Across the nation, college students have been deemed sufficiently educated “to leave the halls of learning” with an official college degree signifying that they are now ready to enter the American workforce. These students have walked across the stage, shaken hands with dignitaries, sang one more verse of their Alma Mater, and turned their tassels, signifying that a new season of life is upon them.

The task at hand is now to take what has been learned in the classroom and apply those skills and principles to everyday work situations. For some, this means moving to a new location – maybe to another town or even to another state – and encountering new situations and new people. As with most of us, change can bring with it stress, anxiety, and worry  in varying degrees. We may begin to question ourselves or even second-guess ourselves. Am I good enough? Will I be good enough? Can I meet the mark? Will I grow with this company? Will I be effective and efficient in my new position?  What will my employer think of me? What will my co-workers think of me?

It is natural to have these thoughts – most of us do.  Even seasoned employees will have these thoughts from time to time. However, I would like to minimize any apprehension you may have as you begin a new chapter your life. Therefore, I leave you these thoughts as well as my best wishes for a bright future.

Henry Ford failed and went broke five times before he succeeded.

R.H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York City caught on.

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Jordan once said, “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot . . . and missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life. That is why I succeed.”

Babe Ruth hit 714 home runs and struck out 1,330 times in his career about which he said, “Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”

Dr. Seuss was rejected by 27 publishers before having his first book published.

Hank Aaron went 0 for 5 his first time at bat with the Milwaukee Braves.

Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because “he lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” He went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland. In fact, the proposed park was rejected by the city of Anaheim on the grounds that it would only attract riffraff.

Elvis Presley, after one performance, was told by Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, “You ain’t goin’ nowhere, son. You ought to go back to drivin’ a truck.”

Thomas Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”

I recently read Daniel Pink’s book “To Sell is Human.”  His premise is that everyone is selling; that we are all trying to move people.  So teachers are trying to get students to do their homework.  Doctors are trying to get people to take their medicine.  We are all trying to move someone to do something.  What is critical in moving someone to action is to actively listen. Here are some tips:

 1.  Pause. Daniel Pink recommends that you pause. He pauses at the end of someone else talking for 5 seconds.  It lets you reflect on what they said. Pause, digest and truly listen.

 2. Eye to eye. If you are physically in the room with someone, make eye contact.  Hold their gaze when they are talking.  Be in the moment. If they are on the phone, cut all the technology. Don’t be reading emails, texts, messages, Facebook updates or playing Soduko. Imagine them being in front of you and making eye contact. Can’t you always tell when you are speaking to someone over the phone and they are distracted? We all can.

3. Understand.   Stephen Covey said “Seek first to understand and not to respond.” If you’re busy planning your response (re: argument, counter point, brilliant repartee) you are not listening.  Ask questions that help you understand their point of view.  “What do you think your boss meant by that comment?” Do a deep dive into their story. Don’t give advice. Just seek to understand.

4. Mirror. In one of the exercises that Dan Pink did was to mirror someone else’s movements.  Now this type of mimicry would be over the top in real life, and cause a fist fight between my brothers and I when we were kids in the back seat of our Country Squire station wagon.  But subtly copying someone else’s stance can create some symbiosis. They lean back in the chair, you lean back. This creates a sense of connection. Mirror others to build confidence.

 5. Generosity. Listening is about being generous. Selfless. Your co-worker just finished a year long project? Now is not the time for a diatribe on the messy project you are in the middle of that just got delayed….again.   Give them the gift of being the center of your attention. Completely with no strings attached.  Be generous.

6. Yes, and.  I experienced this exercise in one of my classes while earning my Masters.  In the class, we had to plan a fictitious class reunion.  First, we were instructed to say “Yes, but.” When that played out, the energy in the room diminished.  None of the ideas had any traction. In the next round, we were instructed to say “Yes, and.” One word changed, and we all had possibilities. We were intently listening to everyone’s ideas and building on them. Next thing you know we were holding the reunion inRiowith limos, samba lessons and beach volleyball.  Try it. It’s inspiring.

