Career Resources and Advice for Experienced Workers

Of the many things the recession messed up — and I think we can all agree it really ruined a lot — plans were the biggest victim. Once the economy went kaput, your future suddenly became a little less certain. Could you afford to maintain your lifestyle? Was it the best time to switch jobs? Could you save enough for your upcoming wedding after pay cuts? The ramifications were endless.

(more…)

By Jeannette Kraar, CEO Performance Management International

A certain television station likes to pitch its programming with the slogan: “It’s not reality it’s actuality.”  It’s an interesting statement, although a bit confusing — much like today’s job market.

The reality is if you read a variety of articles or talk to a group of “experts” you’ll actually get a broad range of opinions about the current state of the job market.

The National Association for Business Economics reported statistics indicating there has really only been a marginal increase in jobs due to the stimulus money. However, government reports have shown job losses have actually slowed throughout country for the past four quarters.

If we flip over to the recruiter community to look at the Recruiter Confidence Index, 53% of the industry is confident the job market is picking up. However, if you’re actually waiting for your phone to ring from a recruiter with a job offer, the reality is, you’ll be out of work for a very long time.

A 2009 ExecNet survey polling over 8,000 professionals provides an interesting perspective from the trenches.

• Only 5% of companies polled are still cutting back or have hiring freezes. Many “cut back too far”, with 14% adding positions and 57% looking to “trade up.” Why are so many companies looking for top talent? With so many really qualified people out of work, they can eliminate marginal players and upgrade experience and performance.  These numbers are actually up significantly from this time last year.
• Companies have taken their focus off of retention. The reality of this shift will be a different kind of bail-out with disgruntled employees “jumping ship” once the economy becomes more stable. The irony is that this turnover will place more of an emphasis back on retention making the job you land more stable.
• There are expanding industries: health care and clean/green technologies lead the pack in opportunity with energy, pharma/med/biotech and environmental-related industries rounding out the top five.

So what does this really mean for you?  What do you have to do to get employed – now?

Here are a few tips that actually work so you can too:

1. Be positive and action-oriented.
   Shake off the fear, dump the negative perceptions and get to work on your search. You’re still the same competent, skilled and experienced person you were when you had a job. So print up some business cards using your expertise as your title and start networking. You could be a handshake away from your next great success.

2. Get comfortable as an expert.
   There is something you do really, really well and probably enjoy doing more then anything else. Run with it. Mrs. Fields was an expert in cookies. She was never nominated for the Nobel Prize but she made a big batch of money.

3. Be relevant.
   No one cares what you’ve done for the past 20 years. Everyone cares about what you can deliver in today’s economy, industry and market. Tell them in simple, concise, personable language. Dump the jargon and be authentic.

4. Be solution-oriented.
   Forget about the laundry list of responsibilities you’ve had. Talk in terms of bottom-line results. Be the “aspirin for their headache.”

5. Be a master networker.
   There are no short cuts. This is still the best and fastest way to get employed. Create a profile on LinkedIn or Brightfuse and join some groups related to your expertise and interests. Interact with groups, associations and other industry experts you can become aligned with. Go to networking meetings each week and be actively engaged. Give and get business cards and follow up with the objective of building relationships. Offer assistance, provide value and make introductions. The more you give, the more you will receive. Remember, people help and hire others they know, like and trust and this takes time. So speed it up and whatever you’re currently doing – double your activity to reduce time in search.

6. Be focused, proactive and strategic.
   Set objectives for each week and break them out to daily activities. Create a target list of companies where you’d like to work and network your way in. ExecuNet reported that 58% of hires last year were for existing positions. That means 42% were newly created jobs (otherwise known as the hidden job market) and landed by people who acted on this strategy.

7. Be aligned with people and resources that can help you.
   Get a coach; create an advisory board of positive, connected peers; and build a strong diverse network and nurture long-term relationships.

8. Be smart.
   Do your homework and conduct research so you can make fact-based decisions about your career to ensure you’re actually working with reality not hype. Just yesterday I actually met five people over 50 who had landed great jobs … really.

Jeannette Kraar, CEO of Performance Management International is an executive career coach, author and speaker. Contact her at www.jkraar.com and follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jkraar

By Alisa Weinstein, certified life, business and motivational coach

It’s no secret that finding a job in this economy is difficult at best. Since the recession hit in 2007, the U.S. Department of Labor reports there are now more than 15 million unemployed Americans facing the loss of their homes, savings and sanity. The latest numbers show an unemployment rate of 10 percent, but that number doesn’t take into account the job seekers who have become discouraged. Economists are predicting a slow recovery for 2010; so what can you do to sharpen your competitive edge?

(more…)

Who invented the standard nine-to-five workday? He or she must have been a morning person because if I were setting the workday hours, I’d push it to start at 10 a.m. at the earliest. Why?

