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The sky is starting to clear around the “Great Reset” for ForestryjobsHQ. My last couple of posts have been discussing what to do with this website. I have been considering everything from deleting it to a complete revamp and shift of focus. While I have not completed my brainstorming sessions, the “sky” aka my head is clearing a bit. Therefore a path is starting to emerge for the website. Over the next couple of posts, I will start to lay out my ideas of what the “Great Reset” will look like. But I will also be looking for input from you, the audience. You will play a part in helping the sky continuing to clear.

Creating a hybrid model for the website appears to be the path I plan to head down. Blending several of the ideas I mentioned in my previous “the Storm is Brewing” post will result in the hybrid model. Therefore, creating a blend of platforms is the direction I am leaning in right now. Blending the old blog with video and potentially a podcast seems like the best path forward. Now come the challenges and fun of figuring out what topics I’ll cover. Each platform has its pros and cons in its use and effectiveness in sharing content. Therefore I will likely look for ways to use the positive side of each platform and minimize the cons to those platforms as they relate to each topic area.

Here is How You Can Help the Sky to Clear

As I start to revamp and build out new platforms for the “Great Reset” I could use some input from you, the audience. So how can you help out? In this and future posts, I will provide various ways for you to give input. The two constant and easiest ways will continue to be through comments on the Facebook page and via email. Additionally, I will be adding in some polls to capture more specific information on topics like a potential podcast. And, I’ll share some prompts on different platforms to encourage engagement and feedback. Please be on the lookout for these on the Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, and maybe even YouTube.

To get started I really could use your input via this survey. I know, not another survey. I know they can be a pain but I have worked hard to make sure that you can complete this survey in 5 minutes or less. Of course, if you want to take a couple of extra minutes to provide additional details that would be greatly appreciated. The survey is to gather some information that will help guide the development of a potential podcast. Your feedback will be very helpful in that work and greatly appreciated.

If you prefer to share your thoughts in a different way, I will welcome that as well. The short survey is below. I do ask for your email, so I can stay in contact with you as this progresses. Thank you again for completing the survey.

*******One Note: After you hit submit at the end of the survey you will need to scroll back to the top of the page****

The storm is brewing. Not the traditional storm but rather the storm in my head – aka a “brainstorm”. Sorry, I am a nerd and that was my nerdy attempt to get your attention. As I mentioned in my last post, I am looking at various ideas to “reset” this website with. So I have been brainstorming a series of ideas for consideration. I am not sure yet where this storm will take the website but I think when the storm clears, the path will be more clear.

Shifting back to my original concept for the website seems like the easiest idea. Discussing ideas around leadership and personal development continues to be topics I am interested in. And I now have the perspective of a good organization and one that had opportunities for improvement. The website is already set up for this concept. The question is: what the audience wants?

Social Media Has Changed

The social media world and blogging have changed a lot since I first kicked this website off. This makes me think that simply going back to the original concept for ForestryjobsHQ is not the right choice. Though going counter to the current trend might be interesting when compared with going with the flow. But my gut reaction is that just increases the uncertainty for success in an already uncertain world.

Podcasting is still huge and appears to still be growing today. It was mentioned to me early on in the creation of this website, that starting a related podcast would be a great idea. I should have taken that advice but access to the needed equipment and a “studio” seemed impractical at the time. Now several years later turning this website into a support platform for a podcast seems like a potentially useful path. I could explore many topic ideas with a forestry-based podcast. So I am going to add this to the brainstorm list.

Video is King?

Video appears to be king in today’s social media world. Facebook, YouTube, Tik Tock, and even Instagram all promote video in various formats. And vlogging continues to be a popular format. I even follow one macro-economics personality (The Uneducated Economist) that relies primarily on YouTube for publishing his content. He is active on other platforms but the most updated platform is purely video on YouTube.

