Career Hub

Hurricane-Proof Your Career: Preparing for Mother Nature

This weekend, the Weather Channel’s coverage of Hurricane Gustav will trump the U.S. Open at my house. While I watch the burgeoning storm, I’ll be thinking of my friends on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, as well as my own level of preparation. As I currently spend much of my time on the nation’s most populated island—that of Manhattan—I am reminded that I, too, could directly experience the Atlantic hurricane season before it ends on November 30. Two little known facts:

1. According to the Census Bureau, 53% of the U.S. population lives in a county within 50 miles of the coast.

2. Less than 7% of households are ‘Red Cross Ready’ for a disaster or an emergency (Source: Red Cross and Harris Interactive poll, 2007).

I am keenly interested in these statistics based on personal experience. In 2005, I had the opportunity to observe the physical devastation and economic effects of Hurricane Katrina firsthand: I spent two weeks in Biloxi, Mississippi as part of a relief team from Dartmouth College. During this time, I worked with college students and volunteers at Hands On USA to establish a temporary career center in a makeshift relief services facility. It was almost four months after Katrina, and we worked with a city council member, Bill Stallworth, to develop workshops for survivors. We made phone calls to over 200 local residents, put up numerous flyers, and talked up the program at the facility before our programs. Still, we had very few takers: most residents were completely overwhelmed with insurance claims, decisions on how to salvage what remained after the storm surge, and finding long-term housing. (One take-away lesson: winter coats are appreciated starting in late November; a holiday season coat drive has a bigger chance of making an impact than unsolicited physical donations sent immediately after the storm.)

During Katrina, I learned that re-booting your career after a natural disaster can take months depending on your situation. That being said, here are a few critical steps that can exponentially decrease your down-time.

• Develop your own personal business continuity plan: if your phone or e-mail service is provided by a local business, have a back-up plan. Two strategies: keep your phone number through the U.S. Portability Number act, and forward your e-mail from a local provider to an account maintained by a larger host (i.e. Gmail, Yahoo!, AOL).
• Keep all of your forms of original identification with you—and make copies. You need more than a driver’s license alone to establish identity with the Federal government; at a minimum, make sure you will be able to complete the I-9 Employment Eligibility form required by all U.S. employers.
• Know your company’s emergency contact plan and procedures. Don’t rely on local phone service or e-mail; have a back-up plan for communication so that your employer doesn't think you are a "lost cause."
• Store electronic copies of your resume and recommendations using secure on-line storage providers.
• If you evacuate and have room, pack at least one professional outfit—even if you don’t need it for interviewing, you will be glad you have it later if your personal belongings are affected by the storm.

This advance work will speed up the process if you need to file claims or apply for new jobs after the storm. If you need career assistance in preparing your resume and applying for new jobs—keep an eye on websites including Career Hub for updates on available services. After Katrina, a group called Volunteers for Careers was formed by a network of career professionals and associations to provide free services to hurricane survivors. The organization is dormant for now, but will be reactivated "should critical needs arise." Stay tuned.

By E. Chandlee Bryan

Virtual versus Real World Job Search: Which is Better?

Recent Weddles research has found that more than 25% of all jobs are now filled over the Internet (and they speculate that far more could be found that way if targeted online search techniques were used).Their recent survey generated more than 17,000 responses that identified these top 5 strategies in order of how the respondent actually found their last job:

- Searching listings on job boards and/or archiving their resume on those sites;

- A tip from a friend (or what most of us call networking in the real world - can occur online or off);

- Reading ads published in a print newspaper;

- A call from a headhunter; and

- Being referred by an employee of the company (also a form of networking).

Notice that 3.5 of these are actually are offline strategies and account for most of the jobs found.

Notice also that at least 3 of these can involve some sort of networking.

Recent research conducted on behalf of Risesmart by Kelton Research shows that the majority of job seekers are spending massive amounts of time in online job search--upwards of 50 hours per month, to be exact. However, all of those hours invested do not necessarily translate into job search success.

In discussing online job search, a recent Weddles newsletter article stated, "You can visit the first job boards that come to mind and that step will certainly give you a check mark in the box labeled "Use Job Boards." It will not, however, ensure you see the best employment opportunities for you. To achieve that outcome, you must do your homework and determine which job boards typically post the greatest number of the kinds of jobs you want at the salary level you can command. Invest your time and effort at those sites, and you are much more likely to reap a real and significant return in job opportunities for which you are qualified."