While I’d love to be the type of person who just jumps out of bed alert and perky every day, it just doesn’t work for me that way.  Take this morning:

(more…)

When a house has been on the market for an extended time without an offer or even a showing, homeowners often get help staging their property and even make over important rooms, like kitchens and bathrooms. When it comes to your job search, perhaps you should use this approach with your resume.

(more…)

By Robert Half International

It may seem like a waste of time to apply for a position that, at least on paper, doesn’t exactly match your skills and experience. After all, many job seekers can’t even get a hiring manager’s attention when they do appear to be a perfect fit.

But if you believe you’re capable of performing a job well despite the fact that your background doesn’t completely align with the requirements of the position, there might still be hope. You need to consider yourself from a hiring manager’s perspective and build a case that shows why you’re the best person for the position. Following are some tips:

1. Don’t waste their time
First, make sure your background meets at least the most basic criteria for the position. If the job requires expertise in three specific software programs, for instance, and you are familiar with only one, don’t apply. But if candidates should possess seven years of experience, and you have five, an employer might consider your application. Keep in mind, however, that some firms simply will not interview you if you don’t meet every requirement, no matter how close your qualifications are. After all, companies still can afford to be picky.

2. Find an inside connection
One of the best ways to get your foot in the door when you’re a near fit for a job is by getting a referral from someone who can speak to the hiring manager on your behalf. Ask those in your network if they — or someone they know — can provide an entrée into the firm. Social networking Web sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook can be especially helpful in uncovering individuals who may have an “in” at your target firm, but be judicious when requesting assistance. You should have established trust and credibility with anyone you ask to go to bat for you.

If you can, try to leverage your contacts to arrange a meeting with the hiring manager. Sometimes, all it takes to get a chance at the job is a face-to-face meeting where you can make your case directly. This allows you to establish a rapport with the employer and demonstrates your enthusiasm for the position.

3. Address concerns upfront
Instead of hiding any shortcomings you possess, acknowledge them. For example, if you’re overqualified for a position, use your cover letter or the interview to explain why the job nonetheless appeals to you. Perhaps after managing a large team of employees for years, you’ve decided you’d prefer to do more hands-on work as an individual contributor and not oversee others. Or if you’re a bit underqualified, you might note how strength in one area (such as a well-regarded certification you recently earned) could make up for weaknesses in another (your lack of necessary experience, for instance).

4. Highlight return on investment
Hiring managers seek employees who have a track record of saving previous employers time or money. Promote the bottom-line benefits you can offer by highlighting accomplishments in your résumé or cover letter. You could note, for example, how you spearheaded the implementation of a new billing system that saved people time when uploading data, freeing up staff to focus on other critical tasks.

5. Offer a trial run
With some companies only beginning to cautiously add new staff, hiring managers are less likely to take a risk on someone who doesn’t exactly match the job criteria. As a result, you might have to sweeten the deal to persuade an employer to take a chance on you. You might offer to start the job on a project or temporary basis, for instance, with the agreement that you will be brought on full time if certain performance objectives are met.

6. Be truthful
Above all, keep in mind that you should never stretch the truth in an attempt to improve the odds of getting a job. Your lie could easily be uncovered, and you could damage your professional reputation, seriously harming your prospects of finding a job not only with your target firm but also other companies.

Many organizations are willing to take smart risks on seemingly promising employees, but it’s up to you to show them why taking a small leap of faith would be a wise move. By addressing any potential concerns upfront and building a compelling case for yourself, you’ll improve your chances of convincing them that an “imperfect” candidate like you is the right choice.

Robert Half International Inc. is the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit http://www.roberthalf.com/. For additional career advice, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/roberthalf.

Understanding the meaning behind interview questions

By PrimeCB.com

Going into a job interview is difficult enough, but trying to figure out the meaning behind some questions just adds to the anxiety of job-hunting.

Sometimes seemingly simple questions will have a hidden agenda, but more often than not, the interviewer is trying to gauge your true interest in the company and what value you can bring to its work force.

If asked, “Why do you want to work here?” that’s a perfect opportunity to show the company you’ve done your homework. The interviewer wants details — how does this company stand apart from its competitors, what new products or services are they offering — and this is the moment to shine by having well-researched answers ready to deliver. If possible, mention something you are particularly familiar with about the company that you can link directly to your own work experience and talents.

Even when asked the inevitable “What are your strengths?” find something in your own background that shows the particular talents you bring to this company’s table. Put your strongest qualities into the context of what this prospective employer does and how they meet the company’s goals.