ForestryjobsHQ already has a YouTube channel, so there is an opportunity there to expand more into video content. I will be adding video content of some form to the brainstorm list. Interviews, monologues, or some other form of content are all potential ideas. I’ll need to do some more research into the best format or blend of formats that would be useful for the potential audience.

Eye of the Storm

Just like the skies clear as the eye of a storm passes over, my head is clearing somewhat on how to reset this website. And just like many storms, the eye will pass and the wind and rain will return. In this case, some uncertainty on how the Great Reset will play out for this website will also return. However, the areas I have explored a little bit in this post have given me some ideas.

There are pros and cons to each of the possible ideas mentioned above. Blending two or more of the ideas also has some appeal. One of the key questions though is what do you think? I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Heading over to the Facebook page or dropping a note would be really helpful. And please keep your eye out for a couple of questionnaires on these ideas in the coming days. I look forward to hearing from you.

The “Great Reset” is a World Economic Forum initiative. And some people in the macroeconomics field have been discussing it recently on social media. However, macroeconomics is not the topic of this post. Rather, I am asking the question: What is next for this website? I have been asking myself this question for a little while now. What is the “Great Reset” for ForestryjobsHQ.com? I am not sure what I will choose, but I have a few ideas.

The Background

The motivation for this website came from the job I had at the time. I worked in an organization where there were some ineffective and uninspiring leadership issues. Some great leaders did exist in the organization. But the environment I was in lacked inspiration at times.

The working conditions allowed me to listen to podcasts at different times of the day. My playlist included podcasts on leadership, personal development, and e-commerce. The creative juices were flowing as a result of the podcasts I was listening to. Add the job environment, creative ideas, and a desire to affect change together, and a website concept was born.

Getting Started

Soon, the development of the website was underway in my spare time. The original goal was to create a blog about leadership, job searches, personal development, and over time adding in job postings. But something happened in those early days. I changed jobs!

The new job came with the usual steep learning curve. But gone was much of the primary motivation for the website. Now I had a great job and a website that lost part or most of its original purpose. Who am I kidding, having that daily nagging thorn of ineffective leadership removed was refreshing! Suddenly some of the creative juices around topics I had planned to write about faded.

Consistency is Key

This led to inconsistent posting to the website and the ForestryjobsHQ Facebook page. Since I love photography, Instagram was a bit of a different story. The initial motivation for the website was much different than simply sharing forestry relate photos. So inconsistency was not as big of a deal for the Instagram account. But as anyone trying to build a following on social media knows, content is important but consistency is nearly as important. Though I have had gaps in posting to Instagram, this was the one platform I was most active on.

Facebook, Twitter, and most importantly the website/blog was a whole different story. The ForestryjobsHQ Facebook page benefitted from the Instagram account due to cross-posting on the platforms. But those elusive blog posts started slow and faded quickly. There has been the occasional post from time to time over the last year or two. But not consistently enough to grow the readership of the blog. The same outcome for the Facebook page and Facebook group occurred as well.

What is next?

I have a few ideas bouncing around in my head. But which of those ideas or group of ideas is best for the “Great Reset”? I can get back to writing about the original topics planned for the website. I could broaden the topics to include more forestry-related subject matter. The website could turn into the “home base” for a podcast. Or shift to more video-based content. I could still look to add the job postings, though that will require more viewers. Maybe the website could be a hybrid of one or more of these? Or I could just shut it down.

Shutting down the site does not feel like the right move. Truthfully, this started more for my own needs. A way to express my frustration with what felt like a challenging work environment. Shutting down the site would be the easy thing to do. But there is the nagging feeling like there is something more this site can and should contribute to the forestry world. I just can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe it is because a saying an old co-worker used to share keep running through my head:

“Foresters Plant Trees to Benefit Generations They Likely Will Never Know.”

Over the coming weeks, I will be exploring some of the options for a “Great Reset”. And also doing some crowdsourcing of ideas. Looking for ideas that readers/viewers would like to see and would provide benefit to them. A survey or two to explore some of the details of bouncing around. Hopefully, despite the relatively small audience, I can gather some useful information.

