Pounding Pavement II

Interviewing in 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 05:54:00 +0000

As I sit here on Thanksgiving evening, with more to be thankful for than I have time to mention, I look ahead a few weeks, as I face certain layoff on December 22.

If you've been through a layoff before, then you know the roller coaster of emotions you ride.   I have had 3 months' warning, and have been doing all that I know to do to find a new gig, both inside and outside of my present place of employment, but at this writing, I have, at best, a few warm leads.

Some might be content to have leads, but I'd be a lot more content with a job offer. The truth is that I've applied and networked as much as I can while working full time, and it has produced calls from potential employers. I have done multiple phone interviews, follow-up thank you letters, a couple of really good face-to-face interviews, but that is as far as it goes. Naturally, I'm wondering what I might be doing or not doing in the interview to not move past the initial face-to-face interview.

Many thoughts go through my head about my interviewing--- too confident, not confident enough, wasn't specific enough, went into too much detail, etc., etc.    The truth is, I do not know what is going on.   "Behavioral interviews" are the interviewing style du jour, and depending on how strict to form the interviewer is, it can be very difficult to answer the unspoken questions being asked by the question being asked.

For example, if you are asked "tell me about a time when you had a disagreement with your boss. What was it about, how did you approach it, and what was the result?"   Is the interviewer interested in that specific incident?   Somewhat, but more than that, the real questions being asked are "How do you relate to your boss? How do you handle conflict? What people skills do you have?   Will you fit in to our culture?"   etc....or at least that is what I perceive to be the questions behind the questions.   I've had one interviewer give me feedback about these questions behind the question, and it is very difficult to understand what the interviewer really wants to know or hear.   It is sad that this newest form of interviewing is seen as superior to having a conversation with the person you are interviewing about their experiences and accomplishments as they relate to the specific position for which that person is being interviewed.   In all honesty, it is much easier to fool the interviewers using the behavioral interviewing approach if you know the game and can play well, especially in a situation where the interview is short and there isn't a lot of other discussion before a hiring decision is made.

Behavioral interviewing is all the rage today, but I would caution anyone who thinks it's a panacea for poor interviewing of the past.   It wasn't that past interviewing techniques were inferior; it's that the same bad interviewers of the past are now doing bad interviews in the present with the behavioral interview model.    Frankly, anyone can talk a good game using any interview model.   Multiple discussions over time and with different people about experience needed for a position should not be replaced by an "all powerful" behavioral interview.

Perhaps a better approach to the behavior interview is to ask interviewees about specific skill/experience/accomplishments that would show that an interviewee has the skills and experience needed to be successful in the role for which they are interviewing.   For example, "How do you work with a group of diverse people as we have at our company? Can you give me an example of when you have done that?"    This is straightforward questioning that will generate a straightforward answer.   If the interviewer has no ability to discern the skill level from this approach, behavioral interviewing will not help them.

I've had several behavioral interviews lately, and people will ask me about an organizational development experience, I answer the question with a clear OD example, only to have them say that they did not hear an OD example, and they re-ask the question.   The issue is not so much that I didn't answer the question, but that they are non-OD people, do not understand what OD people do, but by using a behavioral interviewing sheet, believe they can discern if I have OD skills. Ludicrous.

Perhaps it is just me, but behavioral interviewing is another "HR trend" that HR believes will suddenly help bad hiring decisions from being made.   Giving a person a supposed tool does not enable a person to suddenly have discernment or make them analytical enough to read the human being with whom they are thinking. It is unfortunate that the root cause of bad interviewing hasn't been truly addressed--the interviewers themselves.   More skill building in this area with hiring managers and HR personnel would greatly improve the interviewing process.

Feelings, Part Deux

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 05:19:00 +0000

So, I know that I can trust God to take care of us; He's proven it over and over....why do I have this fist-sized knot in my stomach?

The easy answer is that I'm human, that I'm not fully trusting God, and I'm sure those are partly to blame. More than that, I think it is unexpressed frustration and anger.   I know life isn't fair, but as I look at what is going on in my company ahead of the layoff, I am both saddened and angry that I have not had any input to the "big plans."

I watched as a VP touted the new plans as innovative and "course changing," and how excited HE is, as HR will be taking care of everything that specialists (training, org development, recruiting, talent management--whatever that is) have spent considerable time developing expertise through study and practice.   My comment to my coworkers as we left the meeting was, "I hope if he ever gets a heart attack, that he'll have a GP (general practitioner) to care for him instead of a cardiac care specialist."   Maybe then he'll feel differently.

This is the logic that is currently being spouted from our corporate leadership--that HR people (they include us professional training and org development people in with them!) have to be able to be a jack of all trades.   They are entitled to that opinion, but my guess is that within 5 years, that "logic" will fall apart.   Of course the entire HRBP (HR Business Partner) is the concept du jour of the HR world, but I wonder how many business leaders look at this and snicker.

I've spent about 20 years in training and development, and personally, I consider it an insult to say that an HR Business Partner (should there have ever been an HR person who wasn't aligning their efforts to the business?) can take on training/OD as well as recruiting, compensation, benefits, etc. and perform well.   I know the years I've spent dedicated to training and OD and how much I am still learning. I think it amusing to assume that because it is pronounced, HR employees will suddenly become expert in fields they've spent little time learning about and practicing in.

Well, I thought I'd feel better getting this off my chest, but it's just sunk down into my gut again. This is going to be a fun Fall!

Feelings...woe, woe, woe feelings....

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 04:53:00 +0000

Not being a new comer to the job search discipline, you'd think by now that I wouldn't get too excited about having to go through the whole process again.....but you'd be wrong.

First and foremost, I know God in is control, but why do I feel like "this" on Sunday night before the first round of layoff notices go out tomorrow morning? Perhaps it is the whole uncertainty of the future thing. I like where I live, I like what I do, and even I like where I do it. Who would want anything to change?    Even if you are miserable in your job, the prospect of being laid off and having to search again just seems to trump the other feelings of misery. Of course, we'd all like to think that we're in control of our own destinies (an illusion), and having something happen to us is most disconcerting.

We all are disturbed at the prospect of change while in our comfort zone at a job, regardless of how "bad" we thought it was. We realize the prospect of having no job at all is very real and no longer an academic discussion at lunch with our coworkers.

I'm watching people who've been at my company 25+ years struggle with the feelings that go with the question "what will I do if I'm laid off," and that's just no fun to watch. Mind you, I'm not having happy feelings at the prospect of being laid off, but I'm not struggling with feelings over the fact that the last time I had to look for a job was when Ronald Reagan was president.

Think about where you were 25 years ago and HOW you looked for a job. Are newspapers still the first place you'd look for a job today? Will you go "pounding pavement" and knocking on doors (you won't get past the security desk)? Will you look for any job just to get into the company and work your way up? If you've had to look for a job this century, you know that all three of the questions above no longer are possible (or are rarely possible).   This fact, in and of itself, can lead to panic.

I was at a job search resource group and sat down next to a man who'd been in his job with a large, well-known company for 25 years. We talked a little, and though we were both out of work, I felt bad for him.   The only good thing I could tell him was that being at that job search group would help him tremendously and that he should throw himself fully in all its activities and workshops. Still, there was a look of doom and gloom on his face that my encouragement just couldn't seem to erase.

Now, we all should keep the perspective that there's always someone worse off than I am, but even knowing I'm not months from retirement or have been in the company 25+ years with no clue how to find jobs in the outside world doesn't seem to make these butterflies settle down in my stomach.

"The Only Thing That Remains Constant is Change"

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 05:07:00 +0000

So, I am at my current job for a year and a few months, and I've now received news that there is going to be a 5% reduction in force. Needless to say, there are a lot of "non-value added" discussions taking place around the office. Everyone is wondering if they'll get the call.

