Some words for my children

 

 

There are no small jobs, only small people.

 

 

Ones value is not measured by wealth, fame or position. 

It is measured by character.

 

 

We have character when we become our word and display honesty, integrity, and compassion.

 

 

Have courage to challenge everything in the face of adversity. 

Do not accept the status quo.

 

 

Yield your pride only to humility. 

Only the humble learn from their misfortune.

 

 

Fear nothing but the lack of understanding. 

Seek knowledge of all things before you act on it.

 

 

Be gracious to all in need. 

A day shall come when you may be the one in need.

 

 

Meet despair with generosity. 

We are always nobler when we give more than we receive.

 

 

Respect all faiths and points of view. 

Mutual respect is the foundation of communication.

 

Avoid vulgarity, laziness, and pettiness. 

These are only the qualities of small people.

 

 

Dwell not on past mistakes, but rather on your current choices. 

For your destiny is made in each of them.

 

 

Know thy self, but serve others.

Spiritual rewards are greater, and last longer than material ones.

 

 

Have a sense of purpose. 

Without it we are like a ship without a rudder, allowing relationships and thoughts to toss us about to no end.

 

Choose your friends wisely, for misery truly loves company.

True friends know you, support you, and lift you up. 

Only Fair weather friends put you down to make them feel better about themselves.

 

 

Happiness is the fulfillment of our passions.

Contentment is the understanding of our limitations. 

Finding both is joyful.

 

 

Anxiety is the product of worry, as sorrow is the product of loss.

A life without either is bland, but too much can be disastrous.

Both are cured through faith.

 

 

Our hearts and minds are as important as our bodies.

Feed them daily with nourishing thoughts, and always remember garbage in gets garbage out.

 

 

Humor and fasting are often the companions of longevity.

Learn to laugh and consume wisely.

 

 

Hard work and persistence will always provide a steady path.

Be diligent in your studies and ambitious in your goals.

Both are necessary to make your dreams true.

 

 

Stress is a devious thief of life.

Beware of those things that bring it into your world.

Then avoid them as if your life depends on it, it does.

 

 

Time is the only element that cannot be replaced.

Spend it wisely, and always allow for meditation and fun. 

 

 

Love all as if they are your children. 

For there is only one planet earth, and we are all children of it.

 

 

 

Paternally, 

James Alan Cole

 

Fair Tax Formula

I HAVE THE ANSWER

If congress truly wants to develop a fair tax code, then they would tie the rates to national median salary. I have devised a simple formula that illustrates how rates could be derived and a few illustrations on how it would be applied.

The formula is as follows:

Median Income of upper economic quartile.

 Median Income of Lower economic quartile.

Median Income of total economic population.

  Personal Tax Rate

  Income Tax Rate

   Personal Income  

In the first part of the formula, it can be easily seen that there are two ways to reduce your income tax rate. First, if the median income of the total economy increases, the denominator becomes larger and therefore the fraction, I call the Median Variable, becomes smaller and reduces the income tax rate. Likewise, if the spread between the upper and lower median quartiles decrease, then the Median Variable would similarly reduce the income tax rate. Therefore, in theory it would be in everyone’s best interest to increase the median salary and reduce the gap between poor and wealthy. In other words, develop the middle class. 

This brings us to the second portion of the formula . Since  , ones salary relationship in respect to the total median income also plays an important role in determining their tax rate and what they are able to contribute toward the overall economy. If one’s income is well below the median, then their tax burden is reduced to allow them more upward mobility. If one’s income is well above the median, then they should be able to contribute somewhat more to allow others to share in their success. 

The only caveat to the formula is when we get into incomes above $370,000 annually and the rate rises above 30%. Thus we should cap the upper tax rate at say 30% on any income made above the calculated rate, which if the Median Variable reduces, and particularly if it reduces due to an increase in the total median income, then the amount of income that is taxable below the 30% cap greatly increases. 

Let me clarify the power of the above formula by offering a few examples. Let’s assume the lower quartile have a median income around the national poverty level for a family of four, or $22,000/year. Now let’s assume the median income of the upper quartile is the mysterious $250,000/year. Finally, let’s assume a figure I recently read was the national median income is accurate at $53,000

Doing the arithmetic we have:

% or $392.85 for someone living at ythe federal poverty line. Although it seems low, you can’t say they are not paying something, and they will most likely place much of their income back into the economy.

Now let’s see what the formula does for someone making the median income:

or $2,280.00 for someone earning median salary. As you see his or her tax burden is more than twice someone in poverty.

Now let’s see what happens to someone earning the median salary in the upper quartile of the economy, or the mysterious $250,000 annual income per individual:

 % or $50,730.00 for someone that is considered wealthy. It might seem high by comparison, but let’s not forget they still have $199,270.00 of spending money as compared to $50,720 and $21,607.00 for the median and poverty earners respectively. Considering all three examples are individuals that benefit from the same public services from our government, security, infrastructure, and so forth, it might seem unfair. But is it?

