I use self-reflection, identifying what is right for me individually and envisioning our future as a Business and as a couple. There are no right or wrong answers, it is what you think that matters and what feels right for you. Free wheel during this, dare to dream and go for more – we are all unique and different and choose to work in different ways!
Whatever I am involved in try to keep my Vision and Values in mind. Values are the things that matter most to you. Without these things, you would not be you.
Our values help us make choices about what we commit to in our lives. If you commit time and energy to something that violates or neglects one of your core values, you will most likely feel resentful and frustrated. If you do not honour your values in your activities and relationships, you will begin to get a nagging feeling that something is missing or wrong in your life.
While it is enormously helpful to know our core values, it's not always easy to identify them.
I think about what is important to me....really? What do I care about? What do I really want in my life? When do I feel happiest? It can help to elect a time from your personal history when you felt particularly fulfilled. There may have been challenges, but you were on a roll. It may have been a few minutes, or hours, or days. What was important about this experience? What values were you honouring?
What do you react negatively to? What makes you angry or frustrated? Think about one of these things. What value is being violated? What kinds of situations cause you to feel incongruent? When are you not being true to yourself? For each of us, there are usually values that are so much a part of us that we don’t even think to put them on a list. These are often our most dearly held values. A teacher might fail to include learning, an artist might forget to write down creativity, a business owner might overlook financial success.
Often these things are so much a part of who we are, that they become invisible to us.
Reflecting on my Vision and Values is helping me to stay focused on what’s important. When we are under stress it is so easy to lose perspective and forget what is most important in our lives.
CodePro and Job Prospector are my passion – I want it to work, I want Job Prospector to help make the lives of millions of people easier by helping them to organise their job search and find a job and career stability and I will focus all my energy into achieving this – however underlying it all I want to be happy and content in my life and that means remembering what is most important – loved ones, family and friends.
I wish you all the best in whatever you do today and hope I’ve got you thinking about what is really important to you!
Have a great day.
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