So please keep an eye out for future surveys and feel free to drop any constructive ideas either in the comments below, on our Facebook page, or email to [email protected]. I would greatly appreciate the assistance.

Today in honor of National Forest Products Week 2020, we take a look at the Sustainable Forestry Carbon Cycle. Not only do forests provide a renewable source of forest products, but they also sequester carbon. And that carbon can be stored in long-lasting wood products like lumber, furniture, etc. So, as we continue with National Forest Products Week 2020, let’s take a quick look at the carbon benefits of sustainably managed forests.

The above graphic comes from Washington’s Working Forests, recent Facebook post. Adapted from California Forestry Association materials, we see the cyclical nature of forest management and the associated manufacturing of forest products. Managed forests go through a cycle of growth, harvest, and reforestation (aka planting in most cases). The harvested wood is manufactured into the many wood products we used every day.

More than Just Wood Products

And more than just wood and paper products are manufactured. Chips and sawdust (referred to as residuals) from the harvest and manufacturing process are used to generate energy. Today many sawmills produce excess power that is sold into the power grid and renewable energy. Additionally, in some communities, stand-alone power plants use wood for fuel. And a portion of the carbon generated from other sources (transportation, other manufacturing, etc.) is captured by the trees as the managed forest grows.

Active forest management is a tool to provide society with needed wood products and is a tool to sequester and store carbon. So, as we continue with National Forest Products Week 2020, let us all remember the multiple benefits from wood products.

National Forest Products Week 2020 runs October 18th to the 24th. It is a time to highlight, celebrate, and educate the public about all the great things the forest products sector provides. Lumber and other wood-based building products we use for our homes are just the start of the long list of products we get from trees. And as we all found out recently, the entire supply chain is essential to keeping toilet paper and other paper products on store shelves. As we celebrate National Forest Products Week, we will bring you various sources of information from around the industry.

Today we start with the first of a couple of videos produced by the American Forest & Paper Association. They are calling these videos: “Kids Take Over National Forest Products Week”. So, please take a few minutes to check out AF&PA’s video. And if you know someone who would like to learn more about forestry please share it with them.

Forest Products Week – Those who make it work

950,000 people work week in and week out to bring you essential forest products. So, let’s remember the foresters, loggers, mill workers, and many other jobs that help keep forest products on our shelves. They are key to keeping this important industry moving forward on a daily basis.

It is a great industry to work in, with a wide variety of jobs and needed skill sets. It can provide a rewarding career that helps to provides environmentally beneficial products we all use every day. In the weeks and months ahead we will explore more about the careers available in the forest products sector. Until then you can check out our post Three Reasons to enter the forestry field.

Our first aerial video

Check out our first video here at ForestryjobsHQ.com. We captured some aerial images of a stand of larch, pine, and mixed fir, last fall. We are still learning the editing software and exploring if we want to acquire our own drone.

We plan to be bringing you more videos in 2020. Be sure to check back or go follow us on YouTube.

You might be asking why should you care about what we are listening to right now. Well, because you might learn something. All kidding aside, the great motivational speaker and salesman Zig Ziglar created and taught the concept of “automobile university”. It is the idea of listening to educational material while you drive. His theory was if you drove about 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year, after about 2 years of listening to educational audio programs you could amass the same level of education as a 4 year degree. This material can include audio books and other inspirational and educational programming. Much of it available for free. Of course when he put this idea together it was based on cassette tapes.