Let us now look at what happens if you actually increase the median salary because the lower and middle-income brackets start spending more, because they have more, and start improving the economy. Let’s just say the lower median quartile income increases 10% to $24,200, and the national median income moves up to a similar percentage to $58,200 annually.

We now have:

% or $390.39

% or $2,257.99

% or $41,663.25

As you can see, a small 10% increase in the lower and middle median income levels translates to a significant savings for those in the upper income levels.

Obviously the economy expands and contracts so the actual figures will change over time, but the relationships will remain the same. Plus it would be difficult to predict what the next years income tax rates will be, until the data was available from the previous year. However, if everyone is required to file whether or not they have any income, then a reasonably accurate number could be calculated for the participating workforce. Further, some may argue that there would be insufficient revenue from the above examples to support the current social economic and government services budgeted. To that I simply say a minimum base tax could be added to assure it meets the basic necessities of government and current obligations. I shall address that argument by suggesting an 8% figure that could eventually be lowered as the margin between the lower median quartile and the upper median quartile narrows, meaning more people are paying a flatter tax.

Let’s now look at what effect the base 8% rate would have on the above examples.

For the figures in the first example, before an improvement in the lower and middle-income brackets is realized, we have the following tax rates:

Lower = 1.7857% + 8% = 9.7857%   

Providing $2,152.85 revenue and $19,847.15 disposable income

Middle = 4.3019% + 8% = 12.3019%  

Providing $6,520.00 revenue and $46,479.99 disposable income

Upper = 20.2920% + 8% = 28.2920%   

Providing $70,730.00 revenue and $179,270 disposable income

After increasing median salary and wages 10% for the lower and middle-income brackets we have:

Lower = 1.6132% + 8% = 9.6132%

Providing $2,114.90 revenue and $22,085.10 disposable income

Middle = 3.8797% + 8% = 11.8797%

Providing $6,913.99 revenue and $51,286.01 disposable income

Upper = 16.6653% + 8% = 24.6653%

Providing $61,663.25 revenue and $188,336.75 disposable income

We now have roughly a 10% increase in disposable income for both the lower and middle-income individuals, and at least 5% increase in disposable income in the upper income bracket, all by shifting the money from the revenue side. This model is significantly different from the current tax code, however, because the lowering of the revenue through tax decreases is tied directly to the median income levels as well as the persons individual income level, and it motivates the market to do so by increasing the median income and reducing the spread between the upper and lower quartiles, quite the opposite of our existing tax structure.

Our current tax structure is riddled with loopholes that are neither fair nor conducive to creating a wealthier nation. It is completely corruptible through special deductions for lobbyist and other self-interest, and is completely slanted toward corporate welfare. 

If you want to treat corporations separately, then we need to either treat all individuals similarly, or eliminate those services provided to corporations that are meant for individual taxpayers, and vice versa. The tax code needs to be simplified. We can no longer afford to subsidize the wealthy on the backs of the poor and middle classes. Our current tax structure is completely upside down!

The tax formula I propose not only reverses that trend, it treats all participants equally based on a market relationship, that not only addresses the disparities in income and the services we all are entitled to, but it does so in a way that makes it in everyone’s best economic interest to raise the bar on salaries and wages to meet the demands of a growing economy. In addition to providing a way to incentivize the market to increase salaries and wages, it does not dissuade any entrepreneur from increasing their income. There is no barrier or keeping one form going beyond the 30%. Millionaires and Billionaires will still find it advantageous to build their empires. We will just be asking them to take a more responsible role in addressing social issues by figuring that the cost of business must include consideration not to place the burden of unemployment and poverty on the governments door step. That capitalism does not mean the highest profit at the expense of the lowest pay reduced benefits! The uncalculated human cost is much higher than the one reflected in the spreadsheet, as we witnessed in the fall of 2007 and the great recession.

Perhaps some may find some flaws in my logic, and there may be some better calculation out there somewhere, but I invite all to the premise that we need to tie the problem of poverty to the very institutions that are motivating it. To simply ignore that the wealthy have a different playing field than the average hard working citizen is to not even get the message.

I have always found it strange that so many people seem to blame unions, or drugs, or wars, or catastrophic events for the poor economic choices we are given. After 45 years of hard work, 5 lay offs, one brief period of homelessness, and a possible sequester that could wreck what little I have been able to build, I must at least speak to the insanity that both sides of the aisle call progress. We Americans cannot pray, or work, or protest, or even wave the flag out of the problems we face. We simply have to make the choice to change the status quo! 

Do not question my faith, my patriotism, my loyalty or my work ethic until you have made every effort to help those less fortunate than yourselves. If you need to ask me of my character, then perhaps it is your Americanism that is in question?