In other words, activity alone does not mean success; it's the quality of that activity that counts.

On the other side of the hiring table, executive recruiters are increasingly using online networks (social and professional) to connect with candidates. LinkedIn in particular is actively pursuing affinity relationships with talent management professionals, and the list of sites seeking to develop these relationships is growing rapidly. A recent ExecuNet survey showed that 45.7% of recruiters use online networks to generate referrals to potential candidates and 39.1% to actually engage with those candidates.

My takeaway on this is that job boards and online networking are definitely tools you want in your job search toolkit, but be careful not to let online activities dominate your search strategy to the exclusion of other traditional and proven methods. As the Weddles site points out, "The Internet is a very seductive place. Its vast array of resources and very engaging format can be hard to turn off. But turn it off, you must. As capable as the virtual world is, it is not the one and only answer to employment It cannot be your one stop shop for finding a job."

Cross-posted on Executive Resumes & Career Transition Strategies blog

Lessons on a Job You Can Love

Wondering if you can ever find a job you can love...a dream job? Seems like everyone wants one of those, but it's rare to find the person who actually has one. Well, this past weekend I did.

I'll call him Captain Dan (not his real name) and I went charter boat fishing on Lake Superior with him and my sweetie (husband). Here's a pic that actually demonstrates the Goddess can catch fish - and big ones! That's Captain Dan's arm with the lake trout.

Captain Dan is in one of the most dangerous occupations - fishing - according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But he obviously enjoys his work - it is his dream job. Here's what I learned:

1. Work you love is not always easy. In fact, fishing is darn hard work, physically and mentally. But the satisfaction and pride of a job well done, along with the independence of the job, are compelling values for Captain Dan. They are like the gas in his engine and, combined with his genuine interest in fishing, boating, and the outdoors, makes for a good career fit for him.

2. A certain amount of calculated risk-taking is needed to keep sharp and move ahead in your career. Trying new fishing routes, going out even when the weather is threatening a storm and the sea is choppy, and being agile enough to de-tangle the equipment when it fouls, are par for the course in Captain Dan's job. Complacency kills - that's literally true when fishing.

3. Your dream job can be smelly and purely obnoxious at times. Killing and gutting fish is not a chore for the squeamish, and certainly does not rank in Captain Dan's 10 most favorite parts of his job. Nonetheless, it's an essential part of the whole experience.

4. Social networking occurs at sea! Captain Dan's CB radios - one for the Coast Guard and the other for his charter boat fishing buddies - were constantly crackling. Sometimes about an emergency rescue of a ship gone aground, and sometimes with insider tips about where the fish were biting, what kind of fish, at what depth, and so on. All necessary information for Captain Dan to ensure a successful fishing expedition.

5.  Loving what you do makes you more inclined to want to share the experience with others. Warmly welcoming outsiders into his domain, carefully schooling us in the smallest details, and rejoicing with us over successful fishing encounters made Captain Dan radiate enthusiasm and joy. What an adrenaline rush for all of us!

Happy Labor Day, Captain Dan!

Cross-posted at the Career Goddess Blog

Until...

One of the things I do when I am coaching someone on their interviewing skills is to start with a list of things they most fear or find most disconcerting about an interview. It's really interesting to hear clients' responses, some of which include:

Not knowing how to answer questions

Being asked why I am no longer employed

Talking about myself - period

Not feeling confident

Why I've had so many different jobs

Not knowing my strengths

Not knowing my weaknesses

Not having a college degree

Why my grades aren't all that good

Coming across like I'm desperate

What are your fears, if any, when it comes to interviewing? Do you relate to any of these concerns stated above? Listed below are five ideas to consider if you find yourself getting anxious about an interview, regardless of what your particular concern might be:

1. Strike the word "interview" from your vocabulary. Think: meeting; you've been going to meetings for years; view this as nothing more, nothing less than another meeting. Think: conversation with a purpose; you're there to learn about them and they're there to learn about you. It's a mutual exchange; it's a shared purpose. Think: chance to succeed versus chance to fail. Keep thinking that way until you get hired.

