Well-known fact: Job searching and being unemployed can be one of the most discouraging and ego-smashing things a person could ever experience. Rejection is common, and there is a tendency to end up in a very unhappy place.
Then, there’s the chaos. If you’ve previously been working for most of your career in a full-time position, you’re used to have the structure and routine to each day. Being out of work, you find yourself in a drifting miasma of what do I do today? And with summer around the corner, it’s very tempting to blow off the job search and spend your day lounging in the sun. Unless you are planning on landing a swimsuit model job or applying for a lifeguard position, this isn’t an approach with a high rate of guaranteed success.
Someone once told me: Looking for a job IS a full-time job. You need to adopt that mentality. And to help you create a sense of direction to your search activities, you need to develop a specific job search plan. Here are some suggestions on how to chart your course, add some structure to your day, and give yourself definable goals to give you that sense of order that you had within the workplace:
1) Appoint a Job Search ‘Buddy’
This person will be someone you report to on a weekly basis. It’s going to be a lot more compelling for you to get off the sofa when you know you need to call this person on Friday and report back on your weekly activities. This person will hold you accountable and be your ‘cheerleader’ at the same time. NOTE: Make sure that this person is someone who is a friend, mentor or colleague. Don’t rely on someone in your household… this could be a potential sticky wicket with family relationships if you somehow fall off the bandwagon and could lead to arguments!
2) Number of Articles to Be Read Weekly
When you are unemployed or out of work, it is easy to feel that you are getting left behind on industry trends and issues. It makes sense to keep yourself informed and abreast of current events – not just so you can interject a useful bit of information in an interview, but also to have something to talk about when networking. It’s amazing when you have a clear command of what’s going on in the world how easy it is to find opportunities to talk about what you’ve read or learned. Plus, the added bonus is that people will see you as a great resource!
3) Number of Networking Events to Be Attended Weekly
Shy? Get over it. The ocean is full of sharks right now, and you need to be one of them. That means getting out of the house, and getting out to networking events. But the key isn’t to think of one of these opportunities as a horrible exercise in doing something you hate. Take a completely different approach: my friend Cleon Cox, who is the founder of the Portland Job Finders Support Group has this mantra which is perfect: Meet people, learn something, and have fun. If you go into a networking or business meeting with that attitude, the pressure is off and you are just there to find out about the world. Think of yourself as an explorer… you never know what you might uncover!
4) Number of Educational Events to Go to Monthly
When you are not working, again, there is the fear that you are getting ‘off the merry-go-round’ and losing ground to competitors. But smart job searchers realize that there is a huge opportunity to be gained during this time: go take classes. This could be a great way to help catapult you into a new career, enhance your professional credentials, or hone your skills. No matter how you look at it, employers will be impressed that you didn’t let the moss grow! And, if there ever was a time while working you wish you had a certain educational training for your career, this could be a great time to make it a reality.
5) Number of Volunteer Hours Per Month
Volunteering can provide exceptional opportunities to network, learn new skills, become a known quantity within an organization and even find out about industry or company job openings before they are even posted. Plus, you’ll feel good while doing it!
6) Number of Member Organizations To Belong To
If you have a target industry, chances are that there is some kind of related trade association or membership organization that you could join. The benefit of these organizations is that it can add to your professional credentials, you can add it to your resume, and then you can take advantage of industry events to either volunteer, attend educational sessions, gain industry certifications, and network to meet other people. You never know where this might take you!
7) Number of Informational Interviews Per Week
Part of the ‘getting out of the house’ aspect of this job search plan is to meet people… one-on-one in informational interviews. Many people mistakenly believe and take the approach that informational interviews are all about finding jobs. WRONG! Informational interviews are precisely about finding INFORMATION. Tap into your network, and see if your friends and colleagues can connect you to people that they know. Ask open-ended questions, like, “What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in the past five years in this position?” “What were some of the steps you’ve taken in your career?” - the goal is to learn things, not use this as a persuasive opportunity to try and get hired. The best part about informational interviews is that if you treat the person right who took the time to meet with you, they can become a great internal advocate for you. They might pick up the phone if a position comes open and they think you would be a good fit. Or, conversely, if you develop rapport with them, and a position does come open, they could be a good person to talk to about that position. Inside information is always a huge asset to your job search. ALWAYS thank interviewees for their time by mailing a hand-written note. Email is too easy and conventional – you want to show personal touch. And remember, 90% of all interviewees FAIL to send a thank you note. Don’t you want to be in the top 10% that gets noticed?