Fools Paradise

Americans are blinded by their own foolishness. Many of us cast votes for public office based on issues that are close to our personal emotions or immediate needs, without consideration for objectivity or malice. We are blinded by our economic woes and spiritual passions. We foolishly accept the rhetoric of the extremist or alarmist and fail to take time to challenge their claims or investigate the sources. It is obvious in the current political climate, with the volatile rhetoric and dogma that is being spewed forth from most conservatives and certain Tea Party members, that much of the nations anger will decide the mid-term elections.

The consequences of venting their anger at the polls unfortunately will only produce the opposite of what they truly seek; jobs, stable economy, less government, and liberty.

Many American voters are blinded by their own patriotism which paralyzes their thought process and makes it numb to any idea beyond their perception of traditional American values. Many tout that the U.S. Constitution limits the scope of government, and they perceive that government can only interfere with the free markets. To be free to make a profit on the sweat of any sucker that is willing to pay any price for any product they may be able to produce, in any manner they see fit. Any regulation required for the safety and security of the consumer is a personal front to their right to be an entrepreneur. If people are willing to make uninformed, unwise, or risky decisions, then it is an American right to take advantage. Further, if regulation shall be required, then it must be so complicated and so ambiguous that it effectively confounds the consumer to a level that requires further legal counsel and intervention to detour any notion of recourse.

As one that has been politically and spiritually engaged in the American dream my whole life, I find it very interesting that these people that denounce our government are the same ones that take advantage of it when it is personally beneficial. They privately complain about people that file bankruptcy due to loss of employment, but publicly have no qualm about filing bankruptcy themselves to save their own corporation's or business from failing. They claim they support religious freedom on one hand, yet they also claim it is a Christian nation on the other. They scream that the government is too big and overreaching, yet they have no problem taking a government contract to make a large profit. They are so transparent that it make one wonder how they continue to grab power and stack the rules in their favor.

Wonder no more! We Americans are simply fools.

Only fools would watch George W. Bush sign into law the deregulation of the banking industry, change the bankruptcy rules, and propose that social security be allowed to invested into the stock market, then elect him in a second term. Only fools would watch the Republican Party borrow and spend more money in six years than all previous congresses combined, then blame the failure of the economy on the Democrats. Only fools would believe the conservative rhetoric that the President of the United States is not a U.S. citizen and is a Muslim. Only fools would believe that the Tea Party is a diverse group of American voters with the best interest of all Americans at heart, in the name of Liberty, Jobs, and Patriotism.

Yet I do not tarry or worry because I know most are fools, and it is easy to predict the inevitable outcome. Therefore I am no fool and can take advantage of our foolishness.

I predicted fairly accurately the failure of our economy and moved all my personal wealth out of the stock market on October 7th, 2007 after several years of warning the banks, coworkers, family and friends. I can also predict that the fools will vote out the Democrats who have averted a great depression which potentially could still be 100 times worse than the 1930's, because it is global via the Internet. I can predict that the fools will repeat everything they did in the 1930's and prolong the agony for many unnecessary years.

One may ask how I can predict such a doomsday scenario? Easy, we have learned nothing from the past. Why? Perhaps it has much to do with the true nature of Capitalism unchecked. The same environment that existed prior to 1929 (Free Markets) is the motivating force today. The same type of people that were living beyond their means in the roaring twenty's also exist today. The same critics of the status quo when it all came undone, also exist today. The same people that believed in survival of the fittest also exist today. Finally, the same fools that believed them and took the bait also exist today.

One thing is for certain. People are easily manipulated by their personal values. Religion, work ethics, morality, patriotism, greed and fear makes most voters vulnerable to those that want to fool them into a false sense of resolve.

The simple facts are that many conservatives have rationalized that it is best for all Americans to allow Capitalism not government to determine our destiny. That greed is good and government is bad. That money is not the root of all evil, but Liberal compassion somehow is.

I personally welcome the coming storm. Only then will God's wrath and subsequent grace be know. The only tragedy that shall be hard to bear is the children that shall suffer because of it.

May God be merciful to the children.

The SushiDoctor

I have to repost this essay I came across while blogging on the healthcare bill. It was so beautifully written and addresses the claim that the healthcare bill is socialized medicine. Enjoy.

This morning I was awoken by my alarm clock powered by electricity generated by the public power monopoly regulated by the US Department of Energy. I then took a shower in the clean water provided by the municipal water utility. After that, I turned on the TV to one of the FCC regulated channels to see what the National Weather Service of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration determined the weather was going to be like using satellites designed, built, and launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. I watched this while eating my breakfast of US Department of Agriculture inspected food and taking the drugs which have been determined as safe by the US Food and Drug Administration.