The first thing I tell people when they hear this news is that no amount of worrying, scheming, nail biting, trash talking, etc. is going to change what's going to happen. HR folks are looking at workforce and numbers, and in a large company, they surely do not know who they are cutting by recommending that Dept X cut heads by 10% vs. Dept. Y who is told to cut by 5%. That's when I tell people to remember that God is in control of the company as well as our lives.

Even with that being the case, it is prudent to get your job search "machine" in motion. Since you've kept your resume up to date (HAHAHAHA), you're at least 2 weeks ahead of everyone else. Make sure you begin contacting your professional acquaintances (hopefully, you've never let those relationships slide) and let them know what's going down, and that you'd appreciate any input they have on the job market. Also, now is the time to locate a few of the key job sites for your profession, and use an RSS reader to subscribe to job listings in your field and area so that you can review the jobs pulled to your reader quickly without having to wade through the muck of a gazillion job listings. Get your resume out on a few job boards, into professional associations' job banks, and most of all---NETWORK with others in your profession to learn of opportunities and what has been happening in your field, since you most likely got lazy/busy for all the time you've been gainfully employed.

But first of all.....deal with your feelings. I've talked to a couple at my company that have been with the company for a long time (20+ years) who think it may be "their time" to go. If that is you, you'll have more emotions to deal with that many of the others, but it isn't the end of the world, just the end of the world as you've come to know it. It may be that you are about to embark on a new chapter of your life, even if you thought the book of your life had been finished ages ago. For most who fit that category, the timing stinks, as you are probably struggling with mid-life issues anyway, and now, your job, the thing you may have thought defined you, is going away. Your life isn't going away, but you may feel like it is.

For the rest of us, it will be an emotional time until all of the layoffs happen, even if we don't think we have anything to worry about. Of course, now is the time we start thinking about the Dave Ramseys of the world who try to get everyone to get out from under their debt. Heavy consumer debt can make layoffs even seem more like the end of the world. Get your spending under control, because you might need some cash for a rainy day very soon.

All-in-all, the emotional part of a layoff seems hardest to deal with for me. I'd almost prefer for it to happen as it did for me a few years ago---rumors of layoffs were all around, but I didn't see it coming until the boss called me into his office one Friday morning.

Bottom line: ALWAYS be ready to find a new job, and ALWAYS keep your networks warm. In this or any economy, none of us know when/if the boss will insist that we come to his office on Friday morning.

Really?

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:00:00 +0000

It's been approximately 8 months on my new gig---the best job I've ever had in many ways. I haven't written a blog entry in 2 months. So, should I be thinking about my next job? How many of you say "NO!?" You're wrong.

The thing is, none of us know how long our jobs will run, with long tenures and golden watches for retirement not the norm, none of us can afford to get complacent. Have you done a skills inventory lately against the skills currently being sought out in your field? Is it time to hit a couple of seminars in 2011 to get yourself up to date or to inspire yourself to grow intellectually?

I've been at my job for 8 months, and since I was, more or less, in job search mode for 1.5 years (though I was working contracts), I find myself like a coworker who, after completing his Master's degree, found himself going to his study on Sunday afternoon as he'd done for a couple of years, realizing that he no longer had to spend EVERY Sunday afternoon in study and paper writing. It feels weird to NOT be on an intense job search--of course, I'm not complaining.

If you haven't taken stock of your current position/employer/field in a while (like over a year), I would strongly encourage you to do so. Do a skills inventory, research jobs in your field that you qualify for and/or would like to do and hiring trends at companies that you think you might like to work for. Expand your social networks, especially LinkedIn. Right now, employers can afford to be selective when interviewing candidates for the positions they have open, and seeing the skills and experience for which they are looking might be a good indication of where your skills development plans should be going. Some of the skill needs you may find that your field desires may be something that would take you a few years to acquire. If you're working now, don't wait until you aren't to update your skills and make yourself more marketable.

*Scratches Head

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 06:00:00 +0000

Every time I have to ask myself this kind of question, I realize that I have that much more maturing to do, but I'll ask anyway.....

Why is it that people who are out of work are reluctant to try new methods of job hunting? I offer to help people where I live, and there seems to be few takers in a down economy. I'm not a job hunting expert, but having done enough of it, had outplacement training a couple of times, etc., I have some insights and contacts that I'm happy to share with job seekers, but I get few serious requests. (checks armpits---nope, nice and clean).

I especially get concerned about those who haven't had to look for a job in a long time (anything over 10 years, or as close as 5 years ago), as the "game" of job hunting has had all kinds of rule changes.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me implore you all again---be preparing for your next job while in the one you have, and if you find yourself out of work, be a guerrilla job hunter, working every angle at finding your next gig. I feel deeply for people who are unemployed, and feel frustrated when I see them not aggressively searching with a variety of methods that are necessary in today's job hunting climate.

Running the Good Race

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:49:00 +0000

I'm now on the job a couple of months now, and I can honestly say that I enjoy my job. The first 8 weeks have been tough, as I am learning a new system, learning a job from a consultant, developing relationships, handling issues that I didn't create but have to learn to solve, considering the future vision for training and support, etc.

It's been busy and stressful at times, but it most assuredly beats being stressed by spending a zillion hours a day duing a job search. Some may want to argue that work can't be fun, but since God created us to work and not to lay around and do nothing all day, I feel fulfilled in helping others learn and improve their lives, and that is core to who I am and why I am here. It can't get much better than that in this life.

It's Been About a Month....

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 05:05:00 +0000

Since I've started my new, regular full time position (after 1.5 years of contracting), and a Lead in the department remarked the other day that my information intake is now downgraded to "drinking from a fire hose!" There's nothing like starting a new position: you feel exuberant, everyone is nice and friendly, and if you're a Supervisor of some sort, they are all really nice.

After that first day or week, you do your best to really learn enough to contribute some intelligent input into projects and meetings. If you work for kind, encouraging people, they try to encourage you, and that's the kind of folks for whom I'm working.

Studies have shown that most supervisory and executive employees take 6-12 months to get fully functional in their jobs. Of course, not all of us have such time to learn and adjust, and we do the best we can with the time we have. Orientation programs can help considerably with "coming up to speed," but in the end, you will need to put extra effort in to catch up, as your success is dependent on the effort you put in on the job. I have found that the first 6 months of any new job is stressful, as you are spending extra time learning and doing things that will take you a fraction of the time a year from now. That is normal. If you're in a new position, try not to stress out for the first few weeks. In no time, you'll be so comfortable with the new systems and processes that you won't be able to understand why you thought is was so difficult to learn that stuff.

With all that said, I'm enjoying the new learning experience, as it is stretching me in some ways, and I look forward to making positive contributions to my company.

VenueGen -- the Future of Meetings and Training

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Wed, 26 May 2010 03:55:00 +0000

As some of you know, I've been involved in Second Life for a couple of years now, and the 3D web has tremendous potential for use in business and learning. A new service, VenueGen, provides a much simpler interface for users and operates like MS Live Meeting, giving you the capability of 3D virtual meetings on demand. In my opinion, a service like this is what is needed to bring 3D web/virtual simulations to the greater population. Depending on the pricing, it could compete with Live Meeting, as Live Meeting is technology from earlier this century.

http://www.venuegen.com/?q=node/1186

Big Dog, Little Dog: Outlook for the Learning and Training Profession

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Wed, 26 May 2010 03:47:00 +0000

Big Dog, Little Dog: Outlook for the Learning and Training Profession

For my learning/training and development peers....from Don Clark.

"Survivor" for the Class of 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Mon, 17 May 2010 15:22:00 +0000

The Wall St. Journal has an superb article on the reality of the job market today specifically directed at the new college graduates...more information below.

