Reposted from CareerAlley
"And I'm already gone And I'm feelin' strong" - Jack Tempchin and Robert Arnold Strandlund
I was looking at my weekly LinkedIn updates (which I usually ignore) the other day and noticed that one of my former coworkers had a new profile (and a new job). So I got to thinking, where are all of my former coworkers these days? So I called a friend and we started going through the list and I was amazed at how many times she said "no, he/she is already gone". Already gone? Doesn't sound good. To be fair, in many cases the individual had found a new job before they "moved on", but there were a fair number of people who were already gone before they had a new job. So whether you are already gone by choice, looking to be gone soon or afraid you will be gone there is no better time than now to look for a job.
Starting your Job Search:
- Building Your Resume - If you've not visited the CareerAlley Job Search Marketing Toolkit, now is a good time. The article includes background and links on how to build your resume, resume examples, resume templates, key words for your resume and a link for the best college resumes.
- Where to Start Your Job Search - Job-Hunt.org provides an article which helps organize your job search process. Starting with listing three stages (Preparation, Implementation and Maintenance - each with links). This is followed by additional links for a beginner's guide, researching companies and more.
- Writing Your Cover Letters - Another post from the Job Search Marketing Toolkit, this article provides background on cover letter types and then offers up links to samples, examples and the "how to" for writing cover letters.
- How To Start Your Cover Letter With a BANG! - Your cover letter is the first thing a potential employer sees and this article is all about how to get an employer's attention with your cover letter. Much of it is about the headline, take a read.
Recruiters:
- Prepare for the Interview - A list of links to help prepare for your interview. Acing the interview, Telephone Interviews, Do's and Don'ts and more. Check out the links on this page to help fast track your search.
- The Maxwell Group – This search firm specializes in finance, accounting, banking and capital markets (with the exception of Accounting, tough industries these days). Their site is fairly simple, with company overview and links on the left hand side of the page for Candidate Information, Current Positions and “Contacting Us”. The Candidate Information link provides an overview of the process and a link to register. From the Current Positions Page, you can select from three categories (Finance/Accounting, Operations and Capital Markets). Clicking on any of these lists the current positions, along with salary and location. Click on Detail to see more about the position(s). The Contact Us link provides information (name, address, telephone and email) for contacting this search firm.
- Nosal Partners – Nosal is an executive search firm that specializes in a number of positions. Their main site has tabs at the top for a number of topics regarding the firm. The Resource Center (left center) has links for Current Assignments, Register your credentials and a link to a number of resources. The About Us tab lists the recruiters, click on any one for a full bio along with contact information.
- Trandon Associates Inc. – Trandon specializes in Accounting/Finance, Banking/Brokerage, Healthcare and Support Services. Additionally, the have a consulting division that does both temporary placement as well as temp-to-perm. Their main page has three links – About Us, Career Opportunities and Contact Us. The Career Opportunities link leads to a page with links to their open and advertised positoins. Click on Contact Us for their address, telephone number and email address.
- Slayton Search Partners – Slayton is an executive search firm with four locations in the US. Their site has a number of tabs at the top for Candidates, Contact, About and more. The Candidates link leads to a page where you can email your resume or login/register for their resume upload process.
Good luck in your search.
- Egon Zehnder International – Egon Zehnder is an international firm that speicalizes in a number of fields and provides a few services in addition to recruiting (consulting and advising). From their main page, click the link for Executive Search. This page provides an overview, as well as a number of resources. Click on Your Career, followed by your country to link to a page where you can enter your information. You can also click on the map, select your region/office and get direct contact information.
Already Gone? - Find Your Job
Secrets of the Job Hunt: Developing Your Career Insurance Policy
How many of you would say that collecting Unemployment Insurance and being without a job has been the best part of your career? Has it empowered you? Has it changed how you think about managing your career? What will you do differently? Is it about taking control? Try and Get a Job the Right Way by Barbara Stafani talks about search
and maintenance of your career.
Many job seekers have learned how important it is to network. They proclaim they will continue to network after they secure a new job. So sadly, life, work, obligations get in the way and their commitment to networking sometimes fizzles out.
Absolutely, networking is one form of "career insurance". However, there may be an even more pro-active productive way of doing this...and the best time to start on this path is while you are employed.