Listening is a way to be present and take in the person, loved one or group interaction around you.  It can be a gift to yourself and others .

For more blogs by Cathy go to:  http://cathygrahamcoaching.wordpress.com/

Wayne County Earns Coveted WorkReady Designation

On Wednesday, February 20, 2013, North Carolina’s Eastern Region (NCER) announced that Wayne County has become the first Certified WorkReady Community (WRC) in North Carolina.   The award was presented to the County’s Commissioners in a ceremony at the Wayne County Courthouse.

As a WorkReady Community, Wayne County has demonstrated a commitment to workforce excellencewhich is a testament to a comprehensive and collaborative approach to workforce development.Communities are required to meet or exceed standards outlined at the start of the project that include increases in high school graduation rates, numbers of people earning Career Readiness Certification (CRC), and stakeholder and employer commitment to supporting the WRC effort.

Such a designation will have real and immediate impact to the overall economy of Wayne County.“The retention and recruitment of industry is extremely competitive, even more so today than in decades past. The communities that set themselves apart in the areas most important to the decisionmaking process will win the day. Workforce is a huge deal in economic development and Wayne County gets that. To be formally recognized as a ‘Work Ready Community’ and the first in the state is going to keep Wayne County on the leading edge. It’s a recognition that we believe will result in more jobs and more investment for Wayne County,” remarked Joanna Helms, President, Wayne County Development Alliance.

In addition to increasing the number of Career Readiness Certificates, a WorkReady Community increases its high school graduation rate, shows commitment from employers, and fosters collaboration between community representatives in business and education.

Wayne County credits its success to its innovative WORKS Initiative (Wayne Occupational Readiness Keys for Success) that has served as a model for other communities in NC’s Eastern Region.  WORKS is a collaborative initiative whose goal is to create and market a skilled workforce for the county through skills training and assessment, and stakeholder commitment.  Partners in the WORKS and WorkReady Communities Initiative include Wayne Community College, Wayne County Development Alliance, Wayne County Schools, Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, and multiple business and industry champions.

 For more information on WorkReady Communities please visit www.ncworkready.org.

The Need for Training in Business & Industry

The speed at which industry is changing requires companies to stay current with new methods and technology.  This brings to mind one of my favorite quotes.  “If the rate of change on the outside is greater than the rate of change on the inside, THE END IS NEAR.”  How true this is in today’s competitive climate!

In developing a training program for business and industry, it’s important to understand there is no-one- size-fits-all, no silver bullet.  Training should be designed to fit the culture of individual organizations.  What’s good for one simply may not work for the other.  That said, there are some general topics that are universal.  Continuous improvement, safety, leadership and interpersonal skills training are a toolbox to pull from for every organization to reach their goals and empower their workforce.

My philosophy has always been that people are any organization’s most important asset.  Education and training for the workforce will never have a “finish line.”

What is Wayne Business & Industry Center?

Wayne Business & Industry Center (WBIC) is Wayne County’s resource for business and employer training services. Deeply committed to economic & workforce development in our county, WBIC offers “on-time” and “on-target” training through a variety of programs and services. As part of Wayne Community College in Goldsboro, NC, WBIC has many components useful to employers, job-seekers, students and to the public at large.

Career Readiness Certification – Employers are excited to know that they can hire a more highly qualified applicant who can prove their skills by earning a National Career Readiness Certificate (CRC). Mary Mills Borden, Lab Coordinator, is available to answer questions about the program.

Soft Skills is one of our newest additions to the Wayne Business & Industry Center. Jena Cantwell, Director of Training and Development for Soft Skills, trains people to develop and apply critical soft skills in the workplace.

Career Services has a variety of options to help people prepare for work from choosing a course of study to developing professional resumes and interviewing skills. Lorie Waller is Director of Cooperative Education/Career Services.

Small Business Center (SBC) offers FREE seminars related to small business owners and entrepreneurs. SBC Director Renita Dawson offers free one-on-one counseling services as well as useful, innovative seminars and programs.

North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) assists businesses who would like to sell products or services to the military facilities and other federal government entities. Pam Pogue, MBC Coordinator, works with individuals from several counties with the ins and outs of federal contracting.