At the appropriate time as regulated by the US Congress and kept accurate by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the US Naval Observatory, I get into my National Highway Traffic Safety Administration approved automobile and set out to work on the roads built by the local, state, and federal Departments of Transportation, possibly stopping to purchase additional fuel of a quality level determined by the Environmental Protection Agency, using legal tender issued by the Federal Reserve Bank. On the way out the door I deposit any mail I have to be sent out via the US Postal Service, and then drop the kids off at the public school.

After spending another day not being maimed or killed at work thanks to the workplace regulations imposed by the Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, enjoying another two meals which again do not kill me because of the USDA, I drive my NHTSA car back home on the DOT roads, to my house which has not burned down in my absence because of the state and local building codes and fire marshal’s inspection, and which has not been plundered of all it’s valuables thanks to the local police department.

I then log on to the internet which was developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Administration and post on CNN about how SOCIALISM in medicine is BAD because the government can’t do anything right!

by The SushiDoctor on CNN.com Healthcare Blog.

Why I am Liberal

"Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

When I think of the actions of the Democrats to muster the courage to vote yes on Healthcare Reform, I am reminded why I am a Liberal Democrat.

I am a Liberal because I stand with integrity to place the needs of my country before my selfish desire.

I humbly pick up the noble torch of truth to march for the cause of the unfortunate and exploited.

I respect the grace of labor by recognizing its significance in the development of a nation.

I am generous in spirit and noble in deed.

I am proud to be Liberal.

The Real Economics of Our Time

The Real Economics of Our Time

Profits do not create jobs. Wages create jobs. When people receive wages, they tend to spend them on things that fundamentally sustain an established standard of living. When people receive profits, it is considered above and beyond the income required to sustain an established standard of living. Therefore profits are excess capital in the economy for investment in research and development or entrepreneurships. The problem arises when the people with profits desire to sustain a certain standard of living based on profits rather than wages, and cut people or wages on those that generate their profits to sustain that standard of living. Because of this the basic economy shrinks and the unemployment rises.

I am of the school of thought that in order to increase the overall economy and generate more jobs. We must increase the base wage and reduce profits. It is much like growing plants. If you take a plant that has only the water and sunshine that nature provides it will generate a certain amount of sprouts. If one starts to prune all those sprouts and not provide additional water, light and nutrients, then it will die. Only when the plant receives more water (opportunity), light (education), and nutrients (higher wages), does the plant thrive and produce more sprouts (profits).

What we have done is reduce wages by moving overseas to reduce cost. This has therefore reduced wages and opportunity here. Yet we continue to flood light on the issue and convince ourselves that with education alone that we can still obtain profits. In actuality all we have done is dry up the opportunity and starve the local economy.

The reality is that the only way to turn this economy around is to take new seeds (taxes), present new opportunities (Water), and place them in a whole new light (education).

The problem is that those which have benefited from the profits (sprouts) do not want to provide any seeds (taxes) to plant.

Until people can completely understand this and stop supporting those that are selfishly hoarding all the seeds, and will only release enough seeds to those to keep the power to decide who or where the seeds are planted, then we remain at their mercy and self interest.

That is why I cannot be Republican. They seem to feel that government is the enemy because they want to safe guard the economy and look after the lower and middle class. Their policies support the corporation at the expense of the individual. It is a survival of the fittest mentality that has little sense of community. They only want to deal with social issues through the church without respect for people of different cultures. They cleverly disguise their greed and ambition through a moral facade that is socially compassionate on the surface, but in policy and practice keeps more people in poverty and powerless to be empowered into a higher class.

Perhaps people will begin to understand why Republicans’ so called moral majority wants to take education from the public and place it in private hands. Then their party can control the thinking of the masses and blame the liberals for all the social woes. It is a clever strategy, but one doomed to failure honestly. It has been done many times throughout history. Yet I am amazed at the number of people that are convinced that greed is good and compassion is immoral. The private education system is obviously working for now.

I am hopeful however, since I am a liberal Christian that has left the church because God knows I can remain a christian without following false prophets. Plus I am not so naïve to believe that I am the only one. It just surprises me how those people that call themselves Christian cannot see these false teachings, and apply different rational to social issues that are the premise of their argument and theology when it comes to their beliefs. Could not the failed economy or the division of their party not be God’s judgment of their twisted policies?

I will speculate on religion and politics in another essay. This is about economics. I just wanted to make the point that politics and religion are only a part of economics, albeit a significant part. It should be understood however that in a nation that prides itself on basic freedoms; freedom of religion, democracy, and education, that we need to connect the dots. We are free to connect them however we choose, but we cannot expect certain results when we connect them poorly. We cannot continue to grow and prosper if we fail to recognize the relationship between the fundamental institutions we support.

