by cjxpadmin | May 15, 2013 | Job Club Heart of Texas
work′ eth`ic
n.
a belief in the moral benefit and importance of work and its inherent ability to strengthen character.
Work ethic? Do you have it? You should always take pride in whatever type of work you do. Your work should reflect what you expect to get back from the company that you work for. If you are only giving half of your effort then you should reflect on if you are really happy to be there. If not then you should look for something you are passionate about. It’s not fair to you, your job, or the others that work with you when you only give 50% of your effort. This is true whether you have a job or looking for work, because looking for work is your job.
Here are some questions to ask your self about when you are looking for the career that is right for you. You should get out something to write with and some paper (or in this case put into your response) :
- What is your relationship with the work that you have or wish to do?
- What are your beliefs concerning what you should be giving and receiving from your work place?
- When you think of your job what are your feelings about the job that you do or want to do.
- Do you like your job?
Hoping everyone’s Mother’s Day weekend was amazing!
by cjxpadmin | May 8, 2013 | Job Club Heart of Texas
Our role at the Heart of Texas Workforce Center has changed.
You will still be able to receive services at the Workforce Center from the Center Staff.
Now, for the service that CampusJobXpress provides you. Our services will continue as usual and in fact, our services have been enhanced. We have added a Quality Assured Applicant Section that will change how you present yourself to employers.
With this new section, you will present your resume, but have you noticed that everyone puts out a resume today and you look just like everyone else. So, we added a photo and a summary of your qualifications next to it. Employers can more easily see and screen applicants. The best applicants with a combination of a great resume and a self-video presentation (one minute or less) will stand out.
We have had meetings with employers over the last few weeks and they want to see more. They want something that tells them you are the better candidate. We suggested the video presentation and the thought was that anyone can do your resume, but only you can present your video. You presenting yourself is the difference. This will not be for everyone, however. For those of you who can do this, it will present you in a very different light. If you would like to try this, let us know by email at info@campusjobxpress.com.
At CampusJobXpress, we are all trying to open as many doors for you as possible. We will be reviewing your profile on the site, looking at your resume and picture for ways to help you. You will also be getting email and messages about more jobs that are about to come our way. We now cover an area from Waco to the San Antonio Area. Things have begun to happen very fast.
For those of you who wish to be considered as a Quality Assured Applicant (an applicant who Campusjobxpress can refer as one of our best to employers), please let us know. Now, what is a Quality Assured Applicant? This is an applicant who has been assessed by us, has a good work history, a professional looking resume, has completed a video presentation of themselves and has interviewed with one of our team.
Many of you have already met the qualifications and will not have to do any more than create a short video. That’s it!
Please do not hesitate to continue contacting us through email, through Job Club or even through the Workforce Center. Stay connected!!!
by cjxpadmin | May 8, 2013 | Job Club Alamo Area
Our role at the Heart of Texas Workforce Center has changed.
You will still be able to receive services at the Workforce Center from the Center Staff.
Now, for the service that CampusJobXpress provides you. Our services will continue as usual and in fact, our services have been enhanced. We have added a Quality Assured Applicant Section that will change how you present yourself to employers.
With this new section, you will present your resume, but have you noticed that everyone puts out a resume today and you look just like everyone else. So, we added a photo and a summary of your qualifications next to it. Employers can more easily see and screen applicants. The best applicants with a combination of a great resume and a self-video presentation (one minute or less) will stand out.
We have had meetings with employers over the last few weeks and they want to see more. They want something that tells them you are the better candidate. We suggested the video presentation and the thought was that anyone can do your resume, but only you can present your video. You presenting yourself is the difference. This will not be for everyone, however. For those of you who can do this, it will present you in a very different light. If you would like to try this, let us know by email at info@campusjobxpress.com.
At CampusJobXpress, we are all trying to open as many doors for you as possible. We will be reviewing your profile on the site, looking at your resume and picture for ways to help you. You will also be getting email and messages about more jobs that are about to come our way. We now cover an area from Waco to the San Antonio Area. Things have begun to happen very fast.