Then there’s the flip side: “What are your weaknesses?” For years, people have been counseled to envelope their “weakness” in an answer that actually makes it sound like a strength. But job interviewers have heard them all, and those answers tend to sound hollow these days. Rather, choose a time when you had to face a significant challenge or adversity — without getting too personal — and tell how you overcame that dilemma and were improved by it. Tell what you learned and how that newfound knowledge benefited you as a professional. People who recognize their weaknesses and show they want to do better are showing a prospective employer they are willing to do their best, even if it means learning from mistakes.

The company wants a team player and an independent worker
When you are asked whether you work better alone or in a team, what they really want to know is how you interact with others and how much direction you need when you’re assigned to work by yourself.

If you use time alone well, are you able to keep your boss posted on your progress at reasonable intervals? Are you good at brainstorming in a group, the one who comes up with rapid-fire ideas? Or are you the person who is likely to mold them into a collaborative effort to find a solution for the challenge at hand? Either alone or in a team, you want to convey that you can interact well with co-workers at various levels of authority, but that you’re a person who can be productive and come up with answers on your own as well.

Remember, an interview is a two-way street, and that’s true where questions are concerned. Be sure to ask questions that show you have researched the company and that you’re aware of current issues faced by the company and the industry it’s in. You need to show an interest in the company if you want it to show an interest in you.

By PrimeCB.com

Your résumé isn’t about you, it’s about them. That is the first guiding rule you should remember as you craft your employment history and achievements to match the needs of the companies you want most to hire you.

Consider your audience by researching the company and its industry, and tailoring your résumé to the challenges faced by both. Point out how your talents and training dovetail with the company’s needs, so hiring managers can picture you in the job they have available or other opportunities that come up in the future.

Start out with a short professional profile that succinctly draws a picture of your job skills, work ethic and natural abilities that translate into the kind of worker you are. The rest of the résumé should follow suit as it lays out a clear story of your work experience, education and the skills you developed.

Understand that most hiring managers are viewing your job history in a quick sweep. They want to see something that is easily readable. Don’t use industry jargon or long sentences that create dense, hard-to-read narratives. Tell your story in bulleted form to create punch. Don’t resort to résumé formats that look like a thousand others.

Throughout the résumé, aim for action. Using words like “I was responsible for …” don’t get to the heart of your abilities. Be specific about accomplishments, punctuating them with hard numbers — increased production, sales figures — where applicable. Use details to explain your work story. A résumé isn’t just about what you’ve done, but about what you have learned, achieved and produced.

Online portfolio and extracurricular activities can play a role in your résumé
Don’t indulge an inclination to show how social media-savvy you are by providing links to personal pages on YouTube or Facebook, because they are just that – personal. A more professional tool is to have a link to an online portfolio that has visual presence with well-written sections about your accomplishments, career highlights and leadership and work style. Or direct people to your professional biography on LinkedIn or BrightFuse.

At the same time, your extracurricular activities or community service may tell something about the skills you bring to the job. If they show qualities such as organizational ability, leadership potential and creative thinking, list them along with work and educational history to show how you use your talents outside the workplace.

There’s never a good reason to lie on your résumé, and any overstatement of job history or academic achievements can easily tarnish your credibility. Routine background checks and online research can so easily expose an untruth that the risk simply isn’t worth taking when your integrity is at stake.

The progress you’ve made in your career shows a prospective employer the kind of direction your work experience has taken. This may be especially necessary for those moving into a new industry, where transferable skills are particularly important. Showing how your job skills are relevant to the requirements of a company’s industry, as well as the company itself, is one way to portray yourself as the solution seeker they are looking to hire.

By: Rachel Zupek, PrimeCB.com writer

In today’s economy, finding full-time work is not easy. As a result, many job seekers are working part-time and temporary positions, hoping to get hired full time.

Not knowing what she wanted to do after graduating from the University of Delaware with a degree in business administration, Carly Rodgers, 24, decided to pursue her love of horses and take a job with a horse trainer. After a few months, she decided she wanted more than “life in the barn,” so she used the job market to her advantage.

“I figured that many companies were laying off workers because they could not afford them, and this meant they were probably short on hands. I decided that I would offer to work for free, in an internship-type position, so that I could get some experience and add to my résumé,” she says. “I knew I wanted to get into Internet marketing, so I contacted many different companies to see if they would be interested in my help. I was connected to an Internet marketing company and started working for free in April. I worked for free for three months, worked as a paid intern for another month, and was offered a full-time job a month later. I feel really good about where I am now, and would recommend this to anyone out of school looking for more experience.”

A new trend
In 2008, more than 38,600 temporary workers were hired by clients, according to data from Kelly Services, a company that offers temporary staffing, permanent placement, outsourcing and consulting services. In addition, from October 2008 to September 2009, more than 21,000 employees were hired by Kelly clients.