I am talking about a portfolio career. BNet defines a portfolio career as:
Think of it this way. You have a retirement account and maybe even financial investments. You don't put all your money into the same fund do you? You diversify your investments. You do this as a form of insurance because if one doesn't perform as well, you'll be protected by the others. This is exactly the same logic you'll want to apply to your career."a career based on a series of varied shorter-term jobs at either concurrently or consecutively as opposed to one based on a progression
up the ranks of a particular profession. The portfolio worker is
frequently self-employed, offering his or her services on a freelance or
consulting basis to one or more employers at the same time. However, a
portfolio approach can also be taken to full-time employment with a
single employer, if the employee chooses to expand his or her experience
and responsibilities through taking different roles within the
organization."
How do I get started, you may be asking? It starts with assessment. What do you really enjoy doing? What are your core competencies? This is the best place to start.
I came across The Launch Coach. 7 Steps to Creating Multiple Income Streams is a free downloadable .pdf with great questions to get you started. Honestly, it really gets you thinking (and I am not getting paid to say this).
The Employment Digest has written Is A Portfolio Career Right For You? This post has references to other resources and things to consider before jumping into this arena.
Another valuable resource comes from my friend, Barry Hopson, who has co-authored a book "And What Do You Do" and maintains a blog on the topic of Portfolio Careers. .
Right now, portfolio careers are an option. With the changes in how employers are doing business and the types of jobs they are hiring for, being a contractor or working on short term projects may be the only option in the future.
Will you consider diversifying your portfolio today?
FIRED? The Interview Solution - PART 1
So you were fired? Now what? How will you explain it when you interview?
There are many questions that plague job seekers. “What salary are you looking for?” is a big one. “Why should we hire you?” is another. And “Why did you leave your last job?” can leave you spluttering and on the defensive if you were fired and don’t know how to answer.
And most people don’t! After they’ve stumbled through a few answers—trying in vain to phrase it in an acceptable way—and are not invited back for a second interview, their fears are confirmed. No one will hire them because they’ve been fired.
Except that’s not what’s really happening. The problem is not that they were fired, but how they answered the question.
We don’t stay at a job our entire lives like most of our grandparents did. Not only is it common to change jobs, some believe it's the best way to leverage salary and career. While most of the changes may be of your own volition, odds are a few will involve being fired or laid-off.
Companies are bought out, merged, and consolidated, which means inevitably there’s a duplication of staff. It can be as simple as the new president wanting to bring in his own team. He probably didn’t even look at your capabilities; he just decided you were …outta there.These departures aren’t as difficult to explain. You can say:
- “Our company was bought and the entire department was eliminated.” (It’s not me; a bunch of us were asked to leave.) Safety in numbers.
- “The new president wanted to bring in his own guy. I lasted about a week.” (It’s not me; the president didn’t even take the time to find out if I was good at what I do.) A prospective company can’t possibly hold something against you that’s so… impersonal.
- “The company was losing money and downsized.” (It’s not me; if the company had been profitable, I’d still be there!)
The common thread is, “It’s not me.” Therefore, I am not flawed, unwanted, performing poorly, or any other reason you can think up or worry about. But these types of partings, while they seem impersonal, can still have a detrimental effect. We’ll get to that in a minute.
The instances that cause real damage feel very personal, even when they aren’t. You are the only one who was dismissed, and what’s more, you know they’ll replace you. You’re caught off guard, angry, and frightened, too. In an instant, you’re on the defensive, which is usually where people remain. And that’s exactly what causes the problem.
Firing isn’t always about the individual, even though that’s who’s impacted the most. Sometimes it’s about the boss—especially bosses with issues. It might be about poor performance, but that’s not always negative. It could be the result of having different philosophies. For instance, the company may value those who work weekends, nights and holidays. You prefer to balance your life.
Once you’re fired, you can’t change the circumstances. But you can control how you view them. While departmental or company-wide layoffs are easier to explain, they can also cause damage. You wonder, “If I’d been really good, wouldn’t they have found another spot for me?” In addition, you’re in an insecure place that sometimes is difficult to adjust to.
Take time to clear some tears or anger. If you’re tempted to recoil, rehash, threaten revenge or otherwise communicate with your previous employer, don’t. Remember one word: reference! Don’t burn your bridges. Leave the company gracefully.
Most importantly, detach yourself from the event and honestly examine what happened. That’s the only way you’re going to get any insight and begin adjusting your thoughts and perspective.
PART TWO: I’ll tell you how to handle it, so that you can answer the question with grace, rather than fear.