For those of you who wish to be considered as a Quality Assured Applicant (an applicant who Campusjobxpress can refer as one of our best to employers), please let us know. Now, what is a Quality Assured Applicant? This is an applicant who has been assessed by us, has a good work history, a professional looking resume, has completed a video presentation of themselves and has interviewed with one of our team.
Many of you have already met the qualifications and will not have to do any more than create a short video. That’s it!
Please do not hesitate to continue contacting us through email, through Job Club or even through the Workforce Center. Stay connected!!!
by cjxpadmin | May 1, 2013 | Uncategorized
By Ann Kemmy
My name is Ann Kemmy and I am an Organizational Development and Training Professional with twenty years of experience.
Organizational Development has been around for many years and is often housed in Human Resources. While 
both deal with people aspects of the business, each of these two functions requires special expertise.
Organizational Development or “OD” by definition is “a planned, organization-wide effort to increase efficiency and effectiveness.” We work with any part of the company, whether it be a work team, a shift of workers, a new manager adjusting to responsibilities, or on specific company-wide initiatives like improving product quality or workplace safety. Over time, almost every department in a given organization will be our client for at least one area of improvement.
The tools we use are developed for working with people. When a problem is brought to our attention, we begin by focusing on background data and assessing needs, recognizing a lack of clarity in goals, resolving conflicts between groups, dealing with changes in the workplace, helping new managers fit in, and planning for orderly succession into jobs.
Our day-to-day work involves projects like building more effective teams and giving 360 degree feedback to employees to help them meet the expectations of their bosses, their colleagues, or those who report to them.
Theoretically, OD can be applied in every setting. Practically, however, it is used when the outcomes can be measured in terms of greater trust and cooperation between employees, greater job satisfaction and commitment, and increased problem-solving by employees.
OD is built on the medical model that doctors use to diagnose and treat patients. The client presents a problem. 
The OD practitioner gathers more information by reviewing data, conducting interviews, and by first-hand observation.
The practitioner comes back to the client with a report of what has been discovered and a plan for changing/improving the situation. Ideally, the intervention plan will reflect the input contributed by team members during the interviews. This improves the odds that team members will cooperate and make the changes that must be made. Metrics and measurement are developed to ensure follow-up and to determine the success of the effort.
Practitioners’ skill levels and the ability to find the simplest and most efficient solutions grow with experience and the range of problems they have dealt with in the past. Over the last 20 years, I have worked with oil companies, hospitals, banks and education. Some of these areas, such as banks, typically reflected more top-down management needs to meet regulatory requirements. In other cases, managers and union representatives had to work together to reach common goals of safety and product quality that made things better for everybody.
Some interventions are very complex and impact many people and the profitability of a company. One that stands out for me was in a large US refinery with some 1,800 union represented employees. The Refinery Manager wanted to take the refinery from 360 thousand barrels-per-day of production to 400 thousand. But the plant was an old one and corporate senior management was leery of a huge investment there.
The union also saw the value of the investment for job security for their members. But they had reservations about changing work rules and relationships. For a while, it looked as if shared goals might not be enough to drive the needed change for greater management-union cooperation.
Finally, it appeared they could find common ground on improving the refinery safety record. To make that happen, all levels of employees had to understand and commit to both the new direction and the new goal.
Individuals had to develop skills in problem-solving, communication, and conflict resolution – all of which were needed to achieve the overall goal of increased plant safety.
I put together a five-year plan – an organizational development intervention. It was primarily carried out in a 
classroom setting. Each year, every supervisor, superintendent, and manager – about 500 persons in all – attended a one-week development workshop that was facilitated and taught by union reps, refinery management, and me. I was based at the refinery for the whole period.
The session focused on understanding refinery direction and goals, dealing with gaps between where the refinery was now and where it wanted to be, and developing new skills. Everybody graduated with a videotape of his or her daily improvement in the skill area being focused on during that year. They had improved and they knew it. And they put their new skills into practice.
The process continued to be implemented even though the position of Refinery Manager turned over four times in the five years it was under way.
At the conclusion, there had not been a major safety incident in that five-year period. Both the union and Refinery Manager agreed that the process focusing on that goal had been largely responsible for the improvement.