“For an individual searching for a full-time position, one of the most difficult challenges is getting a foot in the door with a prospective employer,” says Jocelyn Lincoln, senior director of marketing for the Americas region at Kelly Services. “Many individuals find that working with a company, such as Kelly Services, helps them connect with the companies where many of these jobs exist. Research shows that many individuals chose temporary employment primarily as a method of full-time job search.”

Although working temporarily doesn’t come with a full-time employment guarantee, there are plenty of benefits, such as availability of jobs, convenience, access to top companies and an expedited job search, Lincoln says.

“Individuals like the flexibility and valuable work experience because they can select their work schedule and choose among a variety of challenging assignments,” she says. “Working through Kelly not only helps people find work, they help start and advance careers. For those entering the work force, returning to the work force or advancing in their career, Kelly can assist in finding positions that match their skills, ambitions and work preferences.”

Success stories
If you’re interested in turning a temporary position into a full-time hire, read the following success stories for inspiration:

“Back around the year 2000, I had just moved to the Boston area and was temping to earn a living. Unfortunately, there were very few temp jobs to be had. In a bit of desperation, I took a job that was about an hour a day where I simply went into the office, watered the plants and read the boss his e-mails over the phone for a week while he was out of town. When he returned, he found a few other things for me to do. I moved up to about three hours a day of general assistant work but it was still on an ‘as needed’ basis. After a couple of months, my hours were gradually increasing. After about a year, we decided to make me an official employee and he gave me a raise so that I would be earning what he was paying the temp agency for me. I was the first employee of the company (besides the owner). My hours and responsibilities kept increasing and by the time I was there for about two years, I was working a solid 35 hours a week. It wasn’t a career I had planned, but I ended up being integral to the growth of the company and was there for a total of about five years. I only left because I moved to the West Coast to get married and be near my family. I must have watered those plants really well!” – Alex Remon, president, MegaMouth Productions

“I freelanced for the two weeks before Christmas and then got hired on Dec. 31, 2009, to start in 2010. I was so thrilled. It worked out great for both of us as I was able to see if I liked the place and they were able to get to know me. It was a win-win [situation] for all and now I have a great job at an amazing PR agency. I couldn’t be [happier.]” – Holly Jespersen, account director, Creative Media Marketing

“I have recently hired three people temporarily with the goal of bringing them full time when sales pick up. For employers, it is the perfect time to snap up talent at a bargain price. When we launch our full line at the Surfaces trade show next month, I hope to bring all three to full time.” – M.H. Hanley, vice president of marketing and strategy, TMP/The Tile Doctor

“I started working at FatWallet.com in June 2009, taking someone’s position during maternity leave. It was a really great opportunity and an awesome company to work for, so I took the temp position. I have always been self-employed and did contract work so I could work on projects from home and be with [my] kids. The girl on maternity leave came back and they still had me finish a project. Then it came the time where they would hire or let temporary people go, and they offered me a full-time position. I was surprised and torn because as a mother of young kids, I didn’t know what to do. I took the job … it is also such a great company that I didn’t want to lose [the] opportunity.” – Laura Smith, marketing and administration, FatWallet.com

“In April 2009, I found myself laid off from my first job in the industry after graduating college. I [found a position] advertised as a temporary, part-time position beginning in mid-October through the end of the year (2009) with the opportunity to possibly come on full-time after. But I knew I had to take the chance. After a successful interview, I was hired and started the following week. I learned a lot working as a part-time employee and was entrusted with a lot of responsibility. I was excited as the end of the year approached with the thought of possibly being made an offer to join full-time. A few days after returning [from a trip to Texas with one of the clients I work with], one of my supervisors called me into his office and handed me an offer letter. I would start my full-time in January [2010]. The transition to full time was easy because I already knew the staff and had developed good working relationships with many of them. I knew my way around and did not feel like a new employee, even though technically I was. There is still a lot to be learned as I have more new tasks to work on now, so in that sense I feel a little like a new employee, asking lots of questions. But, the staff has made me feel welcome as a full-time employee and continues to stop by my office to congratulate me and see if I am getting settled in my new home.” – Lauren Mangnall, program coordinator, Drake & Co.

By Anthony Balderrama, PrimeCB.com writer

Regardless of the economy’s state — whether it’s booming or withering — people care about money. It pays the bills, after all. While salary is important, it doesn’t exist in a vacuum. How much you earn often depends on where you live, and where you live affects how far your dollar goes. All of these factors depend on the overall economy, which we all know depends on several other factors.

Right now, everyone is looking for a sign that the future is going to be better than the last couple of years. Executives, analysts, teachers and college seniors and everyone in between want to know they will have a job tomorrow and be able to earn a livable income. No one can predict the future, unfortunately, but we can look to the past for signs of what’s to come.

(more…)