Guest Expert:Judi Perkins, the How-To Career Coach, was a recruiter for 22 years, consulting with hundreds of hiring authorities throughout the hiring process. She’s seen over 500,000 resumes, knows how hiring authorities think and how they hire. As a result she understands and teaches what other coaches don’t: why the typical strategies in finding a job so often fail, what to do instead, and why. She’s been on PBS’s Frontline, will be in the May issue of Smart Money magazine, and has been quoted frequently in numerous articles for CareerBuilder, MSN Careers, Yahoo Hot Jobs, and the New York Times, among others. She’s also been featured as an expert in numerous career books. Sign up for her free newsletter at http://www.findtheperfectjob.com/!
What Would Dad Say: 5 Easy Things to Say at Your Next Job Interview
Often, job seekers want to know exactly what to say during the interview. They hope there is a magic answer. “Ah, Miss Jones, you answered that one correctly…here’s your job.”
Sorry, it does not work that easily.
There are some things you CAN say at every interview that WILL make you stand out from the other candidates. Here are a few of them.
1. Please and thank you. Mom was right. Interviewers notice this, I kid you not. Thank the person for the interview, for the coffee, for opening the door, and for granting you the interview after. Do not worry about too many thank-you’s or pleases.
2. Say something like “I have been thinking about your company, and how I can make a contribution.” And then proceed to enlighten the interviewer on how you can help them. If you cannot do this, go back to square one, do some basic research and get to a point where you can say this….and be believable. It does not make any difference if your analysis is wrong by the way. They do not expect you to come up with a solution to a big problem…it is enough that you were thinking about their company, in advance of the interview.
3. Find something to compliment about the company. This is easy. Did you like the way you were greeted at reception? Do people seem nice? Find something to say positive to the interviewer. Be genuine.
4. Ask for the job. Too many interviews end in no-man’s land. Find out if they are interested by simply asking for the job. Too many interviews end with no real action…find out what you have to do next. This is clearly the most important thing you can say during the interview: “May I start right away.”
5. Repeat what the next steps are for you. You will be told what the next steps are…repeat them back to the interviewer. I can’t tell you how many people we have interviewed here, and the standard ending comment of our main interviewer is “well, how about if you think about the job, and if you are still interested give me a call by Friday, at 3 pm.” He is very specific as to when he wants to be called back. You would not believe how many people do not hear this, or choose to forget it. I think they believe that if the company is interested, that we will take action and call back. We won’t and neither will most companies.
Let Your Resume Tell Why You Left Your Last Job
Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.It’s never fun to think about the awkward situations that you will run into when you reach the interviewing stage of the job application process. You never know exactly what will be asked, but you can anticipate – and sometimes that anticipation leaves you biting your nails off to say the least.
This sentiment is often true when you know that there is information on your resume that you know could come up during the interview – like why did you leave your last job? If you’re concerned that this information might be an issue, you might want to get some of the explaining over with on your resume. This way, you just may have less to explain when the time comes.
Don’t Sidestep the Issue on Your Resume
Because the reason that you left your last company is bound to pop up in the interview – and this is something you absolutely cannot lie about – it is a good idea to make mention of it in your resume if you think it is a reason that could raise eyebrows. Of course, you don’t need go into great detail because this is not what the resume is for, but by mentioning it, you can implant a bit of the detail into a hiring manager’s head before seeing you.
For instance, if you were let go from your company, there are a couple of reasons that this could have occurred. One is that you were outright terminated from your position and another is that you were laid off. If you were laid off due to downsizing because of the financial crisis, you could mention this detail in your resume. Because employers understand the gravity of the Great Recession, some will not ask any further questions.
Let Your Cover Letter Do Some Work Too
If you want to go into further detail about why you were let go from your position, you could allow your cover letter to do some of the talking as well. For instance, you could mention how much you enjoyed working for your previous employer and that you remained committed to its goal. However, due to the financial crisis and the need to downsize, you and 2,000 others were let go from their positions.
You could even go into short detail about how the experience was difficult at first but in the end it made you stronger in character. Or that it brought your family closer together, something you’ll always cherish (of course, only say something like this if it’s true). If you talk about your departure rather than sidestepping it, it could actually make an employer more interested in you, which is why it’s good to go ahead and tackle it head on.
So are you ready to pull your job search together? If so then it’s good to really think about how you’re going to approach the reason that you left your job. And always keep in mind that while it’s good to make mention of it in your resume and cover letter, it could always come up in your interview, so be prepared.
