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Southwest MN Private Industry Council 202 North 1st

Street, Suite #100, Montevideo, MN 56265 www.swmnpic.org lchristian@swmnpic.org 320.269.5561 Toll Free 800-422-1346

JOB SEEKER NEWS

Whether you are buried in debt, have met with hard times or have a fixed income, living on a tight budget can be difficult. Yet, for many, the reality of frugal living is not as bad as it may seem. In fact, it is somewhat trendy and earth conscious. Tight budget life for low-income individuals poses additional challenges, but as long as you have enough money to meet essential costs of living, it is doable.

Instructions: 1) Determine your positive financial goals for living on a tight budget and write them down. As you cement the positive reasons for financial sacrifice this helps improve your perspective on material losses. Rather than focus on the negative (say to "Pay off the IRS") articulate goals in a positive way, such as "Gain freedom from financial worry." 2) You don't have to be mechanically inclined to do small repairs. Learn basic do-it-yourself (DIY) maintenance. Many items can be fixed with a simple screwdriver or a bit of super glue and a dose of patience. 3) Rethink new uses for old items or experiment with craft work. Rather than live with ugly, worn-out materials, consider new paint or fabrics to improve an item's look. 4) Spend less on consumables. Clip coupons and look for sale items when shopping for groceries and toiletries, save

How to Live Better on a Tight Budget

TEN (MAKE THAT 15) COMMANDMENTS OF KEEPING YOUR JOB

(This first appeared in Texas Business Today, 2nd/3rd Quarters 1998 issue. Since then, it has appeared on a lot of company bulletin boards and employee break room walls. The last five are new for 2010.) 1) Be on time, whether it is with showing up for work, returning from breaks, going to meetings, or turning in assignments. 2) Call in if you know you will be tardy or absent. Most companies treat absences or tardiness without notice much more seriously than simple absence or tardiness. 3) Try your best; always finish an assignment, no matter how much you would rather be doing something else. It is always good to have something to show for the time you have spent. 4) Anticipate problems and needs of management - your bosses will be grateful, even if they do not show it. 5) Show a positive attitude - no one wants to be around someone

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

How to Live Better on a Tight Budget 1 Commandments of Keeping your Job 1 Hunger Solutions Minnesota 2 How to Make Your Resume Stand Out 2 Healthy Eating Tips-20 Secrets 3 What Not to Wear to the Interview 3 Job Search Workshops 4 Local Events 5

on utilities by turning off unnecessary lights and appliances and watching your heating settings, and save on gasoline by walking more. Use the savings toward your budget goals. 5) Explore sources for nearly new clothing and household goods. Great bargains can be found at consignment shops, thrift stores, garage sales and online auctions. Some items you will never miss paying full price for. Note too that not all dollar stores are created equal. 6) Decorate your surroundings. Budget living does not need to be depressing. Add inexpensive decorations such as candles, throw rugs or new towels to uplift your home and spirits. 7) Reward yourself at least once a month with about 10 to 15 percent of the savings generated. This helps keep you motivated and breaks up long stretches of penny-pinching.

who is a "downer". 6) Avoid backstabbing, office gossip, and spreading rumors - remember, what goes around comes around - joining in the office gossip may seem like the easy thing to do, but almost everyone has much more respect - and trust - for people who do not spread stories around. 7) Follow the rules. The rules are there to give the greatest number of people the best chance of working together well and getting the job done. 8) Look for opportunities to serve customers and help coworkers. Those who would be leaders must learn how to serve. 9) Avoid the impulse to criticize your boss or the company. It is easy to find things wrong with others - it is much harder, but more rewarding, to find constructive ways to deal with problems. Employees who are known for their good attitude and helpful suggestions are the ones most often remembered at performance evaluation and raise review time. 10) Volunteer for training and new assignments. Take a close look

at people in your organization who are "moving up" - chances are,

3 / 1 8 / 2 0 1 1

V o l u m e 1 , I s s u e 1

Please see …..Commandments…. on page 4

By: D Porter, eHow Member

Page 2

Job Seeker News

The Minnesota Food HelpLine, a program of Hunger Solutions Minnesota, helps families and individuals across the state get

connected with the food resources that they need.