8) Number of Friends To Talk To Per Week
Who do friends know? People. Employed people. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your entire network (What the heck- you have time on your hands, right?) You want to circle back to the people in the farthest reaches- maybe that close friend that dropped off a few years ago. (But be careful about contacting that guy that you played football with on the high school team twenty years ago. That’s too far!) The key is to tap into your social circle and ‘refresh’ your connections. You never know what might happen.
9) Follow Up On Sent Applications
One of the biggest failures of job seekers is that they are constantly looking forward for the next job opening to apply for that they don’t go back and follow up on the positions for which they’ve already applied. You’ll want to start a separate job search diary, where you create a spreadsheet to track the positions you applied for, when the closing date was, the company name, any contact information and when you sent in your application. Wait about one week after the closing date, then call the employer to politely follow up. Sometimes, the position opening didn’t turn out to be the right fit for your skills. But if you treat the hiring manager or the human resource representative right, you could impress them in a very good way. That could put you on the “A” list for other jobs that come open.
10) Focus Your Resume on Key Themes
You probably have several different theme areas that you could develop separate resumes for based on your background. My own background encompasses being a meeting planner, television producer, sales and marketing director, instructor and resume writer. I have separate resumes that are focused on each of these areas. During this down-time, explore how you might have different incarnations of your resume, and take the time to develop these fully. You might be pleasantly surprised at how you can reinvent yourself and create new flexibility in your employment search.
This blog seems like, wow, a whole lot of homework, but the goal is to provide structure, stability and goals to you in a time where there is a lot of chaos, unclear objectives and confusion. By structuring yourself and your time while unemployed, this will give you the sense of purpose you need and also a boost to feeling productive.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Unemployed? Keep Your Competitive Edge While Out of Work
Many of my clients are currently employed, while others are out of work as a result of lay-offs, company closures or cutbacks. Those that have lost their job have told me that they are constantly worrying how they can keep themselves viable as a candidate, while continuing to search for a job.
I have some simple and straight-forward steps that you can take to keep your ‘toe in the pool’ and make yourself not only a highly-relevant but also keenly-competitive candidate:
1) Education
Did you want to obtain a particular degree that is common in your field, but never had the time to finish or even start? Now is a good time to invest in yourself and take advantage of your schedule flexibility to start coursework. It could make the difference later on down the line as many human resource and hiring managers evaluate education levels on resumes as part of their screening processes.
2) Professional Development
Examine industry organizations offering up educational seminars, sessions, workshops, trainings, conferences, conventions, certifications and continuing education units. Show prospective employers that you didn't sit around waiting for moss to grow. Instead, you focused your time between jobs by gaining industry-specific knowledge to keep you current on sector trends. This can go a long way towards enhancing your candidate profile. The whole purpose of professional development is to tell employers that you are a continual learner who is taking active steps to hone your knowledge and stay abreast of current trends.
3) Industry Affiliations
Memberships with professional organizations or trade associations that are relevant to your career search area can also enhance your image, help you gain valuable networking contacts, and provide industry-specific educational opportunities. Membership fees may seem steep, but the access they provide could prove fruitful.
4) Volunteer
Volunteering wins hands-down as the easiest (and most fun) way to build credibility, current experience and skills. By volunteering, you can learn new things, gain new skills, add current experience to your resume, meet new people, become a known quantity, and even learn of job openings before they are posted because you’ll have an inside track as part of the organization.
But the best part is this: by volunteering and engaging in altruistic behavior, this triggers the release of endorphins, which are the feel-good chemicals that can boost your mood. Being out of work can be tremendously discouraging; having an activity that is fun and makes you feel good too can be exactly the thing you need to get yourself into a proactive, positive job search mindset.
Finally, volunteer also sends a subliminal message to an employer: You aren't going to just show up and push papers around your desk from 8am-5pm; you are an active and engaged person. You are not only a good company citizen, but you are also a good community citizen. By virtue of your involvement in the community, undoubtedly, the company reaps benefit from your volunteering with a positive grassroots community 'plug'! It also shows that you have initiative!
5) Read as Much as You Can
Get online or go to the library, and voraciously consume any news and trend information you can find in your target career area. You’ll come across well-read, knowledgeable and resourceful to prospective employers when in an interview, or writing a cover letter. An added benefit is that you will also have a lot draw from when meeting people at networking events. You’ll be guaranteed to impress!
I have some simple and straight-forward steps that you can take to keep your ‘toe in the pool’ and make yourself not only a highly-relevant but also keenly-competitive candidate:
1) Education
Did you want to obtain a particular degree that is common in your field, but never had the time to finish or even start? Now is a good time to invest in yourself and take advantage of your schedule flexibility to start coursework. It could make the difference later on down the line as many human resource and hiring managers evaluate education levels on resumes as part of their screening processes.