I can still remember "way back when" I was newly starting out, believing what I referred to as "the lie" --- "if you go to college, you'll get a good job." Of course, when you graduate and encounter reality, you're incensed! It isn't really a "lie" that you can get a good job with a college education, it's just that reality wasn't explained more clearly to you. As my father explained to me once, education provides you with an OPPORTUNITY for success, not a guarantee. I can guarantee that if you don't have a college education in 2010, your opportunities will be very limited.

An illustration of the harshness of reality may be helpful here. I knew a young man who in 1990 who was about to graduate and confidently stated, "I think my degree will be worth about $30,000 a year." I was listening to him along with another man who had worked hard to build his roofing company, and at this announcement, me and the roofer instinctively turned to look at each other and just started laughing out loud. The soon-to-be college graduate was somewhat insulted.   I told him that, in effect, the world didn't care about his education and surely wouldn't pay him for having gone to school.   Now, I didn't want to hurt his confidence, but I did want to convey what I had learned (the hard way)---that most young college graduates have what Robert Ringer (Looking Out for Number One) calls "The World Owes Me a Living Disease." No one owes anyone anything (Someone should let our current government leaders know this.). The fact that you were disciplined enough to finish a college degree says a lot of positive things about you as a person, and in some fields, there is a body of knowledge with which you have become familiar in getting your degree, but in reality, rather than shake your hand, the world is more likely to kick you in the butt, punting you to the curb.   Now is the time for you to kick your parents in the butt if they ever told you life is fair. They lied.

Another sad truth is that most young college graduates have no training in job searching in 2010, which is a full-body contact sport with a lot of veteran players on the field.   A relative recently graduated from college, and he seemed somewhat aware of the tough road ahead. Of course, having spent his last 7 years in college (!), he has no real idea of the tsunami of reality about to hit him.

Perhaps this Wall St. Journal article can be the kick in the pants for you or a young college grad you know. It's part of life's body of knowledge that you most likely never learned in college, but is every bit as critical as the subjects you studied to earn your degree. Your toughness and tenacity is what you will need to survive in the workforce....and I would add your faith, your patience, and your persistence. "Wax on; wax off."

------------------------------EXCERPTS FROM THE ARTICLE:

"Over the next few weeks, hundreds of thousands of Millennials will graduate from institutions of higher learning. They will celebrate for several days, perhaps several weeks. Then they will enter a labor force that neither wants nor needs them. They will enter an economy where roughly 17% of people aged 20 through 24 do not have a job, and where two million college graduates are unemployed. They will enter a world where they will compete tooth and nail for jobs as waitresses, pizza delivery men, file clerks, bouncers, trainee busboys, assistant baristas, interns at bodegas."

"Young people can be forgiven for thinking that the portrayal of the working world in comedies like "The Office" and "Office Space" is completely over the top. Now they're going to find out otherwise. Reality is a mean trick that grown-ups play on the young."

"It's brutal out there, all right. Blogs and instant messaging and social networking systems don't help much because everyone is using the same cutting-edge tools to compete for the same low-tech jobs. The easiest way to get a job is still the oldest way: To know somebody who can get you a job or give you a job."

Read this article in it's entirety! It'll be worth every minute.   The full article is at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704250104575238692439240552.html. It's a must read for everyone, not just college students.

Phenomenal Job Search Materials!

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:57:00 +0000

Came across a site today (http://www.thomasjackson.info/sale_fish.htm) that has a resource that I haven't seen before, but have often thought of: a 30-60-90 day step-by-step plan for conducting a job search. Thomas Jackson's information is incredibly on target, and I think his "Job Search First 90 days Tips & Tricks" resource is something that is a must read for all job searchers, especially those who haven't conducted a job search in some time, haven't attended a networking group, or those who haven't had the benefit of outplacement training.

I see a lot of job search sites, and his may not be the best looking site, but the downloads are as good (or better) than anything I've seen.

Ecclesiastes 3:6 "A time for search and a time for loss; a time to keep and a time to give away"

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 21:25:00 +0000

Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a fixed time, and a time for every business under the sun.

When you get some time to examine yourself, especially if you are busy searching for your next career opportunity, you may find that your mind wanders off in many directions. Perhaps, you think, you could make a living as a fisherman or fireman or circus freak like you dreamed of doing when you were a child. Maybe what you've been doing isn't what you really want to do or what you feel God has planned for you in life. We should always be asking ourselves hard questions about our direction in life, but most of the time, we excuse ourselves as just being way too busy.

Always having been one to spend a lot of time in reflection (some might say way too much), I imagine the many different courses my life could have had, has had, is on, and/or could take, and frankly, it's both terrifying and exciting! Like the next person, I enjoy the comfort that is the American standard of living, but if all we are concerned with is physical comfort (i.e. "making a living"), are we experiencing "life" or just "physical existence?" Years ago, I remember being in a dead-end job, thinking, "God, is this it? Is this all there is to life?" When you pose that question directly to God, you probably should have your seat belt on and tray tables in an upright position. It's at that point that I think He must deem us teachable, and class usually commences shortly after we pose such a question.

I'm reading Bob Buford's Half Time (Changing Your Game Plan from Success to Significance) right now, and I highly/especially recommend it for anyone approaching that "reassessment" period in his or her life. I'm guessing that a lot of people are experiencing "reassessment" as they find themselves looking for work during this economic downturn that has turned out so many long-tenured, experienced workers.

As you think about your life and career---and this is largely the point; YOU MUST TAKE TIME TO REFLECT---lose yourself in your dreams and imagination. You may be holding yourself back from something wonderful that matches with what you believe is your life's mission. Sure, some people are so far underwater with the cares of life that they can't hope to reach their life's vision in the foreseeable future. If in frustration we give up and stop dreaming, we become real-world versions of Star Trek's Borg. Realization of some dreams just takes more time and commitment, and some changes in life require greater commitment than thinking about it one afternoon and deciding to act.

It's a good thing it takes many years to get to adulthood. When we're "grown up," we have finally reached a point where we can possibly learn about ourselves---if we are willing to take the time and effort.

Employment Situation Information for Those in Texas

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:38:00 +0000

The Texas Workforce Commission provides detailed information on Texas economics as related to jobs (http://www.twc.state.tx.us/customers/jsemp/jsemp.html). If you need to get some data on Texas and your area in Texas, this is a good place to get it. If you are from another state, check with your state government/unemployment office for these figures.

A key indicator of employment trends in Texas is the statement, "The Texas seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March remained unchanged at 8.2 percent for the fifth consecutive month, and continues to trend well below the March U.S. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 9.7 percent. At more than 12.1 million workers, the Texas Civilian Labor Force grew by nearly 29,000 workers in March."

The unemployment rate in Texas is significantly lower that the rest of the United States: 8.2 vs. 10.2 (see partial chart below). It is important to note, however, that for Texas and the US in general, the unemployment rate has risen over the past year by 1.2%, and if you're out there job hunting, you know how much of a challenge finding a job is.

Click image for larger view.

The point of all of the statistical information is to help us all understand state and national trends affecting our job searches. Yeah, I know, "so what?" Well, since economics and hiring is based on perception -- either "gut feeling" ("We think we're doing better, so let's hire people.") or by numbers ("These stats show some improvement in economic conditions, so let's hire people."), it is enlightening to know if you have a better chance at getting a new job. Feeling more confident about success in finding a job will also improve your attitude, and potential employers can pick up your attitude in your correspondence, your phone screens, and definitely in your face-to-face interviews. Hey, if nothing else, your family and friends will appreciate your better attitude. Come on, you know you haven't been fun to be around when you are in a nasty state of mind.