The HelpLine accepts calls Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm and provides Minnesotans with a variety of food

help options - including eligibility screenings for Food Support ("food stamps"), information on how to apply for food

assistance programs, and details about local food shelves and meal programs.

TTY and language interpretation services are available.

1-888-711-1151

www.hungersolutions.org

Hunger Solutions MN

For job seekers seeking to repeat his success of having their own resume go viral, or just looking for some advice from the brains behind this resume, here's Spurlock's advice (paraphrased): (1) MAKE IT YOU: You have to put a little bit of yourself into everything you produce. Listen to professors, people giving feedback, but at the end of the day you have to live with the work you produce. (2) CONSIDER WHERE YOU'RE APPLYING: A resume like that isn't for everyone and not for every position even, but be creative and if they don't like it, you probably wouldn't want to work there anyway.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR RESUME STAND OUT: 5 TIPS FROM CHRIS SPURLOCK

This is Chris Spurlock’s “viral” resume, it first appeared on

the Huffington Post, and now you can find it on social media

sites.

(3) HAVE FUN: At the end of the day, I was just doodling on my laptop, it's something I enjoy. Have a fun feel to it and don't take yourself too seriously, but also do it in a way so you're seen as professional. (4) SHARE WITH OTHERS: Don't be afraid to push your work out there before it's finished. It's a great way to get feedback and there's no harm in asking for help. (5) REACT TO CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM: Whether you're 20 or 75, you always have something to learn. Even though criticism is hard to hear, there's always something to make it better. See what people think to do just that. And that last piece of advice is really key. As his piece has gone viral, with hundreds of tweets, Facebook shares, and Facebook "likes," and several thousand page views, Spurlock has gotten no shortage of criticism. He's taken that in stride. "At first I told myself I wouldn't go through it all," he said of the criticism. "But then I thought, that's the only way you can improve yourself. That's when you can learn more about yourself, looking past that excitement and taking in that constructive criticism." Smart guy. He will find a job, and soon, I'm sure.

Posted by: Craig KannallyTraffic & Trends Editor for the Huffington Post

“The successful person makes a habit

of doing what the failing person doesn't

like to do.”

~Thomas Edison~

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Job Seeker News Page 3

Healthy Eating Tips: 20 Best-Kept Nutrition Secrets

Drink a Second Cup of Coffee It might lower your risk of adult-onset diabetes, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Keep Serving Dishes off the Table Researchers have found that when people are served individual plates, as opposed to empty plates with a platter of food in the middle of the table, they eat up to 35 percent less!

Think Before You Drink The average person drinks more than 400 calories a day—double what he or she used to—and alone gets around 10 teaspoons of added sugar every single day from soft drinks. Swap out sweetened teas and sodas for no-sugar added drinks.

Practice Total Recall British scientists found that people who thought about their last meal before snacking ate 30 percent fewer calories that those who didn't stop to think. Eat Protein at Every Meal Dieters who eat the most protein tend to lose more weight while feeling less deprived than those who eat the least protein. It appears that protein is the best nutrient for jump-starting your metabolism & squashing your appetite.

What Not to Wear to the Interview

10 Interview Fashion Blunders

Any article about what to wear to an interview might well begin with a qualifying statement covering the extremes in various states (New York and California, for example) and industries (technology, manufacturing), which are possible exceptions to the normal rules of fashion. But it might surprise you to learn that those extremes have, over the last couple of years, begun to move closer to the middle ground. Nowadays, if you were to ask 100 people their opinion about what to wear to an interview, the majority would answer, "Dress on the conservative side." With that in mind, here are some suggestions on how to avoid fashion blunders.

Anna Soo Wildermuth, an image consultant and past president of the Association of Image Consultants International, says, "Clothes should be a part of who you are and should not be noticed." She cites 10 dressing faux pas to avoid when interview time comes around:

Choose Whole-grain Bread Eating whole grains (versus refined-grain or white bread) has been linked to lower risks of cancer and heart disease.