2) Professional Development
Examine industry organizations offering up educational seminars, sessions, workshops, trainings, conferences, conventions, certifications and continuing education units. Show prospective employers that you didn't sit around waiting for moss to grow. Instead, you focused your time between jobs by gaining industry-specific knowledge to keep you current on sector trends. This can go a long way towards enhancing your candidate profile. The whole purpose of professional development is to tell employers that you are a continual learner who is taking active steps to hone your knowledge and stay abreast of current trends.
3) Industry Affiliations
Memberships with professional organizations or trade associations that are relevant to your career search area can also enhance your image, help you gain valuable networking contacts, and provide industry-specific educational opportunities. Membership fees may seem steep, but the access they provide could prove fruitful.
4) Volunteer
Volunteering wins hands-down as the easiest (and most fun) way to build credibility, current experience and skills. By volunteering, you can learn new things, gain new skills, add current experience to your resume, meet new people, become a known quantity, and even learn of job openings before they are posted because you’ll have an inside track as part of the organization.
But the best part is this: by volunteering and engaging in altruistic behavior, this triggers the release of endorphins, which are the feel-good chemicals that can boost your mood. Being out of work can be tremendously discouraging; having an activity that is fun and makes you feel good too can be exactly the thing you need to get yourself into a proactive, positive job search mindset.
Finally, volunteer also sends a subliminal message to an employer: You aren't going to just show up and push papers around your desk from 8am-5pm; you are an active and engaged person. You are not only a good company citizen, but you are also a good community citizen. By virtue of your involvement in the community, undoubtedly, the company reaps benefit from your volunteering with a positive grassroots community 'plug'! It also shows that you have initiative!
5) Read as Much as You Can
Get online or go to the library, and voraciously consume any news and trend information you can find in your target career area. You’ll come across well-read, knowledgeable and resourceful to prospective employers when in an interview, or writing a cover letter. An added benefit is that you will also have a lot draw from when meeting people at networking events. You’ll be guaranteed to impress!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Résumés Are Not Obituaries
One of the most common mistakes I see in résumés is that the person has provided essentially a laundry list of what they did in a job.
Boooorrrrring!!
This might be suitable for European-style curriculum vitae and highly technical résumés which thrive on miniscule details, but American-style résumés have turned the corner from the mundane daily job tasks. They have become a valuable tool and key place to illustrate value to a prospective employer.
If there was ever a time for proverbial chest-thumping, this would be it. You HAVE to toot your horn, as you are the only person who is the 100% devoted advocate for yourself. No one else is ever going to do this for you, and you can’t assume that an interviewer is going to know all fabulous things that you’ve done unless you tell them!
How to put this into writing? Think ACTION (what did I do) and RESULT (how did it impact the employer’s bottom line or corporate objectives).
Here’s an example:
BEFORE:
• Assist with multi-state payroll processing bi-weekly
• Update employee changes for 15 company codes using ADP
• Prepare payroll reports for services auditors bi-weekly
• Assist human resources with open enrollment selection
AFTER:
Managed all aspects of payroll cycles, delivering accurate and timely payroll management for 150-900+ employees in a variety of corporate settings, including input of payroll data, human resources and benefit information, garnishments, expense reports, 401k elections, life/medical/flexible spending, direct deposits, employee bond purchases and workers compensation reporting. Within first week of employment, identified and corrected employee healthcare payments to pre-tax (instead of after-tax) deductions.
One of the things that came out of the client interview in this case were some of the actionable items that the person did. With the rephrasing, we created a better picture of what they did in terms of delivering a significant impact to the company.
See your résumé as a critical tool as to how employers perceive your value. They want to know what you did in your previous job and how you helped a previous company’s bottom line as a way to evaluate what you might be able to do for them.
By showcasing what you accomplished in an action-and-result format, you are creating a dynamic document rather than creating a static recitation of what your job entailed. Don't let your old résumé become your obituary!
Boooorrrrring!!
This might be suitable for European-style curriculum vitae and highly technical résumés which thrive on miniscule details, but American-style résumés have turned the corner from the mundane daily job tasks. They have become a valuable tool and key place to illustrate value to a prospective employer.
If there was ever a time for proverbial chest-thumping, this would be it. You HAVE to toot your horn, as you are the only person who is the 100% devoted advocate for yourself. No one else is ever going to do this for you, and you can’t assume that an interviewer is going to know all fabulous things that you’ve done unless you tell them!