"The Labor Market & Career Information Department (LMCI) of the Texas Workforce Commission provides statistics and analyses on the dynamics of the Texas labor market and informational products designed to support informed educational and career decisions. In addition, LMCI provides a wide array of career and occupational information through software programs and printed publications. Visit the LMCI website at http://www.lmci.state.tx.us for additional products and services. For more information or questions about our data, please contact labor market analysts by phone at 1-866-938-4444, or by email at lmci@twc.state.tx.us."

Twitter is the New Tool for Job Seekers

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 20:05:00 +0000

I was recently in a meeting of some of my peers in learning and development, and the laugh of the night was about how stupid Twitter is. Almost none of them "tweeted," except for me, and I kept kind of quiet. It's not that I'm shy about technology use, it's just that my trying to talk to them about this subject would have as much effect as if I yelled down at ants on the sidewalk.

I'll admit, I don't want to read on Twitter about anyone getting ready to use the restroom, but discounting stupid things people put on Twitter, it is a very good job-hunting tool. The brief article is has good info on how to use Twitter in your job search.

Twitter is the New Tool for Job Seekers

March 17, 2010 by sparktalk http://www.careerealism.com/twitter-tool-job-seekers

By CAREEREALISM-Approved Expert, Jessica Miller-Merrell
Being in the job search is tough and as a job seeker you are not alone, especially with the more than 15 million who are out of work and in the job hunt. People don’t prepare for the job search although they should at least six months in advance. This provides you an opportunity to grow and build your network using both traditional (face to face networking) and non-traditional methods (social media networking).
One non-traditional networking tool is Twitter. Think of Twitter as a virtual cocktail party with more than 27 million people in attendance. Like any traditional cocktail party or networking event, there are conversations (known as your Twitter stream) that happen all around you. Twitter is no different. Because your purposes for Twitter are primarily business based, it is extremely important to selectively join and be present for key conversations among decision makers or influencers in the industry in which you are looking for work or in your community.

Follow People. Following others and retweeting or reposting their tweets is a great way to begin to build a relationship. Use Twitter directories, which are essentially online yellow pages, to search for influencers in your target industry, location, or by keyword like Twellow, and We Follow. Here are 15 more great Twitter directory sites courtesy of Mashable.

SEO or Search Engine Optimization. Be found by making sure to include key words that are searched by recruiters and hiring managers in your Twitter bio. Consider words including industry specific software programs, certifications, and words that are repeatedly listed in job board advertisements. Recruiters use key words within your tweets and your bio to find you. Make it easy to be found including key words and a link to your blog or profile.

Hash Tags (#). Hash tags are used in Twitter as a way to sort and search by topic. Some common hash tags for job seekers including #jobs, #jobhuntchat, #jobsearch #jobadvice. Using your iGoogle account, set up an RSS feed of common key words and hash tags in Twitter Search. Setting up your RSS feed is a great time saving tip.

Enjoying this article? You could get the best career advice daily by subscribing to us via e-mail.
Find Recruiters. I almost always suggest job seekers take an aggressive approach to their job search. Just as recruiters source and search for you, job seekers can seek out and connect with recruiters, human resource professionals, or hiring managers using social media search tools. Twitter directories are a great start, however there are more advanced tools like Follower Wonk and Twitter Search. Both these offer advanced search options allowing you to search by keyword and zip code. Follow Wonk provides advanced bio search options.

Building Relationships. Chris Brogan provided a crude, yet effective, example of social media networking and how to build relationships. He likened engaging someone and asking them for a sale, to buy their product, or a job to sticking your tongue down someone’s throat just after meeting them. Basically, don’t ask for the sale until you have an established relationship. Social media can be very surface and the relationship is the glue that holds your reputation and relationships together.
To learn more about Twitter for the job search and business, you can take a look at my book, Tweet This! Twitter for Business. E-book and softcover versions are available.

Did you enjoy this article? Read more articles by this expert here.
Jessica Miller-Merrell, SPHR is an author, new mother, and human resources professional with a passion for the job search, recruiting, and all things social media. Jessica has over 10 years of experience in human resources and recruiting industry. She specializes in helping job seekers with personal branding specializing and job search strategies helping others learn the unwritten rules of the job search. Her creative technique and strategies have received national recognition from Entrepreneur, Glamour Magazine, HR Executive Magazine, and Employment Digest. Jessica also is the host of the only live job search web show every Sunday 9 PM EST on MomTV.

Job Tip # 48: You are not a Failure

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 04:51:00 +0000

Another networking group in DFW that caught my eye, as they hit the nail on the head....you are not a failure. Job loss or unemployment can be especially hard on men psychologically, as many men get their self-worth and self-image from their jobs. A job is indeed a career that you throw yourself into, but it is not WHO YOU ARE. Easy to say; sometimes hard to remember, right guys?

Job Tip # 48: You are not a Failure
Of course you are not a failure, but this Tip title did get your attention. Here's some suggestions from pro Head Hunter, Nick Corcodilos……If your job search is failing, it's for one of two reasons. First, you may be scared because you believe you're not good at your work. If this is happens to be true, admit it to yourself and do something about it. If you don't, your work will never make you happy or successful. Second, you have been brainwashed like most Americans by the media and by America's Employment System to follow antiquated rules of job hunting. Realize that if this System worked, you wouldn't have to mail out 200 resumes or go on 20 interviews before finding a job.

There is only one rule for success in a job search, and almost no one follows it: you must prove, to the manager for whom you want to work, that you can do the job he needs to have done and that you can do it profitably. This is the single most important rule headhunters live by when they prepare a candidate to interview for a job. http://www.askthehe adhunter. com/habyoh. htm

For those in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex:

The Watermark job support group meets every Tuesday morning, 8am on the 3rd floor of the church tower building, 7540 LBJ at Park Central, free admission, no pre-registration. Here is a video introducing the group. http://cbs11tv. com/video/ ?id=51937@ ktvt.dayport. com

You can sign-up and your resume will be circulated to potential employers in our group.
http://www.watermar k.org/ministries /care/jobs- ministry- careers-in- motion/

James Reed
reed.james@yahoo. com

Sadness...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 04:43:00 +0000

I'm sure some who'll read this will write me off as a nut job, but having been given reasonable mental ability and a fascination with the behavior of human beings, I can only express sadness for the actions of many of our politicians (not leaders) of late. The great men who founded this country would be shocked to see our government forcing anything on Americans, a majority of whom do not favor it. The health care debacle will haunt us the rest of our lives and will negatively impact an already sad state of affairs for job seekers.

I so hope the coming years will prove me wrong. This isn't 1964 with a large group of Americans being savagely discriminated against--many thought wrongly regarding discrimination and desegregation in those days. This is 2010 with a mixed-race man in the White House who won't release his full birth certificate information, and who seems bent on taking America down a road to be just like "the rest of the world." Folks, I don't know about you, but I don't want to be like the rest of the world--otherwise, I'd move there. We have the highest standard of living in this country in the world, and if you've traveled anywhere outside the US, you know just how true this is.

That's why people come here anyway they can from everywhere, seeking the opportunities (not guarantees) that this country offers. What I think is ironic is that some want to give it all away, not realizing that in doing so, they will make this country less desirable to live in, and in the process, take money away from people who are working hard and give it to someone else. I think most Americans are very compassionate people, giving more money away than anyone else, trying to help other countries and other people. Sure, we're not perfect, and even a cursory walk through US history would turn up big mistakes, but I believe that the collective desire of Americans is to do good and help other people, or so I was raised to believe.

Why is it that at this time, politicians force something on people that is clearly not supported by the majority? Didn't Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence and address similar abuses that the colonists had to endure from England? I don't begrudge helping to take care of people who can't help themselves, and I know that there are some who can't. But I also know that there are some who can and choose not to. By adopting the socialist model for healthcare, there will be no incentive for those people to work, since the government will meet their healthcare needs on top of their food, housing, etc. needs.   The poorest person in this country is richer than most of the rest of the world. Healthcare is available and affordable, though we all like to whine about its cost. For most Americans, we'd just have to play less and waste less money in order to pay for healthcare---if we were more responsible adults.