And yes, the refinery received the investment and upgrading and is now over the original 400 thousand barrel-per-day goal.
Going forward and in summary, what I find most rewarding is working with organizations and people who share the goals and vision of a workplace progressive, pleasant and productive. If your organization desires a development and training facilitator, I am your candidate and would love the opportunity to discuss my qualifications with you. △
by cjxpadmin | May 1, 2013 | This Issue's FEATURE
By Sheena Williams
There are times when you need a doo-hickey, a whatchamacallit or a thingamabob. There are times when you are searching for something, and it makes your day even better when you find it. Sometimes there’s a mishap and you need to get it cleaned up before your boss gets there, or before someone you know sees you. As we might not be able to supply you with all of these things, we can help you get a kit together so that you can do quick touch-ups, or fix a mess before it becomes a catastrophe! All of these things can be found for a dollar or less at your local store. Think travel sizes.
For Everyone!
Mirror — Last minute checks, is your makeup smudged, is there something in your teeth, or is your hair in place? Your mirror has got you covered! Not only does it allow you to check on your appearance, it allows you to see who is coming up behind you in your cubical or workstation. Don’t leave yourself open for a surprise.
Toothpicks — It’s after breakfast or maybe after lunch and you may have something stuck in your teeth. Rather than let it bother you forever, get it taken care of. No sense meeting your new partner with spinach in your teeth! Yuck!
Breath Mints or Gum — Not only does gum make your breath minty fresh, but it’s a good way to keep from snacking, and it helps you think. It is said that 76% of gum chewers stay focused on tasks longer than those non-chewers! Who doesn’t need that extra bit of concentration?
Deodorant — A travel size deodorant doesn’t take up a lot of space, but it can make a big impact on your day. You may find yourself having to move around a lot or sometimes stress makes you sweat. Having small items like these in your possession will keep you from stressing about your appearance (or smell) when your employer comes knocking.
Healthy Snacks — Let’s face it. You are going to snack at your place of work. It’s unavoidable. It doesn’t matter where you work or what you do, there is a large chance that there is food available at all times of day. Having healthy snacks on hand will keep you from munching on cookies and candy all day! Unless you want to, then by all means!
Stress Ball — You’re at work. You need the stress ball! There are going to be times when you are really stressed out. Though we can’t stop the stress from finding you, we can suggest something that will take the focus off the stress. Stress balls not only work your arm muscles, but they also let you focus on something other than your stressors.
Instant Coffee or Tea — Is it morning and you’re still a little groggy? Maybe you’re a little stressed and a quick cup of chamomile will take the edge off. Whatever the reason. having these items easily available will ensure that you don’t have to go looking for them later!
A Small Book of Inspirational Sayings — There are times when you have to remember why it’s worth it. You may be having a hard day at work or things are just not going your way. Having a little something that can uplift you can really work magic for your day!
A Nail File — You laugh, but there have been numerous times a nail file has served as a screw driver in a pinch. Maybe you need to open a stubborn bag of peanuts. Think outside of the box when building your kit.
Hand Sanitizer — Every day is the day for flu and colds. You shake hands, handle people’s money, touch tools that have been used by others. If you can’t go wash your hands right way, hand sanitizer will hold you over until you get there!
Clean Up Wipes — Everyone can have a clumsy moment now and then. You spill a soda, drop some spaghetti on your uniform, or maybe your keyboard is dusty. Whatever the case, disinfectant wipes will get you on the road to recovery!
Chapstick — You are going to be doing a lot of smiling. Make sure you can do it without splitting your lip, ouch! Not only does Chapstick give you smooth lips, it makes it 5 times easier to smile!
These are just starter suggestions for your kit. Everyone’s box is going to be a little different depending on what you’re doing for a living. Maybe you have an extra outfit, or maybe even a pair of weights so you can pump some iron while you wait on something to load on the computer. Maybe you have a bandana that you can tie around your forehead to keep sweat from getting in your eye. Whatever the case, maybe a kit can make your day a little easier, and everyone has time for that! △