Personally, I believe in our nation, our constitution, our government, and our freedoms. I respect the beliefs of others, but resent the lack of respect for my beliefs. I shall always reserve the right to fight against oppression in any form or authority. As a citizen I must respect the law, but nothing precludes my right to challenge the law. I shall however discern in what is an appropriate platform to express those beliefs with consideration for others within the community. I only wish that others would reciprocate mutual considerations.

I do however understand those that have the right to survive physically, and that these rights sometimes preclude the luxury of debate. For example, ones lack of education or understanding and economic means may not allow them to communicate their needs effectively. It is up to those of us that do have the means to yield to their concerns as a matter of principle. I am not speaking of the abortion issue which is much more complicated, but the disenfranchised living.

On 9/11

As a former resident of NYC and one who worked daily in the WTC this day comes very close to my memories and heart. That day will be etched in my memory for eternity, yet I have no hatred, anger or malice toward those that commited such a horrific act. I only pray God has mercy on their twisted and misguided souls. I learned through that tragedy alot about stereo types, and how all New Yorkers and ethnic groups came together for the sake and compassion of their fellow humankind. We can only honor their sacrifice by building a more respectful and civil nation. A nation that resolves issues through honest debate and dialogue, rather than deception and malice. May God Bless America and all nations...People have seasons too.

Democratic Healthcare

Enough is enough. I am sitting here with thousands of dollars to contribute to the DNC, DSCC and DCCC, yet all this in fighting over the healthcare reform is troubling me. I am outraged that there are Democrats that are against the public option. I always felt that Democrats worked for the little guy, regardless of special interest. As a life-long Democrat I have held what I call Democratic values. First and foremost is the value of integrity, being one’s word! When President Obama said he was for a public option to keep the Insurance Industry honest, I believed him. He simply placed three basic principles for the reform and allowed for honest solutions to obtain them. Now however, it appears that other Democrats are eroding those principles by caving into the Republican rhetoric and misinformation campaign.

I have news for those Democrats that do not get behind the President and majority of the Democratic Party. Be prepared to be voted out in November next term. I spent much time and money campaigning for Obama and other Democratic leaders in the last election. That will dry up if I feel they are going in the wrong direction. I have no self interest in the reform; in fact it could even hurt my wife, who is a medical transcriptionist, in the long run. It is simply a matter of doing what is right for the less fortunate in our nation. I have been homeless and laid off at least 5 times in my life. Although I am doing rather well now, I cannot forget the past or the stories of those I encountered along the way. I am a Democrat because I choose not to support the selfish and dysfunctional tactics of the Republican Party. Nor do I believe in the cynical and non-productive criticism of the Independents, who do not deliver a reasonable resolution.

By giving into the media blitz of the special interest lobbyist and compromising on campaign pledges, the Democrats only destroy all they built in the last election. I travel for my work and encounter many diverse groups. I do not know where you people get your information, but 8 out of 10 people I speak with are for healthcare reform with a public option. The elderly are scared because they are told lies pure and simple. The elderly and poor are relying on us Democrats to do the right thing regardless of the popularity of it. After all, slavery taught us that just because an idea is popular; it does not mean it is right!

I am going home this weekend to address this issue, and make out checks to the DNC, DSCC and DCCC, but I am only going to donate $100 each. If you can demonstrate some reasonable progress on passing a bill with the public option that satisfies President Obama’s initial principles and gets the so called Blue Dog Democrats back in line with the majority of the Democratic Party, then I will seriously consider contributing an additional $900 each. If not, then I will have to find those individuals that shall and step up their campaigns.

Respectfully,

James Alan Cole

Get a Job

Since my 12th birthday I have never been without a job more than a couple weeks with one exception, when I became homeless because I could not land a job for over a year. In retrospect I had allowed my worries and anxieties to block me from obtaining even a reasonable position to meet the basic needs of food and shelter. I now have one of the best positions I ever could have secured given my lack of a college degree or confidence to run my own business. Because I know the realities of not knowing where my next meal would come from, let alone where I might spend the night, I am compelled to offer my insight into the complexities of job hunting to those who are currently having trouble finding suitable employment.

There are a number of issues that need to be addressed when one dives into the labor pool. First, let’s just list the items of concern, and then we will address each individually.

1. The resume
2. Job History
3. The Interview
4. Body, Mind and Spirit
5. Attitude
6. Resources and Networking
7. Creativity
8. Starting Over

The Resume

When you put your resume together, keep in mind that the person reviewing it may be looking at anywhere from a few dozen in a small business, to thousands in a large business. It should therefore be short, clear and concise, not more than two pages. Keep the type simple and clear and use basic font size, italics and bold as your pallet. Do not use fancy graphics or font, bullets or boxes to enhance the information. The reviewer is only interested in whether you meet the qualifications for the position, and have a professional attitude. Avoid specialty colored paper and envelopes. Unless you’re applying for a position to the Queens Court, or perhaps a Graphic Designers position at Hallmark, then there is rarely a need to be excessively expressive. Reserve that type of attention for a follow up thank you note, which I will explain later.