I know it sounds like I'm on a rant, but I just hate that I have to continue to work hard to provide for my family, and now a government already too big is telling me that I have to buy something whether I like it or not and help to pay for it for others who don't necessarily deserve it. In addition, the economic impact on the country of adopting this plan will seriously impact the country.   People, we are seriously in debt, and we have politicians who insist that they way to get out of indebtedness is to spend more money! This healthcare bill has the potential to send us into bankruptcy, and I'm still scratching my head when I hear people talking about what good managers the government will be--the same folks who bring you the IRS, Social Security, Medicare, the VA, etc. Yep, quality management there.

I know liberals don't worry about things like the economy and personal responsibility for your station in life, that those who are concerned about such things are evil, capitalist robber-baron types, but most liberals don't mind the amenities (standard of living, freedom, etc.) that this country affords them. Some decry capitalism as evil, but it is the nature of man that is evil and separated from God. THAT is what produces abuses in all forms of human government. Say whatever you like, but we are losing our country in much the same way the Romans lost Rome (see http://www.thefreemanonline.org/featured/the-fall-of-rome-and-modern-parallels/) ---their worst enemy was their laziness and gluttony. Government handouts/entitlements and suit-happy citizens and their shyster lawyers looking for quick wealth are easy illustrations of the laziness, envy, gluttony, and sad state of America.

Our country was founded by men who were sick and tired of having to endure unfair laws and rules imposed on them from afar, and I think that same mood exists in most Americans today....or, perhaps I'm wrong. Perhaps most Americans would prefer to sit on their collective backsides, party, eat, play, and collect "free" money.   That is not what I signed on for in life, and as a Christian, that is not what I am called to. I usually don't discuss this kind of thing, but it's just that watching this country implode like this is painful and sad.

Are You Getting Enough Sleep?

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:44:00 +0000

I'm going to pass on commenting on this, except to say that I found it..."interesting." :)
___________________________________

Are You Getting Enough Sleep?
March 04, 2010

Do you have problems falling asleep at night? Do you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night and find it impossible to go back to sleep? Are you exhausted or fatigued in the morning?

You’re not alone. One in three people suffer from varying degrees of sleep disruption. Too little or erratic sleep can cause damage to body function, impact metabolism, increase frustration and the loss of motivation. More importantly, failing to get enough sleep can heighten the potential risk of workplace incidents.

Quality sleep is necessary for your mind, emotions and body to work efficiently because restoration and repair of any damage to these areas occur during deep sleep. For example, 17 hours of sleep lost during the week has the same effect as a blood alcohol level of .05 percent which is more than twice the Department of Transportation’s legal limit. This causes slowed reaction time and reflexes, poor motor skills, decreased attention span, memory loss, poor communication skills and inaccuracy in tasks. Mood swings may also occur, leading to irritability and impatience.

In order to get enough quality sleep, we have to practice good sleep habits. Here are a few tips to help you regain your sleep:

· Get between seven and eight hours quality sleep. Start by going to sleep about the same time each night and waking up at a similar time each morning, even on off days. This strengthens the biological rhythm. Go to bed only when sleepy.

· Avoid stimulants like caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, large meals and beverages or limit these after lunchtime. Avoid strenuous exercise three to four hours before bedtime. Avoid medicines that delay or disrupt sleep like some over the counter cough and cold and asthma medicines and some heart and blood pressure medications.

· Do not take naps after 3 p.m. Limit nap time to 30-45 minutes.

· Relax before bedtime: Taking a warm bath (this helps cool the body), reading or listening to soothing music can help you relax. Have a winding down bedtime routine. Do not rehash the day’s events or think about planning the following day at that time. Develop a worry time, if you need to prior to bedtime, like after dinner.

· Prepare your sleeping area for sleep. Close drapes, turn off or cover lights on clocks. Make sure the temperature is comfortable (a little on the cool side). No watching television while in bed, especially disturbing news or programs that excite you such as sporting events or other competitions. If you cannot fall asleep or waken for more than 15-20 minutes during the night, get out of bed and do something relaxing in another room.

· Avoid using sleeping medication. If you do use sleep medications, do not use them more than one or two nights per month. Try to get outside during the daylight hours and get at least 30 minutes sun exposure to arms and legs.

If you continue to have trouble sleeping and you feel tired or not well rested in the mornings, see your doctor to determine if you have a sleeping disorder. Chronic sleep loss lasting more than four weeks could be due to medical conditions that can be treated including insomnia, Sleep Apnea, Restless Leg Syndrome. Your family doctor or a sleep specialist should be able to help you.

For employees working evening or night shift, you are more likely to have sleep disturbance and sleepiness during work unless you take the following precautions:

· Take scheduled breaks during the shift.
· When rotating shifts go from day to evening to night rather than the other way around or maintain a schedule for seven days.
· Use dark curtains or eye shades to keep light out and run a fan to help block external noises.
· Enlist your families help to not include you in events that will prevent you from getting enough sleep.
· Block out your sleep time in advance and protect this time from being interrupted by outside intrusion.

If you find yourself feeling depressed, sleepy and crave high carbohydrate foods. This condition, called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), may be eased by 30 minutes of exposure to bright light in the morning.

There are a number of beneficial health and safety reasons to get enough sleep. You can help prevent chronic disease, fatigue and injuries. This along with a balanced diet, at least 30 minutes physical activity daily, and no tobacco use will prevent the major causes of death and disability. When you are well rested, you will be able to learn more, have a sharper memory, and be better able to control your weight and metabolism.

Practice good sleeping habits and enjoy good restorative sleep at no cost to yourself or anyone else.

For additional information, go to www.sleepfoundation.org/sleeptips.cfm

20 Habits of Highly Effective Job Seekers in a Down Market

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:44:00 +0000

Awesome stuff!
---------------------------------------------

20 Habits of Highly Effective Job Seekers in a Down Market
By Ford R. Myers, President, Career Potential, LLC

Even in a down market, job seekers and employees are not powerless or without recourse. In fact, you have more control over your career circumstances than you might think. I've developed 20 specific strategies and tactics that consistently generate powerful results for job seekers, even when it seems that "no one's hiring."

1. Network, network, network. Continually increase your level of networking and keep expanding your contact database. Reach out to reestablish and nourish business and personal relationships. Offer to help others, even if they're not in a position to help you (because what goes around comes around). There is no substitute for connecting with people one-on-one. Stay connected and don't isolate yourself. Being out of work does not mean you have to be out of touch, so be sure to build and maintain your networking momentum.

2. Seek help. Get career support from a professional. A qualified career coach can better prepare you to land your next position. If career coaching is unaffordable for you, take advantage of the support provided by government programs, nonprofit agencies, job search groups, college/alumni career centers, or faith-based missions for the unemployed and underemployed. If you're thinking of changing industries, get some career testing. If you're struggling emotionally, get help from a mental health service provider.

3. Read career books and attend career seminars. Take advantage of learning opportunities to improve your job search and career management skills. Keeping informed of business trends will help you gain greater knowledge of the industries and careers that are poised for future growth. Stay plugged into the market and your field to ensure that you'll be current, and to maintain your intellectual capital. Apply what you learn, and generate stronger search results.

4. Leverage technology. Utilize Web sites and online services to connect with your industry and to build greater visibility. Create a career web site, using tools like VisualCV ( <http://www.visualcv.com/> www.visualcv.com) and LinkedIn ( <http://www.linkedin.com/> www.linkedin.com). Reach out through social networking sites, such as Facebook ( <http://www.facebook.com/> www.facebook.com), MySpace ( <http://www.myspace.com/> www.myspace.com), and Twitter (<http://www.twitter.com/> www.twitter.com). Keep in touch with colleagues consistently via e-mail. In addition to leveraging career portals and job boards, learn how to use online tools like blogs, wikis, and virtual job fairs. Focus on optimizing your online identity.