Think Fish Consuming two 4- to 6-ounce servings of oily fish a week will sharpen your mind. Among the best: salmon, tuna, herring, mackerel, and trout. They're high in DHA, which may reduce your risk of Alzheimer's.

Cut Portions by a Quarter Pennsylvania State University researchers discovered that by simply reducing meal portions 25 percent, people ate 10 percent fewer calories—without feeling any hungrier. Serving yourself? Think about what looks like a reasonable portion, then take at least one-quarter less than that. (By the way, studies show today's restaurant servings are 2 to 5 times bigger than what the government recommends!)

Turn off the TV Scientists at the University of Massachusetts found that people who watch TV during a meal consume, on average, 288 more calories than those who don't eat with the tube on.

Wild Nail Polish: This tip is for women or men. Extremely long or uncut nails are a real turnoff, too. Your nails should be groomed and neat.

Jangly Jewelry: Don't wear more than two rings per hand or one earring per ear. And no face jewelry or ankle bracelets allowed.

Open-Toed or Backless Shoes: And mules are a definite no-no. Out-of-date shoes should be thrown out or kept for other occasions. Bare Legs: Wear stockings, even in humid summer weather. Stockings can be in neutral colors or a fashion color to match your shoes. Short Skirts: Hemlines should not be more than three inches above the knee. Don't wear capri pants or leggings to the interview.

See What not to Wear …..Page 5

Continued on

By: David Zinczenko MEN’S Health

By Carole Martin, Monster Contributing Writer

See Healthy Eating P. 4

Page 4

Job Seeker News

they are the ones who have shown themselves in the past to be willing to do undesirable assignments or take on new duties. 11) Avoid the temptation to criticize your company, coworkers, or customers on the Internet. Social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and blogs offer many opportunities to spout off – remember that anyone in the world can find what you put online and that employers can take action against any employee whose online actions hurt the company or its business in some way. 12) Be a good team member. Constantly focusing on what makes you different from others, instead of how you fit into the company team, makes you look like someone who puts themselves first, instead of the customer, the team, or the company. 13) Try to avoid ever saying "that’s not my job". Many, if not most, managers earned their positions by doing work turned down by coworkers who were in the habit of saying that, and they appreciate employees who help get the job done, whatever it is. 14) Show pride in yourself and respect toward others. Never let yourself be heard uttering minority-related slurs or other derogatory terms in reference to yourself or to others. Use of such terms perpetuates undesirable stereotypes and inevitably disturbs others. It also tends to make others doubt your maturity and competence. The best way to get respect is to show respect toward yourself and others. 15) Distinguish yourself. Pick out one or more things in your job to do better than anyone else. Become known as the "go-to" person for such things. That will help managers remember you favorably at times when you really need to be remembered.

DOES YOUR JOB SEARCH NEED A TIME OUT? SW MN Private Industry Council Presents:

Weekly Workshops

Every Wednesday 1-3 PM Free Everyone and Anyone Welcome!

1

st Wednesday: Applications *Online and paper

2

nd Wednesday: Write a winning resume! *New resumes

trends

3rd

Wednesday: Interviews *Tips and Suggestions

4th

Wednesday: Financial Education *Good & bad credit

At the Montevideo Workforce Center!

……Commandments continued from page 1 ……..Healthy Eating continued from page 3…….

Put Your Fork Down When You Chew Or take a sip of water between each bite—eating slowly can boost levels of two hormones that make you feel fuller, Greek researchers found.

Eat a Handful of Fruit and Vegetables a Day In one study, people who ate four or five servings scored higher on cognitive tests than those who consumed less than one serving. (Remember: Salad isn't always the healthy choice.)

Sip Green Tea It might help you build a strong skeleton, say researchers in China, and help protect you from broken bones when you're older. And one study found that it helps fight bad breath, too.