A good resume provides no more than five areas of information. First is your personal information such as your name, address, and contact information like phone number or email.

Then you need to state clearly what position you’re applying for or objective. Next a summary of accomplishments that makes you uniquely qualified for that specific position. This is where you brag about your credentials. List any degrees or certifications you may have as well as projects you completed. I would sometimes list 3 to 5 bullets of highlighted items from the job description in the context of my experience. For example: If the job requires a working knowledge of specific equipment operation I would list those of which I had experience and knowledge, or if it required experience in specific software I would list all the programs I was proficient in and note those I was knowledgeable in. Following that I would place a few bulleted items of significant achievements. Here I noted how I was an asset to my past employers by setting and exceeding a certain goal or taking on an issue outside my normal job function to enhance the efficiency of the business. Further, if the position request a self motivated individual I would illustrate a couple of my extracurricular activities, like teaching myself HTML or learning Spanish. Just make sure it applies to the duties and responsibilities of the position you’re applying to fulfill.

The next block of information on the resume should be the job history. Here you want to provide as much information as possible, and it depends on how many positions you have held in the past. Typically, you do not want to list more than the past ten years of employment. Provide full company name, address and correct zip codes. If the HR department cannot verify your employment history you will most likely be passed up for the position regardless if you’re qualified. Make sure phone numbers are still active or that the business is still located in the same place when you worked there. Sometimes it is still the same business and staff, but they brand a new name and currently answer the phone differently. Place the new name on the resume, not the one you worked under. List the employment period to the nearest month and year, exact days if possible, but make it consistent for all employers listed. In other words, do not use dd/mm/yy for one employer, then mm/yyyy for the next. If you had periods of unemployment over a month, explain them. If your periods of unemployment are under a month, list using the mm/yyyy format will hide the lapses. In today’s shifting economy employers are not so concerned about brief periods of unemployment; they are concerned about long periods of unemployment. Do not lie in the job history or exaggerate your position. Be truthful. Honesty and integrity carry more weight than failure. An employer can work with someone that is not afraid to say I made some mistakes, than someone that is a know it all.

Finally, the last part of the resume should breakdown your education, any clubs, organizations, or volunteerism pertinent to the position, and military service and experience if it has a positive effect as a potential candidate.

If you cannot fit all that information on one page legibly then do not try to cram it all in by reducing the font down to a size that strains the readers eyes, just place it on two pages in a plane clear font of reasonable size. Spacing should be utilized to make it comfortable to read. Try to keep blocks of information together and avoid breaking blocks across page breaks.

Job History

Sometimes I had to take a job that was out of my career of choice. The market and your area of residence will have more an influence on what your choices are than your ability. When you are drawing unemployment benefits, they sometimes send you on an interview for positions completely out of your skill and education level. You may find that it is necessary to take some of these positions to make ends meet. Just keep in mind that if you do take a position out of your career path, then when you do look for a position in your career path, some employers will discriminate when it comes to negotiating salary or wages. I left a fairly steady history of positions as an electronic technician to settle for some sales and appraiser positions only to find I had to start all over when I had been away from the market for more than 5 years. Although I had over 12 years experience in electronics and 8 years in manufacturing, when I applied for a position in both after a 5 year hiatus, I had to start at the middle beginner pay. However, it only took 5 years to earn near top pay. Although the company was downsizing and laying off, I would still ask for a raise, and always received them because I would go well beyond my job description during this period. One year just I and one other person received a raise. My advice is that just because times appear slow and depressed, asking cost nothing. The worst that can happen is they say “No”. When I was working at this particular company however, I always had my eye on keeping myself marketable. I would take advantage of learning as much about the product line as possible, and kept good working relationships. I also kept networking with others in the industry just in case I was laid off again. Then the day came and I was laid off. I actually nearly doubled my salary by networking with people that were experts in the industry and found a niche that few people were able to understand or had limited training access. The only downside is that it was also a position that few would consider due to the extensive travel involved. Regardless, I have learned that a position I once shown little interest in became one of the most rewarding positions because it incorporated all my past experience and training to accomplish. Although I do not have a degree, I make more than many that do, simply because it requires a skill set not taught in schools and neglected by industry, simply supply and demand. If you follow the wave of occupations dictated by career counselors and university curriculums like I often did, then you will continue to follow behind a long declining market of salary declines. It is simply that they are a business that is unregulated and follow lagging trends. My recommendation is that you use school to train you how to study and research those naturally occurring interest that are personal to each of us. Then spend much time in the public library and pursue those interests that are your passion. If it requires a degree to obtain the position you desire, then by all means pursue it, but it should be perceived as a step in a process, not a guarantee of success.