5. Differentiate yourself. Position yourself as an expert by writing articles, giving presentations, or teaching a class. Get involved in professional organizations, and assume leadership roles there. Do something noteworthy in your community that will garner special recognition and build your positive reputation. Focus on what makes you special, and build your brand within your industry.

6. Use your time off wisely. Pursue professional development by participating in classes, seminars, certifications, and industry conferences. Take advantage of free and low-cost programs to enhance your credentials. Explore more of your world to generate new ideas. Do the important things that you never had time to do when you were working full-time. Enjoy the feeling of still being productive and making a
contribution.

7. Pursue a temporary, part-time, or contract position. Volunteer, provide pro bono work, take on a consulting contract, or complete an internship or apprenticeship. This tactic is especially useful for those who wish to pursue a career in a different industry. Keep yourself in the game, so you won't lose traction in your career growth.

8. Act with speed and urgency. One way for you to get an edge over other candidates is to demonstrate that you're more serious and more determined than the competition. Show up earlier. Arrive more prepared. Move quickly and efficiently. Make an impression by being more responsive and assertive
than the others.

9. Take care of yourself. Eat well, exercise, get plenty of rest. You'll need to be healthy and vital to maintain the pace of an active job search campaign. Stay in close touch with friends and family. Keep-up with your interests, hobbies, and activities. Follow your normal routines, even as you work hard on getting the job you want. Maintain balance in your life, and don't let the job search become all-consuming.

10. Be flexible and adaptable. Consider shifting industries and/or being geographically mobile to open-up more career possibilities, even if you would not ordinarily choose these options. Rather than waiting for the perfect opportunity, offer your skills to other industries and lend your experience to different positions. Do whatever you need to do (within reason) to keep your career intact and earn a living. But NEVER lose sight of your career direction and long-term career goals!

11. Improve and enhance all of the documents in your career portfolio. Now is the time to expand your career portfolio far beyond just the resume. You'll need a one-page professional biography, a collection of powerful accomplishment stories, a series of compelling cover letters, a page of professional references, a list of targeted employers, a 30-second commercial (elevator speech), and other items. Craft a unified package that consistently conveys a highly professional image of yourself.

12. Identify industries that will emerge stronger when the market improves. Research emerging opportunities and niches that will offer career growth, and position yourself to take advantage of these trends. (Healthcare, education, and security are some fields that are expected to continue expanding.) If your field has collapsed, be sure to communicate your transferable strengths and the tangible value you offer, rather than focusing on the trade skills from your old industry. Adapt to the realities of the changing work world, rather than holding onto your old career identity out of fear, resentment, or even nostalgia.

13. Practice interviewing and negotiation skills. In an ideal world, you would have been practicing your interviewing and negotiation skills while you were fully employed, rather than waiting for a career crisis to arise. But now that the employment market is in crisis, it's that much more important to polish and perfect these skills. Solicit the help of a partner to role-play with you, and switch roles as needed with the questions and answers. Practice with an audio-recording device, and listen to yourself as you continually improve your performance.

14. Be patient, but persistent. When the job market is bad, employers will prolong the hiring process, and your search is bound to take longer than usual. There is not much a candidate can do to rush things, so you'll need to be patient. However, this does not mean you should sit by the phone waiting for the employer to contact you. You'll want to pursue two basic strategies: (1) Be persistent, but don't be a pest, as you follow up consistently on every opportunity; and (2) Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Instead, keep moving forward as you explore every appropriate opening you can find. One benefit of pursuing multiple positions is that if you don't get an offer, or if an employer never gets back to you, you won't
feel crushed.

15. Focus on tangible results and practical solutions. In a healthy job market, candidates can market themselves with their employment history, education, and related assets. But when no one's hiring, there needs to be a relentless focus on tangible, positive results. The primary question in the employer's mind will be, "What can you do for me - now?" This means that you should zero in and quickly identify the employer's most pressing needs and challenges - and then explain exactly how your relevant accomplishments will allow you to successfully address those issues in the short term.

16. Work from a budget. Instead of going into a panic or worrying that you'll lose everything you've worked for, conduct a detailed analysis of your financial situation and develop a family budget. You may discover that you're in a better financial position than you had thought. While you're in transition, cut back on expenses and live as frugally as you reasonably can. Examine and update this budget on a weekly basis. This sort of discipline will pay-off by stretching your dollars and providing some peace of mind.

17. Be kind to yourself. Your experience of being out of work or looking for a new job will be determined by how you look at it. You have a choice. You can beat yourself up, feel like a loser, and be riddled with guilt and shame. Or, you can look at your situation in a more positive way. Realize that you are not to blame for the economic meltdown or the high unemployment numbers. You didn't do anything wrong, and you're still a highly qualified professional. There is no longer the same stigma there used to be about being unemployed, as almost every family in America will be touched by layoffs and downsizings. Forgive yourself, forgive your ex-employer, and forgive the world. Move on toward a better career future.

18. Pay extra attention to your personal image. First impressions count. Make a deliberate, consistent effort to present yourself in the best light. Ask yourself, "How can I enhance my attributes in the following areas: hair, eyeglasses, makeup, hands, clothes, shoes, accessories, posture, smile?" Now
is the ideal time to take stock of your appearance, and make whatever changes you feel could improve your job search results.

19. Watch your attitude. Job search is really an inside game, especially when no one's hiring. That is, the outcome of your search will have much more to do with how you think about it than with the external circumstances of the job market. Avoid the gloom and doom messages disseminated by the media, and stay away from any negative people in your life who bring you down. Maintain a positive attitude, and never state anything negative or act desperate. Spend some time each day focusing in and recalibrating your internal attitude. Even if you're out of a job, you probably have many other wonderful things in your life, so remember to be grateful.

20. Be philosophical. Think of the old saying, "Things happen for a reason." It usually turns out to be true. Look at the big-picture view of your recent change in employment. If you're like a lot of my clients, after a time you may come to see this transition as a blessing in disguise. Many candidates go on to find jobs that are better than the ones they had before. Others take the opportunity to explore other careers, rediscover their professional passions, and make important decisions. While you certainly didn't ask to be
forced into a job search by the economic crisis, try to find the life lessons and new perspectives in this transition. Commit to yourself that, somehow, you will make this a rewarding and productive experience.

Conducting a successful job search campaign takes energy, discipline, and career support. Despite the pressures you may face in today's employment market, you must stay focused on your goals and search smart.

Copyright C 2010, Career Potential, LLC. Reprinted by permission of Ford R. Myers, a nationally-known Career Expert and author of "Get The Job You Want, Even When No One's
Hiring." For information about career services and products, visit <http://www.careerpotential.com/> www.careerpotential.com and <http://www.fordmyers.com/> www.fordmyers.com.

Contracting: Reality in the Current State of Things

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 07:01:00 +0000

I remember reading some years back that "in the 21st century, many people would be free agents, contractors," but I didn't really believe it. There are so many reasons for hiring a person, none the least of which is ownership and productivity. However, after being a contractor for just about a year, I'm not dismissing that as an option anymore.....but then again, I wonder if I can make a living with multiple income streams, some of which involve gardening and woodworking.

I've spent most of this past year in a focused, informed, network-savvy job search. I've done some presentations at professional groups, had some interviews, even 2nd and 3rd interviews, but no offers. In the past, I've averaged a couple of calls a week, and on a good week, I would have two interviews with two separate companies. Not so at the present time.