How to put this into writing? Think ACTION (what did I do) and RESULT (how did it impact the employer’s bottom line or corporate objectives).
Here’s an example:
BEFORE:
• Assist with multi-state payroll processing bi-weekly
• Update employee changes for 15 company codes using ADP
• Prepare payroll reports for services auditors bi-weekly
• Assist human resources with open enrollment selection
AFTER:
Managed all aspects of payroll cycles, delivering accurate and timely payroll management for 150-900+ employees in a variety of corporate settings, including input of payroll data, human resources and benefit information, garnishments, expense reports, 401k elections, life/medical/flexible spending, direct deposits, employee bond purchases and workers compensation reporting. Within first week of employment, identified and corrected employee healthcare payments to pre-tax (instead of after-tax) deductions.
One of the things that came out of the client interview in this case were some of the actionable items that the person did. With the rephrasing, we created a better picture of what they did in terms of delivering a significant impact to the company.
See your résumé as a critical tool as to how employers perceive your value. They want to know what you did in your previous job and how you helped a previous company’s bottom line as a way to evaluate what you might be able to do for them.
By showcasing what you accomplished in an action-and-result format, you are creating a dynamic document rather than creating a static recitation of what your job entailed. Don't let your old résumé become your obituary!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Fighting Age Discrimination – Tips for New Workers and Mature Workers
Let’s say you’ve been a dynamic student at your high school, and have a volunteering portfolio that would be the envy of many professionals currently on the job market. Graduation is just a few months away, and you’re looking to the future and your first job. You send résumé after résumé out, with no results.
Or… what if you are a mid-level manager who has been in the workplace more than 20 years, and have a work history listed going back 25 years. Same feedback… no interviews.
What is exactly going on here? And more importantly, if this sounds like your situation, what do you do to address it?
Most employers will deny it, but age discrimination is rampant. On the younger end of the spectrum, some employers think that new entrants to the workplace are too young, green, inexperienced and immature. Or, that these younger workers will be goofing on Facebook or MySpace every time they are near a computer.
This perception does an incredible disservice to the young adults who have worked hard to build an impressive portfolio that sometimes can outshine that of a mid-career worker. The opportunities for leadership development, skills training and community service are so much more abundant now for students and young adults than ever previously available. This has resulted in more highly skilled and knowledgeable workers who are increasingly competitive in the workplace.
Conversely, on the other more mature end of the spectrum, experienced managers have had the opportunity to gain wisdom and knowledge from trial-and-error, and are battle-tested. But some employers see more mature workers as a possible salary liability, operating under the assumption that these prospective employees have higher salary demands, and this would lead to strained budgets.
Another miscalculation is that there is an assumption that older workers are not as tech-savvy. If 85-year-old grandmothers can learn how to do email, video conferencing, and instant messaging, certainly a competent mature worker has already adapted with technology to keep themselves competitive in today’s marketplace.
One way to work around the age discrimination issue (at least until the interview, when the prospective employer sees the interviewee in person) is to neutralize a résumé to avoid disclosing clues as to how old you are. Here are some ways to do this:
1) Evaluate your email address: Is your email address reflective of how old you are, what year you were born, when you graduated? Or is it topical, especially with pop culture? How old do you think the person would be who had this as the first part of their email address: ‘barrymanilowfan’? Or ‘Janes1953’? Or ‘lindsaylohanBFF’. These are all clues as to the age of the applicant. Stick with your name and random numbers or letters after as a professional email address.
2) What does your voicemail or answering machine message say? Is it professional? Or does it have music going on in the background and you are trying to be ‘cool’?
3) Listing education in your résumé: Unless you are going into a scientific, technical or educational field, your academic background should be listed later in your résumé... And don’t list your GPA or year that you graduated- these are other dead age giveaways. I’ve found that many college or school career centers tell students to list it first- which screams to a prospective employer: “Look! This is the most important thing I’ve ever done in my life- so far!” If you list it later, it provides the feel that this is something you’ve done, but you have had some other relevant experience that is also important.
4) How many years of work should you list on your résumé? The ‘sweet spot’ of employment time listed on a résumé should be between 15-20 years. Anything more than that, then you are also screaming out “I’ve been around for a really long time!” Think about it in these terms (and I have had many clients who have been loath to drop off a really important accomplishment from 25 years ago): How relevant is that accomplishment today? An employer might look at that and think: “Wow, you did that 25 years ago- how come you don’t have any more of them like that within the last five years- what’s the matter- losing your edge?” Keeping current on your work history and not dwelling on things far in the past is essential to keeping yourself competitive.