The Interview

I have been on both sides of the interview process. I have been interviewed thousands of times in my life, and on occasion I held positions where I gave the interview. Fortunately, when I was a young man, I had a wonderful vocational instructor that made the job interview as part of his class curriculum. He emphasized proper dress, firm hand shake, and looking straight into the interviewer’s eyes. In other words, he taught us confidence in the interview. On the other side I had seen the results of someone that did not display these simple principles very well. It did not leave me with a good impression and needless to say, I had no confidence in recommending them for the position. Let’s look closer at each of these principles.

First of all, there is no one attire that is appropriate for all occupations. One has to discern the level of dress that is applicable to the situation. If you’re applying for a bank teller position then a suit would be most appropriate, but if you’re applying to dig ditches it would be foolish. The key is to never dress at a higher degree of formality than the interviewer. If the interviewer is the CEO it would be wise to wear a suit (most of the time…Steve Jobs might be more casual). If you are in a manufacturing environment, then cleanly pressed kakis and a low key polo shirt would be acceptable. Be sure to wash and comb your hair. Hair length may or may not be an issue. If it is for a rock band, long may be good. If it is for a police academy then you may blow it. The key here is that it should be clean, neat, and appropriate.

The hand shake is more important than most would admit. It relays ones confidence. Similarly, looking your peers directly in the eyes when responding to questions projects truthfulness, honesty, and integrity. Just make sure you don’t intimidate your interviewer by staring to intently. I have found in my experience that if I come across too confident and cocky, I rarely get another look. On the other hand, if I appear polite, courteous, tentative, and respectful I usually end up in the top five. Never offer more information than is solicited by the interviewer. There is an old saying that rings very true in the interview, “It is better to be thought an idiot, than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt.” Another way to look at it is that God gave us one mouth and two ears, so he/she obviously wanted us to listen more than speak. Let the interviewer set the pace. Simply take some deep breaths, relax, and pretend that the company needs you as much as you need them. Ask probing questions about the company only after the interview is nearing the end and they ask if you have any further questions. Then only ask genuine questions that were not covered in the interview, like “I read on your website that you have a large contract with company xyz, how is that coming along?” or “Does your company encourage continuing education and career development?” It will be much easier if you actually do your homework on the company prior to going to an interview. If you ask a question that was previously answered or discussed during the interview, you might appear obtuse or foolish. If you are nervous or in doubt, say nothing other than, “No, I believe you have done a thorough job of covering them all, thank you.”

Body, Mind, and Spirit

Looking for work is utterly exhausting. Many people fail to secure a job mostly because they are stressed out. It is not without reason. Losing a job can be like losing a loved one or significant property. We all go through the five stages of loss; shock, anger, denial, depression, then acceptance. Unfortunately, we often do not find another job until we reach acceptance. That is because we finally chill out and relax long enough for the interview to truly see our potential.

The best way to deal with all the emotions that are churned up after job loss is to take care of your physical, mental and spiritual health. I recommend casual enjoyable exercise like tennis, basketball, hiking, swimming or even walking. Take time out to let go! If your mind is in a constant state of worry, you will never feel or more importantly appear healthy. Turn off the TV, burn the newspapers, walk away from the spouse. Whatever it takes to remove you from the steady negativity that comes from our environment, surround yourself with more positive influences like prayer, meditation, nostalgic music, positive friends or relatives. Find or create a positive support system.

When I was near homeless I use to listen to stress release and self-hypnosis tapes that allowed me to escape from the world through visualization. I would also take walks in the botanical garden or tour a museum to gain an appreciation for life in general. It helped me ground my thoughts and think more clearly. I eventually volunteered for church activities, like Habitat for Humanity, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters which helped me place my problems in perspective compared to others who had it even worse than I. It became food for the spirit. I know not everyone is religious, but simply reading the bible and having casual conversations with my pastor gave me the strength I needed to get through the desperately low times. I learned that when my attitude shifted from what I needed from the world to what I could give to the world, many doors of opportunity began to open for me.