By Heather Eagar – Need a job? Be sure your resume is the best it can be. Review resume services and choose the best one for you and your situation. Do it today at http://www.ResumeLines.com
Water Cooler Wisdom: Day in the Life - How to Manage 4 Jobs
You may have heard the phrase, “if you want to get something done, ask a busy person.” In my experience, this is true. For instance, try eating at two restaurants – one crowded and one empty – and notice the speed of the service at each one. I guarantee that the crowded restaurant will be faster every time.
The busier you are, the more quickly you learn how to work efficiently, and you can get more tasks done in less time.
In addition to raising a two year old son and spending one day a week with him, I currently hold four jobs that I am paid for:
- Wall Street Journal columnist: My nationally syndicated career advice column, Reinvent, appears online and in print on Sundays. The column features interviews on topics and trends related to career change and reinvigoration.
- Blogger: I post on job hunting, careers, and productivity twice a week at my home blog, Water Cooler Wisdom, and weekly at the QuickBase blog and a few others. As an active participant in the blogosphere, I also read and comment on many other blogs.
- Author: For the last four years, I have written at least one business book a year. The publication of each book requires substantial promotional efforts at launch and ongoing publicity and social media engagement post-launch.
- Workplace speaker and consultant: Some organizations approach me regarding how they can help their employees succeed in their careers, and work more effectively with colleagues in other generations. I speak about these issues in house as well as at conferences and universities.
I am responsible for completing all of the responsibilities associated with these four jobs in the space of a 45 hour work week. When I worked one job in the marketing communications field, I put in about as many hours – more at times – and certainly had less work product to show for it. I’ve been able to do it through a process that has evolved over many years.
Here are some of my strategies:
Assign jobs to specific days
I have four days in which I’ve reserved the entire day to work. In order to avoid getting overwhelmed, I create a monthly schedule in which I am slated to work at just one job per day. For instance, on Monday I am responsible for writing my Wall Street Journal column and weekly blog posts.
Leave two hours per day for last minute tasks
I make sure I only schedule enough work for six hours of each day. This way, I have two hours to devote to unexpected tasks like networking calls, media interviews, and website edits. Because I don’t have a full-time assistant, I often need to complete administrative tasks related to my business during this time.
Schedule “bulky” tasks three months out
Bulky tasks are ones that require a huge chunk of time, such as attending a conference or traveling out of town for a speaking engagement. As a general rule, I plan assignments that will take me out of my regular routine for at least 24 hours several months in advance. This advance planning allows me to avoid overscheduling a particular timeframe. It also means that I occasionally have to turn out bulky opportunities that appear at the last minute. Unless they are extremely lucrative, they’re generally not worth the stress.
Adhere to generous deadlines
I am only able to write a book a year because in the contract with my publisher, I give myself the entire year. If I were to spend all my working hours researching and writing the book, I would probably be able to finish it in a few months. But because I have four jobs, this isn’t possible. Allowing myself the cushion of a year means that I only have to work on the book 1.5 days a week. Each 60,000 word manuscript develops more slowly but is also much more manageable.
Say no or go online
Getting four jobs done in 45 hours means that I sometimes have to say no to people who want me to help them with a particular task or event. I try to do one pro bono event and three informational interviews per quarter, and if a request falls outside that scope, I’ll usually say no. I might offer people the option of moving an in person event online so that I can participate that way, and when people want to network with me over lunch, I will almost always try for a phone call first.
Repurpose content
As a result of writing five books and publishing hundreds of blog posts and articles over the last few years, I have generated a substantial body of content. I keep my writing in folders organized by subject that I can readily access when the time comes. I try to retain all rights to my content so that even if a particular organization has first publication rights to it, I can re-use it after a period of time. Therefore, the work that I perform might very well be applicable to two or more of my jobs.
Prevent fall-behind by making up lost hours immediately
There are times when an unexpected doctor’s appointment, sick child, or visiting friend threaten to wreck havoc on my work schedule. When this happens, it is very easy to fall behind on the work that was supposed to be completed on that day, and this is where self-discipline comes in. Even if I’d rather watch Lost, I make up the missed time by working that evening after my son is in bed, or on a weekend afternoon I had planned to have off.
It may seem like I get a lot done in 45 hours, but I think I use every minute much better than the average corporate employee. During scheduled work time, I don’t surf the Internet, I don’t chit chat with colleagues in the kitchen, and I don’t go for Starbucks runs. Rather than just showing up in the office and letting the chips fall where they may, I plan what is to be accomplished each day very strategically.
Those of you who who work on a variety of tasks at once – how do you maximize your efficiency?