Customized Training Program (CTP) assists new and existing Wayne County employers by providing training specific to a company’s needs. Steve Herring is CTP Director.

Our Executive Director is Diane Ivey. She has helped all of us broaden our visions of how to best serve Wayne Community College and our Wayne County community.

And I am Linda Berard, Administrative Assistant. WB&IC is open 8-5:30 Monday – Thursday and 8 – 1 on Fridays. I help all of the directors, and I’d love to help you too!

Please become familiar with our website, and visit often. We keep it up to date with new and important information. Have a great holiday season and please check the calendar for any changes in our normal schedule.

Test Anxiety
TEST—– It is a terrible word that causes many people to shut down and hyperventilate. We have seen it all in our WorkKeys testing lab. People come in sweating, nervous, shaking and scared. How do you avoid the fear that comes with that four letter word TEST? Don’t let test anxiety be the reason that you don’t receive your Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) which is offered at Wayne Community College. The steps are in place to help you be prepared for this important test and make the testing process less stressful.
Before you can even take the test to receive a CRC, you are required to come to the lab and take a pretest in the three sections of the CRC: Reading for Information, Applied Mathematics and Locating Information. These pretests, which are not timed, are very short and are designed to place you in a level of lessons that you need to complete before you take the actual test. At the end of each of the lessons there is a very short test to let you know how well you are doing with the information that you have just studied. Yikes- I have used that terrible word TEST, or a form of it, five times in just a few sentences. Actually that is exactly what should put you at ease. Before you take the test you will have practiced enough that you should be comfortable and ready for the final test to earn your CRC.
Remember, the CRC is a certificate that shows employers your level of skill in three foundational areas. It is a certificate to add on your resume and include in your portfolio to help you get a job. You will be given your scores on the day that you complete the testing–instant results. If you follow the guidelines set up in our lab, you will be ready for the test and have no reason to have that dreaded test anxiety. If you are not happy with your test results, you may retest to improve your scores.

Work- Ready Community (WRC)

Wayne County and 12 other eastern NC counties are striving to be among the first in North Carolina to earn the Work Ready Community designation as part of a demonstration project in eastern NC.  NC’s Eastern Region (NCER) was awarded a grant through the NC Rural Center to collaborate on a pilot project to define what constitutes a ‘Work Ready Community’ in NC. 

A county earns the designation ‘Work Ready Community’ by advancing its high school graduation rate, increasing the number of Career Readiness Certificates (CRC), and obtaining letters of support from key employers and county leaders.  The Eastern Region will begin designating counties Work Ready in December 2012, and the designation will remain in effect for a period of three years. 

To learn about Wayne County’s bid to be recognized as one of the first communities in NC to earn this “Work Ready” status, join us on September 13 from 5:30 – 7:30 in Moffatt Auditorium at Wayne Community College.  Join us to learn about the benefits of the WRC designation.  We have a great program planned including an opportunity to hear from employers.  Several local employers will be part of a panel that will discuss challenges they face and share information individuals need to become part of the present and future workforce in Wayne County.

The event is free and open to the public.  See you there!

Did you know that employers spend on average of 10 seconds looking at a resume? (No, this is not a type-o. You just read 10 seconds, not 10 minutes!)  After all the blood, sweat, and tears you put into creating a resume, an employer gives your resume a 10 second scan.  Now that the cat is out of the bag and you know your resume is going to be given a 10 second review, you need to keep in mind that a resume may be the only contact you have with a potential employer.

Is your resume ready to “talk” for you and “show off” what you can do?  The purpose of your resume is to make a good first impression. If your resume can’t achieve this goal, chances of getting  an interview are not in your favor.  Effectively communicating your qualifications is more difficult than you may think.   Don’t let a single mistake misrepresent years of schooling or working. Remember, only 10 seconds can decide your future. You – your skills, knowledge, and expertise – will be summed up in a blink of an eye on a single piece of paper.  Even the strongest writers need someone to review their work. A mistake on a resume will be caught by either a potential employer or by someone you trust to review your resume – which would you prefer?