• Legends and Losers – Described as ” the show for people who want to design a legendary life and a legendary business.” This one is definitely not for everyone, especially if you do not like the language sometimes used. This one is new to our playlist and so far we are really enjoying the show.
• Entreleadership  –  This one is run by the Dave Ramsey organization and has been a favorite on our list for many years. Don’t let the title fool you. There is useful content on this one for almost anyone. Doesn’t matter if you are an entrepreneur, long time employee or just entering the job market, there typically is useful information for a broad range of listeners.
• The Ziglar Show – “You can change what you are and where you are by changing what goes into your mind.” – Zig Ziglar. There really is no need to say much more about this podcast. Give it a whirl. This one really carries on the Zig concepts and ideas.
• The Tim Ferris Show – What Tim says about his podcast; “Each episode, I deconstruct world-class performers from eclectic areas (investing, sports, business, art, etc.) to extract the tactics, tools, and routines you can use. This includes favorite books, morning routines, exercise habits, time-management tricks, and much more.”

The chances of you having a remote interview by phone or video are probably greater now than any time in history. Remote interviews are increasing in today’s ever growing connected society and the ability to communicate relatively easily and cheaply over vast distances.  Certain job sectors, like technology careers can increase that likelihood. The forest products sector is no different. With forestry schools scattered across the country, it should be no surprise a company in the southern U.S. might interview a candidate graduating from school in the Pacific Northwest. And with forestry being an international business, there is even the chance for interviewing with a company on another continent.

If you should find yourself sitting for such an interview there are three tips for a successful remote interview any interviewee will want to consider. By no means are these the only tips for a successful remote interview. However, if you cover these three you will be off to a good start with your interview. Preparation can go a long way to help you land that next job. Failing to make a great first impression because the video does not work or your cell phone keeps cutting out or the background noise distracts the interviewer will set you back in the interview process.

Three Tips for nailing that remote interview

1. Test your connection:

Prior to interview day you should receive some basic information about the format and platform being used to conduct the interview. Whether it is by phone, Skype, Zoom, Viber, Google Hangouts or whatever the latest and greatest app is, make sure you get the connection details from the interviewer. If the interviewer/HR person has not sent this info to you a day or two in advance, politely contact them and ask for it. Another good idea once you know the app being used, is to try to find someone you can test your system with.

Make sure your connection, phone or internet, is stable and reliable. Check to see if your camera is working correctly. Test the audio quality and assure you microphone is picking up your voice clearly. Nothing is worse that on interview day to discover things are not working correctly. And do not forget to make sure the location you are using is conducive to an interview. Avoid places with background noise or distractions and clutter.

2. Arrive early

Just like an in person interview arriving early is a good thing. Those minutes before the interview can be used to prepare both your technology and yourself. Assuring the technology is up and running properly is the first task. Once that is out of the way use those last few minutes to run through the interview in your head. Think about the key points and information you want to share with the interviewer or interviewers. If you are nervous, use that time to calm yourself before starting the interview. Arriving early so you are ready to start on time is an important first impression to make on an employer.

3. Dress up

You should consider a remote interview the same or perhaps even more critical than an in person interview. In a remote interview, especially over the phone, you lose that connection of being there in person. It is hard for the interviewers to pick up on body language when they cannot see you. Even with video calls there can be something lost compared to an in person interview. With the challenges it is that much more important you are appropriate dressed. Try to gauge the culture of the the employer and consider dressing accordingly. Wear professional attire especially if it is a professional job. But even if it is not a professional level job, dressing like it can be powerful. Dressing this way can make you feel and appear more confident.

And don’t think you can get away with only dressing up from the waist up. Not only do you run the risk of not feeling completely put together, but supposed you have to stand up for some reason during the interview and the camera catches you in your brand new running shorts under that dress coat. That second impression could completely undo a great first impression. IN the end the basic rule is dress how you would if the interview were in person.

Preparation is the Key

These three tips for a successful remote interview can help get you ready for that next interview done over the phone or by video chat. A little preparation through practice interviews, testing your communications systems, preparing the setting you are using and arriving a little early can all help to have a great interview. And don’t forget to clean yourself up. In an age when the interviewing process may take two, three , or more interviews, that first impression is important. Good Luck!

Need some practice questions? Go sign up here to download them.