Attitude

I once heard that it is not the float of your boat, but the latitude of your attitude that assures success. Attitude can make all the difference in the world on the outcome of any situation. My grandmother use to say you get more flies with honey than vinegar. It is basically the same saying. If we wonder into a prospective employer all negative and discouraged, then that is what we bring to the interview. On the other hand if we come in too perky and bubbly then we may appear unrealistic. The proper attitude is essential to obtain the respect of others and secure the interview. With the proper attitude we can overcome barriers of negativity. It is not surprising that misery loves company. When we are in pain we often want others to validate that pain, so we subconsciously seek friends that keep us down and out. We secretly feel that if we share that pain then we must be normal. The truth is sometimes we need to divorce ourselves of those family and/or friends that continue to suck the life blood out of us. If they are truly our friends, then they should be happy to support us in our changing endeavors. If they do not then they may be part of the problem. The real pain is when you learn that sometimes the friend that truly holds you back is sometimes yourself. Be willing to be accountable for your own failure. Stop playing the blame game and be willing to be vulnerable. Once you can accomplish that level of reflection, then the healing will begin. I remember when it seemed like all my supervisors had issues and that I was convinced there were no competent managers out there. The realization that I had a historical pattern of problems with management helped me get at the core problem of my dissatisfaction with my job, me. It shortly became clear that it was not all those managers, but more likely my attitude that kept me from job satisfaction. Once I adjusted my attitude and sought management courses, I was able to appreciate my managers from their perspective, and the relationship blossomed. A good manager can spot someone that has a healthy understanding of management’s issues. With that healthy attitude come more opportunities. Where I once would go to management with complaints, I soon came to them with solutions. That shift in attitude prompted one of my managers to spend over eight hours preparing a report arguing to upper management why the loss of my employment would be detrimental to the bottom line of the company. She truly went to bat for me to help me keep my position with the company. Yes, attitude can make a big difference.

Resources and Networking

One of the most useful tools in locating suitable employment is through the networking of resources. When we develop relationships through the course of our occupations, we often take them for granted. I suggest keeping a friendly relationship with coworkers and managers because you never know when you may be calling on them for a recommendation for employment. I started keeping work relationships in a separate address book and found I needed it shortly after I started it. Before you use those relationships for references on an application however, I recommend contacting those individuals and inform them of your intent so they are not surprised be the call. The quickest way to have your application thrown at the bottom of the pile is to have a reference answer, “who?” As soon as I lost my job I notified all those individuals I had worked with outside the company to let them know I was available. The word spread quickly and I had an interview scheduled within the week. After the interview where I was made an offer on the spot, which I accepted, I was amazed to discover that another employer had been unable to reach me because I had not given them my phone number and they were willing to give me an even better offer. Proof that golden opportunity can be missed simply by not keeping yourself available.

One resource I never had any luck with was Monster.com and other web based job search engines. The only Internet based employment systems I have gotten responses from are the company web sites that post jobs within their respective companies. However, I never received a job offer, just an acknowledgement.

Where I have had considerable success was by making my own job. I once walked up to a construction site with my tool belt in hand and asked the foreman if they needed any help. To my surprise he said yes and negotiated a wage on the spot. A short phone call and I was working within minutes. Another time I simply evaluated what my talents and experience was and then advertised those services at laundries, and churches. Soon I had several odd jobs lined up which carried me through, until I was called into the phone company for an interview and was hired.

Creativity

Sometimes one has to get creative to stand out from the crowd. I do not recommend doing that with the resume, but you can show savvy after the initial interview. For example, I once took a blank postcard and drew a single pane cartoon of a real estate appraiser, which was the position I was applying for, as a method of thanking the interviewer for his time and interest. It landed me a second interview and the job.

Other times I would work for free to get the job experience and use that relationship as a reference on other applications. I also was seeing a therapist for depression and expressed my interest in being an artist, but was self-taught and did not have a degree. It just so happened that one of his patients was employed by a comic book company and set me up a meeting to show my talent. She hired me as a colorist for a reputable comic book company which was a wonderful experience, but unfortunately two weeks after I decided to work there full time I was laid off again. That experience however landed me two more artist positions which employed me for at least 6 more months. Don’t be afraid to try new things at least on a temporary basis, it may lead to a more rewarding career.

Starting Over

Another thing in searching for a job in this market is to consider starting over. Sometimes we choose a career path simply because we were encouraged to do so, not because we have a passion for the particular profession. Other times we choose a career based solely on the high compensation, not because we have a particular talent that stands out. In either case I would consider doing what I did. I spent a few days with the local community college, and some county mental health facilities also offer similar testing. These tests evaluate your skills and interest, your dexterity and reasoning ability, as well as psychological profile and generates a list of occupations that best fit your strengths and interest. This will help assess whether your career path is a good fit, or whether you’re living in denial. It may be possible that there are better careers that would be more rewarding for your specific personality. In my case it verified that my strengths were exactly what the Navy trained me for, electronics troubleshooting. However, there were other scientific and creative type occupations that would equally satisfy me.

In conclusion, I hope sharing some of my experience in job hunting and the interview process will help you land a rewarding job. I know that these are exceptional times and that it is not easy to keep looking without any indication of promise. I do promise you this, the world is always changing, and the market continues to evolve. Those that decide to look at the process as a challenge rather than an obstacle will prevail. The job you finally settle into will most likely not be the job you set out to get, but it may be more rewarding and more profitable in the long run. Don’t give up. You never fail until you quit! I wish you all Godspeed in your endeavors.