It's not that I don't like my present contracting situation--it honestly doesn't pay too badly. It's just that there are no benefits--especially health insurance--and that puts a damper on things. (Disclaimer: I do not support the socialized medicine that our current administration is pushing. When a high-ranking Canadian official comes to the US for surgery that he could get "free" in Canada, that says a lot about the highly-touted Canadian system and others like it.) So, a major concern is health insurance, and if you've had to buy insurance privately, you know why that is an issue. If you haven't, pray that you never have to, and have an AED nearby when they tell you the rates.

The other thing about contracting is that no matter how involved you get in the business, no matter how great your co-workers are about making you feel at home, you will always be a NON-EMPLOYEE. I'm not saying that my current contracting company treats me badly; they don't. It's just that as a contractor, you do not share in any of the "company" things, and there are some issues you have to steer clear of, as no one wants a co-employment issue to crop up.

Companies like contractors because they aren't as difficult to get rid of (pretty much a phone call will take care of it), and companies want to bring in just the right skills for just the right job. Of course, that only happens in the bizarro world. Though a contractor does bring established skills that are useful to a company they contract for, he or she must also get a lay of the land and understand the issues surrounding the work they are contracted to do. Perhaps some contract positions/temp employees may be able to "drop in" and perform a job adequately, but others need time to assimilate to the work environment, learn what has been done, and understand the political situation to be effective.

I wonder if when regular employees see contractors filling positions that could be and would be better be served by a regular employee, they may become less engaged (a hot topic these days), as they may be concerned that their position may be given to a contractor or that they are always preparing for the eventual departure of the short-term contractor.

Companies like to tout contracting as being cheaper, but in reality, after the fees by the contracting company (the contractor's employer of record) are taken into account, the cost is about the same. The only difference is that you have a worker who does not have the same investment in the company's success as a regular employee and who is looking for his or her next contract from almost the start of the job.

Rebecca Metschke has done it again.....see the article that sparked my comments on contracting.

Are You the Boss of You?

from The Interview Edge by Rebecca Metschke

Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal ran an interesting piece about the “age of going solo” – working for yourself. While it focused on the ins and outs of how to succeed as a consultant, I was struck by the snapshot of today’s workforce in the article’s setup.

With unemployment stuck on “high” and millions of people in the “long term unemployed” bucket, seismic shifts are taking place in the composition of the workforce.

According to author Richard Greenwald, 20% to 23% of U.S workers are “operating as consultants, freelancers, free agents, contractors, or rmicropreneurs.”

Think about that. Close to one quarter of working Americans are employed on a contingent basis.
Goodbye, defined career paths and benefits – hello, project-to-project work.
With the employment picture looking gloomy for literally years to come, contracting may be in your future, too (if you haven’t gotten there already).

I know many folks who were forced out of traditional jobs during the last recession – and quite a few are still working for themselves today.

Contracting/freelancing/consulting isn’t easy, especially if all you’ve ever known is the 9-to-5 world…but it can be rewarding. Many independent employees will tell you they don’t ever want to go back.
Bottom line: given the lackluster employment outlook, you may very well end up being the boss of you, whether or not that’s what you were planning.

The Interview Edge- a comprehensive guide for people who are serious about their careers. Available in instantly downloadable format.

Reasons to Invest in Your Career NOW

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:43:00 +0000

Found a new job hunting site that appears to be targeted at new college grads and 20-somethings http://www.careerealism.com.

This site looks like a 2 x 4 across the forehead for a generation that grew up on the relative affluence of the late 1980's and 1990's, but I know that those of us who are out of our 20s need to hear the same message...don't sit around and just answer Internet job openings all day. According to CNN, there are 6 people seeking work for every job opening. While I would challenge that 6:1 is true of every career field, it surely is in some, and as those of us actively hunting for a new job, we know it's tough right now; but then again, so is sitting around doing nothing and whining. Don't let these numbers bum you out; let it be a challenge to meet head on. Like I was once told, "You're looking for a job and not many openings. Thing is, you only need 1 job."

15 Reasons Professionals (Ages 18-25) MUST Invest in Their Careers NOW

December 10, 2009 by sparktalk By CAREEREALISM Founder, J.T. O’Donnell

I saw this video on CNNMoney.com of college seniors being interviewed about their future plans after graduation this spring: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2009/12/04/n_cmr_class_2010-jobs.cnnmoney/.
YIKES!

Students are on their own when it comes to finding a job – and it’s not pretty. I think the worst part is to see most of them believe the answer is to just stay in school and spend even more money on an advanced degree. I wish they could talk with all the unemployed MBAs out there right now who are knee-deep in loan debt.

Reality-check for College Students & Recent Grads
How you look for work, as well as how you find work you love has changed deeply in the last 20 years. And yet, college teaches you everything EXCEPT how to get the job. That being said, there are two ways you can attempt to learn what you need to in order to take control of your future.
1) You can try figuring it out for yourself. Unfortunately, most students opt for this, get too busy at school, and end up putting it off until they graduate. They return home, unemployed and hundreds of miles from their campus career center.
2) You can invest in a program that can help you get organized and focus on the right things to do to identify a career path and land a job. [Note: This is the site's sales pitch.]

Let’s face it, the latter option is going to help you more and is much faster.

And still, if that doesn’t convince you…
Here are 15 reasons why you should invest in your career early:

23%. How much a college education has gone up in the last 10 years.
11%. How much the starting salaries of college grads have gone down in the last 10 years. (FYI – In 1985, the average starting salary for a college grad was $40,300. In 2008, the average starting salary was only $39,000 and it continues to drop in this recession.)
Less than 50%. The number of students who ever see the financial return on their investment in an advanced degree (i.e. Masters, MBA).
70M+. The number of Baby Boomers (people in their 50s-60’s) in America who are ‘retirement-ready, but under-funded’ and thus will stay in the job market, holding back the entry of new grads to the workplace.
90%+. The number of young people today who plan to go to college because they feel they have to in order to get a job. Most DON’T know why they should go or what they should study!
$100K+. The minimum you can plan to spend on a college education from top private or state university.
Less than 30%. The number of students who actually work in a professional setting while they are in high school or college in order to gain professional skills they can use when they graduate.
25 years old. The average age before a college grad can finally afford to move out of their parent’s house and live on their own. (They are called Boomerang Kids and K.I.P.P.E.R.S – Kids In Parents Pockets Eating Retirement Savings.)
80%+. The percentage of jobs people get by networking. Most people don’t know A) how to create and leverage a network effectively, and B) feel uncomfortable doing it.
Less than 20%. That’s how many 2009 college grads had jobs when they graduated last year.
6:1 ratio. There are 6 job seekers for every job out there right now.
18 months. The average time a young person spends in a job in America . The reality is EVERY job is temporary for young professionals.
9 careers with an average of 3 jobs in each one. That’s what today’s college grad can expect over the lifetime of their career. Can you imagine looking for a job 27 times!?
5 years. The amount of time it’s going to take for us to recoup the jobs we’ve lost from this recession. This does NOT include the additional number of jobs we need for all the college grads in that time.
10 years. That’s how long it’s going to take for us to fully recover from this recession:

http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2009/12/07/n_cmr_slow_recovery.cnnmoney/.

Networking in a Shaky Economy

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:37:00 +0000

If you've read any of my blogs, you know that I put networking at the top of the list---not just for job hunting, but at all times throughout your career. Below is a short article reminding of how important it is during this tough job-hunting time.

Increase Your Networking Efforts During a Shaky Economy

If thinking about networking makes you reach for an antacid you are not alone. Even for social butterflies it can seem overwhelming. But painful or not, networking is the smart thing to do in a shaky economy.

Here are some networking tips to help you:
Start attending industry and business events. If you hate the thought of walking into a room of strangers, call the organizer and ask for a list of attendees. Usually they are happy to forward the RSVP list. Another approach is to simply arrive early and scan the name tags that are on the table. Invariably, you will see a few names of people you know.