5) If you are just entering the workplace, you can combine your work and volunteer experience into a section called “RELEVANT HISTORY” which can encapsulate the skills and experience you have gained – which allows an employer to see the breadth of what you are capable of achieving.
The key is to think about your own value proposition:
If you are a younger worker, then you offer a prospective employer a fresh perspective, new ideas and enthusiasm.
More mature workers offer companies maturity, life experience, being in touch with their intuition and have proven their mettle on the battleground.
Each generation has a unique proposition to offer employers, and it is important to focus on continuing your education to build knowledge and skills, getting involved in industry associations, trade shows, business groups and memberships, and maintaining a positive, enthusiastic attitude. These are all important factors that are immediately reflected on your résumé, and can help skirt around age issues and allow employers to focus on the value that you would offer them as a new asset to their company.
Or… what if you are a mid-level manager who has been in the workplace more than 20 years, and have a work history listed going back 25 years. Same feedback… no interviews.
What is exactly going on here? And more importantly, if this sounds like your situation, what do you do to address it?
Most employers will deny it, but age discrimination is rampant. On the younger end of the spectrum, some employers think that new entrants to the workplace are too young, green, inexperienced and immature. Or, that these younger workers will be goofing on Facebook or MySpace every time they are near a computer.
This perception does an incredible disservice to the young adults who have worked hard to build an impressive portfolio that sometimes can outshine that of a mid-career worker. The opportunities for leadership development, skills training and community service are so much more abundant now for students and young adults than ever previously available. This has resulted in more highly skilled and knowledgeable workers who are increasingly competitive in the workplace.
Conversely, on the other more mature end of the spectrum, experienced managers have had the opportunity to gain wisdom and knowledge from trial-and-error, and are battle-tested. But some employers see more mature workers as a possible salary liability, operating under the assumption that these prospective employees have higher salary demands, and this would lead to strained budgets.
Another miscalculation is that there is an assumption that older workers are not as tech-savvy. If 85-year-old grandmothers can learn how to do email, video conferencing, and instant messaging, certainly a competent mature worker has already adapted with technology to keep themselves competitive in today’s marketplace.
One way to work around the age discrimination issue (at least until the interview, when the prospective employer sees the interviewee in person) is to neutralize a résumé to avoid disclosing clues as to how old you are. Here are some ways to do this:
1) Evaluate your email address: Is your email address reflective of how old you are, what year you were born, when you graduated? Or is it topical, especially with pop culture? How old do you think the person would be who had this as the first part of their email address: ‘barrymanilowfan’? Or ‘Janes1953’? Or ‘lindsaylohanBFF’. These are all clues as to the age of the applicant. Stick with your name and random numbers or letters after as a professional email address.
2) What does your voicemail or answering machine message say? Is it professional? Or does it have music going on in the background and you are trying to be ‘cool’?
3) Listing education in your résumé: Unless you are going into a scientific, technical or educational field, your academic background should be listed later in your résumé... And don’t list your GPA or year that you graduated- these are other dead age giveaways. I’ve found that many college or school career centers tell students to list it first- which screams to a prospective employer: “Look! This is the most important thing I’ve ever done in my life- so far!” If you list it later, it provides the feel that this is something you’ve done, but you have had some other relevant experience that is also important.
4) How many years of work should you list on your résumé? The ‘sweet spot’ of employment time listed on a résumé should be between 15-20 years. Anything more than that, then you are also screaming out “I’ve been around for a really long time!” Think about it in these terms (and I have had many clients who have been loath to drop off a really important accomplishment from 25 years ago): How relevant is that accomplishment today? An employer might look at that and think: “Wow, you did that 25 years ago- how come you don’t have any more of them like that within the last five years- what’s the matter- losing your edge?” Keeping current on your work history and not dwelling on things far in the past is essential to keeping yourself competitive.
5) If you are just entering the workplace, you can combine your work and volunteer experience into a section called “RELEVANT HISTORY” which can encapsulate the skills and experience you have gained – which allows an employer to see the breadth of what you are capable of achieving.
The key is to think about your own value proposition:
If you are a younger worker, then you offer a prospective employer a fresh perspective, new ideas and enthusiasm.
More mature workers offer companies maturity, life experience, being in touch with their intuition and have proven their mettle on the battleground.
Each generation has a unique proposition to offer employers, and it is important to focus on continuing your education to build knowledge and skills, getting involved in industry associations, trade shows, business groups and memberships, and maintaining a positive, enthusiastic attitude. These are all important factors that are immediately reflected on your résumé, and can help skirt around age issues and allow employers to focus on the value that you would offer them as a new asset to their company.
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