2. Approach your meeting with an upbeat, positive attitude. Sure, there will be lots of candidates who look similar on paper...distinguish yourself with words -- words that you intentionally choose to brand, market, promote, and share about yourself. Keep your word selection purposeful and positive; speak with energy and confidence! Smile!

3. Make it easy for the interviewer to learn about you; few people have time today to drag information out of you. Freely educate, teach and train others about you and the value you offer to them, delivering information in an organized, efficient manner. Practice too much!

4. Keep your responses relevant, essential and in support of the question asked. Say what you want to say with clarity and conviction, then stop talking. Insert a period. Think: PowerPoint...the fewer words the better.

5. Don't take the bait. By that I mean, if the interviewer says to you "Bet you're really angry about losing your job when the market is so bad," do not say "yes" and go off on a tangent of explaining how terrible things are for you right now. You will dig yourself a nice little ditch in which you probably won't be able to get yourself out of during your time together.

While there are many strategies to integrate into your presentation to a hiring manager (the person who can delete you or move you forward), do not give up, regardless of the number of times you've been rejected. Do not give up on yourself or the people with the power to hire you and help you. As my friend says, stay in the hunt until...

posted by: billiesucher

Career Default Mode: What Are Your Barriers to Decision-making?

Career complacency is insidious. It begins slowly and, before you know it, career “dry rot” can take hold. My friend Jason Alba, CEO of JibberJobber, pointed out in “I Hated My Lawnmower” how taking the default position can lead to YEARS of needless frustration. I laughed about his predicament with the grass-clippings-spewing lawnmower. He wondered how many people have taken the default mode of not acting and accepting frustration in their career lives, just like he did with his malfunctioning lawnmower. Jason says, “…if we just accept the default we are given, we may never know what career bliss could be.” I agree with that wholeheartedly!

Then I pondered why the career default mode takes hold so easily for so many. Is it just plain inertia? Are we too inundated with daily concerns – even if it is the boss we abhor – to have the left-over energy to go down the road of another job search? Or could it be that simply making a decision to do something – anything – seems too overwhelming?

If decision-making is the obstacle, Kevin Eikenberry’s Remarkable Learning Blog posting “Decide! Five Barriers to Decisiveness and How to Overcome Them” could just be the brief decision-making diagnostic to pinpoint the problem. Read Kevin’s post – I am sure you have experienced all 5 barriers at some point in your life, and perhaps many of them simultaneously! Could one of these barriers on the road to career success be what is holding you back now?

As Kevin says, “The best way to become more decisive is to make decisions. And now is the time to begin.”

Waiting to Hear about a Job? Five Strategies for Maximizing Down-time

It’s not surprising to me that the U.S. unemployment rate went up in July—I believe one factor for the slowdown is vacation-time: often interviews are postponed and offers are delayed on the basis of personal plans of key decision makers. (Keep this in mind if you’re waiting to hear about your application status for your dream job—the delay is often related to internal matters more than it is to indecision). I live in Manhattan, and I can tell how many people are away by the size of the lines for free kayaking on the Hudson, frozen Hot Chocolate and Trader Joe’s. This weekend, the wait time is minimal: it’s the welcome equivalent of Fast Pass at Disney.

If you are in “wait-and-see” mode, here are five strategies to power your career through the doldrums of summer:

1. Take one small step to promote your career health everyday. Get in touch with an old mentor, recommend a colleague on LinkedIn, set up an automated job search agent to send you listings based on keywords of interest, or read about trends in your field.  (This tip comes courtesy of Lindsey Pollak, author of College to Career.)

2. Approach your current work from a new perspective—as if you were leaving. More specifically, what are the most important elements and responsibilities of your job that you’d like to ensure your successor understands?  In your spare time, document tips, strategies, and best practices—this will make it easier for you and your colleagues when you get a new job—and will help them speak to your professionalism later. (An additional side benefit: this may also provide you with a fresh perspective on your current job.)

3. Browse the Career section at your local bookstore—and online websites. Prepare your mind for a new challenge—even if you’re not there quite yet. If you haven’t changed jobs in a while, you may want to read “Your First 90 Days.” If you’re in need of a laugh, I recommend “50 Jobs Worse than Yours.”