Another advantage of arriving early is that you have an automatic icebreaker with the other early birds, "Looks like we're the first ones here." It also forces you into a small group that others will join as they arrive (rather than you having to break into their group).

If you arrive early, you can also strike up a conversation with the person behind the registration desk, who is often a good source of information about the organization, who's who, and who might be a good person for you to meet.

If group events make you feel like an awkward seventh grader at his first dance, bring someone with you. Ideally, choose someone who is outgoing (bonus points if he or she is well-connected). Another advantage of having a colleague along is that you get to sing the praises of each other to the people you meet-it's easier than talking about yourself. [I tell people that if you wanted to date a person that you see at a networking event, you'd find something to strike up a conversation about! In this case, it's just your job and livelihood :) ]

Then there is the good, old-fashioned lunch and breakfast. But don't wait to reach out to someone only when you need something. The best networkers know that you build your network before you need them. Get yourself in the habit of connecting with someone a few times a month. When you can help them out with some information, or make an introduction to someone who might be able to help them, they will value you as a member of their network and will be glad to reciprocate.

Join a social networking service such as LinkedIn or Facebook. You can stay in touch with people you've met in a non-scheduled, casual way. You can search the site for people you know or ask friends to introduce you to others in their network.

When you network with someone, take notes about what they are interested in, what information they are looking for and actions they have taken for you (such as making an introduction). Whether you track your contact activity in a database management system such as ACT, or just keep a notebook, the important thing is to be organized and have a system for follow up. When I was changing jobs years ago, I kept a spiral notebook with this information, so I could easily track who led me to whom. This way I could circle back and
thank them and give them updates on my networking progress. People who have taken the time to connect with you want to hear progress reports.as long as you are respectful of their time.

When you are networking don't make it all about you. Ask the other person questions that get them talking about themselves. People always enjoy being with someone who is a good listener. Ask questions such as "How did you get into your field?" "What interesting projects are you working on right now?" "What organizations do you belong to?" "What do you do for fun?" You can often learn important things about your colleagues that will create a more trusting bond between you.

If someone does do something for you be sure to follow up with a thank you. A simple voice or email message of appreciation will assure them that you understand the unspoken rules of networking. What goes around does indeed come around. Not only can networking be good for hearing about job opportunities, it can be a rich source of long-lasting friendships.

-Joan Lloyd

Joan Lloyd has a solid track record of excellent results. Her firm, Joan Lloyd & Associates, specializes in leadership development, organizational change and teambuilding. This includes executive coaching, 360-degree feedback processes, customized leadership training, conflict resolution between teams or individuals, internal consulting skills training for HR professionals and retreat facilitation. Clients report results such as: behavior change in leaders, improved team performance and a more committed workforce.

Joan Lloyd has earned her C.S.P. (certified speaking professional) designation from the National Speakers Association and speaks to corporate audiences, as well as trade & professional associations across the country. Reach her at (800) 348-1944, mailto:info@joanlloyd.com, or www.JoanLloyd.com
<http://www.joanlloyd.com/>

Virtual Worlds in Training and Technology in Life and Career

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:00:00 +0000

I run into a lot of people (OK, most) who think that I'm over the edge because I see Second Life and virtual worlds as something other than a game that has business and other value.....thought I'd share the link to a book review below and say to all job seekers, "You cannot afford to fall behind in keeping your skills up with regard to the latest technology and tools." I spend too much time listening to people tell me how foolish it is to pursue edgy technology and how it's a waste of time and money. My standard response...."Where'd you tie your horse up when you came in today?"

For those who don't know, I'm "old" compared to most technophiles (49), and frankly, working with my peers is very boring at times. They tell me that technology that I envision using in the future (that's even available now) isn't worth it, too much trouble, is just for playing, and that I should focus on serious work in the present. I remember hearing that same kind of thing in 1983 when I got my first computer, then again in the late 80's/early 90's when I spent "too much time" on bulletin board systems. In both cases, PCs and the Internet have become ubiquitous, and the same people who tell me about the silliness of things such as virtual worlds, software applications on hand-held devices (aka phones and such), networking you computers and TVs, or that such technology is for "kids" or the truly geeky have to interrupt our conversation to take a call on their cell phone.

I've come to the realization that I probably won't ever be an executive, because I just can't act that stiff and pompous---not that all executives are that way. I'd rather be digging around, figuring out the answers to problems than sitting in an office shuffling papers and trying to figure out new ways to make a buck by shuffling papers. Nothing against making a buck, but watching how so many of my fellow Americans play games with numbers to make a buck....well, count me out. I'd rather actually work to produce something or lead a group of people to produce something---something I've been successful in doing in the past.

Training and Collaboration with Virtual Worlds: How to Create Cost-Saving, Efficient and Engaging Programs (published by McGraw-Hill) is now available in the bookstores and online.

If you have read on virtual worlds, you will find this book to be quite different. There is no hyper-excitement about the new and "cool" media, discussions on how to change your clothing, appearance, or how to build corporate campus. There are no suggestions to rush in and "establish presence" until it is too late -- something that still dominates "positive" articles and presentations on virtual worlds. At the same time, you will not find angry outbursts about complete worthlessness of virtual worlds for corporate use -- something that dominates the "negative" end of the spectrum -- either.

Instead, you will find objective material and hard data that will help you understand the new media. You will learn in what areas virtual worlds can add significant value and where the use of virtual worlds can be counterproductive, how to start your corporate program, what do you need to make your project a success.

The book sums up best practices and recommendations from real life corporate experiences in virtual worlds. Experts from Cisco, EMC, IBM, Intel, Michelin, Microsoft, TMP Worldwide, University of Kansas Medical Center, World Bank, and CEO of Linden Labs hold nothing back frankly discussing their corporate Second Life projects, methodology, financials, timelines, and results. The authors pay special attention to security issues and concerns, as well as real-life implementations and use of simulations to achieve competitive advantage and high ROI.

Finally, you will find a lot of practical information: which virtual world to use, available entry options, recommendations on contents creation, existing tools, and programs.

Virtual worlds develop fast. They change corporate training and HR even faster. The book site and wiki at http://www.TheVirtualWorldsBook.com/wiki will help business and training professionals stay abreast of new virtual worlds developments.

Posted by Alex Heiphetz in Books, High-tech Training, Learning, Training Design, Training Management, Web/Tech | Permalink

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Could There Be Even a Slight Improvement in the Job Market?

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:24:00 +0000

I tend to believe that we haven't seen the worst of the economic debacle, but I will say that I am seeing more activity in my ongoing job search, as I have been contacted by 3 companies in the past few weeks. I will also tell you that all 3 came through networking contacts, including one of a person I have only met once or twice while interviewing at a company she worked for!

Whether or not there is good news regarding the economy, I do not know. I do know that in once instance, the advent of the new year (read new BUDGET year) has created the opportunity. For those of you who may be getting discouraged in your job hunt as the holidays draw closer, please do not "quit" for the holidays! Many companies are finalizing budgets for 2010 and are making plans to bring new people on to start in January. As some companies have had a decent 3rd quarter, they may be optimistic and making plans to try to expand in January.

Press on even harder in your job search now, making contact with your connections, letting them know that you are still in search mode, providing them with a fresh resume and description of your key "selling points." This may sound like a dumb suggestion, but rename your resume....from "SStein Sept09.doc" to "SStein Nov2009.doc." You may have some updates you've made, and second, your document will look current to someone who hasn't heard from you lately. Either way, it might just keep your contacts from overlooking you.

Networking Groups in DFW

noreply@blogger.com (Scott Stein) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:08:00 +0000

Terrific Google Map of networking groups in DFW from Career Search Network. There has to be one near you. One or two good ones are all you'll need. Don't know if it's available for other cities, but worth looking into.