Work Out Before Lunch or Dinner Doing so will make the meals you eat right afterward more filling, according to British researchers—meaning you'll eat fewer calories throughout the day.

Hung Over? Choose Asparagus When South Korean researchers exposed a group of human liver cells to asparagus extract, it suppressed free radicals and more than doubled the activity of two enzymes that metabolize alcohol. That means you'll feel like yourself again twice as quickly.

Discover Miso Soup Brown wakame seaweed (used in miso soup) can help lower your blood pressure, especially if your levels are already high, say researchers at the University of North Carolina.

Drink Two Glasses of Milk Daily People who drink the most milk have about a 16 percent lower risk of heart disease than people who drink the least. (I recommend nonfat or 1 percent milk.)

Go Ahead, Eat Your Favorite Foods Good eating doesn't need to be about deprivation—it's about making smart choices. Why eat a 1,000-calorie cheeseburger if a 500-calorie burger will satisfy you just the same? The bottom line: Eat foods that you enjoy, just not too much of them.

Choose Foods with the Fewest Ingredients There are now more than 3,000 ingredients on the FDA's list of safe food additives—and any of these preservatives, artificial sweeteners and colorings and flavor enhancers could end up on your plate. Do you really know what these chemicals will do to your waistline or health? Of course not. Here's a rule of thumb: If a 7-year-old can't pronounce it, you don't want to eat it.

Scramble Your Breakfast People who ate eggs in the morning instead of a bagel consumed 264 fewer calories the rest of the day, according to a Saint Louis University study. That's because protein is more filling than carbs.

A healthier “you” means less sick days at work!

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What not to wear……Cont. from page 3

Out-of-Date Suits: These have lapels that are too wide (three inches or more) or too narrow (one inch or less). A good tailor can alter lapels. The style for men's jackets is full-body and looser rather than fitted or tight. Leather Jackets for Men or Women: Even leather blazers are not good for interviewing purposes. They look like outerwear. Turtlenecks for Men: A tie is preferable, at least in the first go-round. At the very least, wear a collared shirt. Printed or Trendy Handbags: Purses should be conservative and inconspicuous. Red Briefcases: Briefcases, purses and shoes should all be conservative in color and in good condition. Conservative colors in various shades of blue and gray are best. Wearing black to the interview could be viewed as too serious. If you do wear black, make sure another color is near your face to soften the look. Brown is still considered questionable as a business color and probably should be avoided. Change your outfit's look for a second interview by wearing a different color blouse, shirt, scarf or tie. An interview is not the place to make a fashion statement, though those in the arts/design field and the very famous can be more adventurous. Everyone else should opt for a conservative look. "More and more companies are returning to traditional professional dress," Wildermuth says. Whatever you wear should accent the fact that you're a professional who's ready to get to work at a new job. Let common sense guide you and it should be easy to avoid fashion blunders that could damage your chances of getting to the next step in the process. In this market, it is essential that you look good and your appearance is right for the job.

“You are surrounded by simple, obvious solutions that

can dramatically increase your income, power, influence

and success. The problem is, you just don't see them.”

~Jay Abraham~

WEST CENTRAL

MINNESOTA AREA BUSINESS EXPO

JOB FAIR Meet the Area’s Top

Human Resource Director’s, Business

Owners, Manufacturers, & Employment Services Tuesday, March 29th,

2011 2PM-6PM At the Willmar Holiday Inn Conference Center

Page 6

Job Seeker News

Southwest MN Private

Industry Council

202 N 1st St. Suite 100

Montevideo, MN 56265

Phone:

320.269.5561

1.800.422.1346

Fax:

320.269.5696

Southwest MN Private

Industry Council

318 9th Street

PO Box 816

Worthington, MN 56187

Phone:

507.376.3116

1.800.234.3708

Fax:

507.376.3630

Southwest MN Private

Industry Council

Lyon County

Courthouse

607 West Main

Marshall, MN 56258

Phone:

507.537.6236

1.800.818.9295

Fax:

507.537.6362

Marshall Area Office

Worthington Area Office

Montevideo Area Office