This post originally appeared on Intuit's Quickbase blog.
Blue Sky Resumes Blog: Quack Like a Duck and Other Secrets of Successful Career Change
Written by Louise Fletcher
Nicholas Lore, founder of the Rockport Institute, is a career development pioneer.
He single-handedly transformed the career coaching field, he’s been commended for excellence by 2 US Presidents, and his book “The Pathfinder’ is one of the best selling career books in US history. Over the last 29 years he’s helped over 14,000 people to make a change.
I was fortunate to spend an hour on the phone with Nick recently, and I picked his brain about the career change process. Here are the key things I learned:
Take a holistic approach to the decision
When Nick started out, career counselors all followed the same model – using very basic interest and personality tests to identify and suggest jobs that might suit you.
It was a flawed model and even now, Nick believes many career change ‘experts’ are misguided, focusing solely on one aspect such as ‘following your passion’ or ‘identifying your life purpose.’ Instead, he says, career change decision-making must be a holistic process. He points out that a passion for animals won’t necessarily translate into happiness if you take a job in an animal protection agency. You may find you don’t like your tasks, or the people, or the salary, or the hours. And what started out as a passion can quickly feel like a millstone around your neck.
That’s why Nick guides his clients through a holistic decision-making process. He likens it to detective work – identifying and interpreting clues in order to guide each person towards the right decision.
Go beyond the dream
You may think you know exactly what you want do, but Nick encourages his clients to “expand what’s possible.” He believes we tend to base our dreams about the future on what we have known in the past, and he encourages his clients to think beyond what they know and consider completely new possibilities. In the process, many find joy and self-expression in work they had not previously considered.
Be realistic
According to Nick, there are two different tracks to consider when working through a career change decision.
The first is reality: We all have constraints on what changes we can make. Perhaps you have to pay for two kids in college. Perhaps you need to stay in a certain regional location. Your talents and skills are another reality constraint – if you can’t draw, you can’t become a video game artist.
The second is what Nick calls ‘the invented world.’ By this he means the world you decide that you want to create for yourself (within the limitations of reality of course). To help people create their invented world, Nick and his staff coach them through a series of exercises designed to help them explore, research, and understand all of the many possibilities.
He also encourages people making a career change to research the reality of the positions they are considering. It’s easy to imagine only the good things about your desired role without considering the down sides. It’s also common for people to succumb to “yeah-but” thoughts that keep them from making a change.
Don’t focus on random options
Nick says one of the biggest mistakes career changers make is that they start by thinking through random options. (“Maybe I could be a psychologist” … “Perhaps I could learn to style hair” … “I wonder if I should become an accountant.”)
While this approach might result in success, it’s more likely to lead to a dead end. Instead Nick recommends developing definite clear, written statement of your specifications for happiness before you start to consider options.
This list should include both your reality constraints and your ideal “invented world.”
And as you make your choice, ask yourself ‘what will it take to get there?’ to be sure you’re willing (and able) to do what is necessary.
For example, one 40 year-old client of Nick’s decided she wanted to be a doctor, gave up her job, and went to medical school in order to make the change. That kind of commitment is only possible when you have fully thought through your decision from all possible angles.
A resume isn’t going to do the trick
A good resume is important but it can’t get you where you need to be without a creative approach.
In general, employers are looking for someone with experience in the specified field or industry. They are not looking to take a chance on someone new and untested.
This means that you can’t just apply to advertised positions and wait for the phone to ring. Instead, you need a more creative approach. Nick puts it this way: “if you want to be a duck, you need to walk, talk and fly like a duck.”
He gives the example of one client, a successful economist who realized she had an amazing gift for product design. But as a middle-aged professional, she wasn’t enthusiastic about returning to school to learn an entirely new skill set. Seeking other ways to break into her chosen field, she devised a creative solution – she set up, planned, organized and moderated a symposium on breakthrough design, held at the Smithsonian. In this way, she placed herself right into the middle of the product design field with the key players. Or as Nick put it “she beamed her way up rather than battling her way up.”
This strategy has become easier than ever with the advent of social media. Sites like LinkedIn allow you to reach out and connect with people from any industry. Services Like Twitter allow you to initiate conversation with anyone you choose. For no cost at all, you can set up a blog about your target profession and very quickly build a strong reputation.
Remember, if you want to be a duck, you have to act like one.
My conversation with Nick was inspiring. He told me that what keeps him going after 29 years is his commitment to helping people love their lives. What a great mission!