In this increasingly competitive job market, there is no room for anything but a flawless, compelling resume that will stand out among the hundreds of job seekers applying for the same position.

Career Services at Wayne Community College provides an opportunity for you to access someone who can provide feedback on ways to improve your resume or even assist you in getting started with a resume. Contact Career Services or stop by today to make an appointment.  (Lorie Waller, Wayne Learning Center,  Suite 141, 919.739.7005, loriew@waynecc.edu.)

Happy job hunting & best of wishes for a successful job search!

NCMBC is an acronym for the North Carolina Military Business Center.  And now you ask, “okay and what is that?”

 The NCMBC is a business development component of the North Carolina Community College System, headquartered at Fayetteville Technical Community College.  The primary goal of the NCMBC is to help NC businesses identify, bid on and win federal contracts to boost economic development, improve quality of life and create jobs right here in NC.  To accomplish this, the NCMBC connects North Carolina businesses, both small and large, to current government contracting opportunities two ways – with a Business Development Team and electronically with www.matchforce.org.

 The Business Development Team is comprised of experienced business development and procurement specialists operating from Community Colleges across the state.  These specialists identify the most lucrative federal contract opportunities, notify capable North Carolina firms of specific opportunities, and assist firms to understand government solicitations and to prepare winning proposals.  This is done on a individual basis or with group events such as training sessions, seminars, symposiums, tradeshows and conferences. 

 Definitely consider attending one of the two scheduled “How to Do Business with the Federal Government” seminars being held at Wilson Technical Community College on 15 August and at Wayne Community College on 20 November.  This is a great seminar for established businesses that are contemplating expansion to the federal market or just want a quick refresher on how to do business with the feds.

Events that are either hosted or co-hosted by the NCMBC are posted on the Schedule of Events found at www.ncmbc.us.  New events are added often!  The web site also contains an abundance of information and resources to assist NC businesses.  Check it out! 

The Business Development Team is supplemented with www.matchforce.org, the State’s matching portal for federal contracting.  MatchForce matches NC business to contract opportunities, federal buyers to NC businesses and NC jobseekers to NC job openings.

The services of the NCMBC are free.  As a specialist on the Business Development Team and the Coordinator for the NCMBC office located in the Wayne Business & Industry Center, I am available to assist you in working through the maze of doing business with the federal government or to discuss in detail the multitude of services offered by the NCMBC.  Call Pamela Pogue at 919-739-6943 or drop by Wayne Community College, Walnut Bldg.,  Suite 108 to schedule an appointment.

May 29, 2012

Recently, I read a blog about career planning (on the blog site PsyBlog.com) that basically said career planning is a waste of time. What?!?! Yep, that’s what it said. Reading further, I found that what the writer (a psychologist) was talking about is that (1) trying to make these decisions is kind of like trying to predict the future, and (2) it is hard as a teenager to know yourself well enough to pick what you want to do for the rest of your life. And sometimes it is an even greater task for adults of any age who have found themselves at a crossroads, without a job or hating the job they have.

Ok, yeah, so I agree with those statements. However, I am not an advocate or a believer in his “waste of time” theory. It is true that we probably can’t predict what economic times will be like in the future or even what jobs will still be around or which ones will be replaced by modern inventions. And we all know that the modern workplace has evolved so that very few people stay with the same company their entire careers. So what’s a girl (or guy) to do?

My advice is to learn as much about yourself as you can, try to find something you love to do outside work, and make the most of opportunities available no matter what your age. Career planning and assessment tools aren’t crystal balls or windows on the soul. But they are tools that can help you narrow down the field, give you direction, and educate you on the many choices available. These tools can also help locate colleges or training programs, identify apprenticeship opportunities, and show you where the jobs are currently and in the short term. They can also give you realistic ideas about earnings, career ladders, barriers and goal setting.

And what if your original plan hits a snag or doesn’t work out? These same tools can help you re-evaluate and set a new goal. Since the average person changes jobs more than eight times before retirement, you may have the opportunity to reinvent yourself more than once! Do it thoughtfully.