4. Think of networking in broad terms, and remember that leads can come from the most unlikely places. A common misperception among emerging professionals is that the best networking opportunities exist in formal environments, such as professional association meetings, conferences, and career fairs. In reality, you can make a great contact while waiting in line, attending a cook-out, or while sitting on the beach with friends. Remember the Six Degrees of Separation theory? It’s just been validated by Microsoft.

5. Take advantage of your vacation time. According to an annual survey conducted by Expedia, Americans will forfeit an average of three paid vacation days in 2008—simply because they don’t make time to take it. Do you really want to contribute to the 460 million vacation days that will go unused?

Follow these strategies and—regardless of whether you get the job or not—you’ll be well-positioned to take advantage of your next opportunity when it appears!

Cross-posted at Careers in Context

Have You Modified Your Mind?

Watching the Olympics, I've noticed any number of athletes who have tattoos. Stop and think for a moment -- who do you know that has a tattoo? No one? Someone? Do you have a tattoo? Can the general population see it or do you cover it up, especially when you go to a job interview?

In today's workplace, you never know who's sporting one...unbeknownst to you, it could be your doctor, banker, lawyer, HR manager, career coach, professor, recruiter, academic advisor, or resume writer. Who knows? What I have learned for certain is this -- make no assumptions about who does or doesn't have a tattoo, or who will or won't get one. It just might surprise you.

According to a survey from Northwestern University, published 2006 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, nearly 25% of USA men and women between age 18 and 50 sport a tattoo.

Does your workplace have a policy regarding tattoos?

What is your take on tattoos in today's workplace?

posted by: billiesucher

Do You Give Employers Reasons to Not Like You?

There are some people I immediately do not like, even though I have never met them.

Here’s why:

 

• They call me on the phone and butcher the pronunciation of my name.

 

• They send me mail and either misspell my name, address the envelope to “Resident,” and/or the begin the letter with ”To Whom It May Concern.”

 

• They call first thing Monday morning when I am trying to organize my task list for the week or at the end of the day on Friday when I am eager to go home.

 

• They send me email without a subject line, a greeting or a signature.

 

• They fax their resume to my office with no cover page or explanation as to why they are faxing it.

 

• They return incomplete forms and applications which I have previously sent to them with a request to complete all the information.

 

• They call me and launch into a sales pitch without asking if I have some time to talk.

 

• They make appointments and do not show up and then call later with no apologies and ask to reschedule.

 

• They immediately start sharing all the personal (and sometimes sordid) details of their troubled life after I ask why they are looking for employment.

 

• They send me email messages that are rife with spelling and/or grammatical errors or are typed in all caps or all lowercase letters.

 

• They attempt to entertain me with an answering machine message that is set to music, fails to identify who I have reached, and/or cuts off before I can leave a 10 second message.     

 

I am not a mean old ogre – it’s just that I have certain expectations when it comes to professional relationships. If were a hiring manager and any of these people were to contact me regarding opportunities with my company, I am pretty confident that I would not invite any of them in for an interview.

 

You see, in spite of all your education, skills, and experiences, when it comes right down to it, employers hire people they like. If you are not getting the interviews you think you deserve, decide what would make you dislike people you have never met – and see if there is something you need to change.

Every Job Seeker Needs a Good Story

The New York Times Shifting Careers blog recently featured a post about the art of storytelling and how mastering this skill can add value to your career. During a job search, several tools and strategies can be used to weave together a compelling story of your value to an employer. Resumes, interviews, and networking meetings should be rich with memorable information about you and the problems you have solved for organizations. Your story should be so good that the interviewer can't wait to repeat it to the next person in the hiring chain. Here are some tips for making that happen.

Create an exciting resume that the reader just can't put down. Don't just write about job tasks and don't just list statistics. Build a story around your accomplishments that succinctly communicates the impact you had on an initiative or an organization as a whole.

Tell your story with pictures. Try adding some charts or graphs to your resume to create a visual representation of your impact. For example, if you increased sales 500% over a 5 year period, create a bar graph to show the year over year growth.

Showcase samples of your work. Bring examples of the types of reports, business communications, or design work you do to the interview. Consider including links to websites, photographs, videos, or project prototypes to your portfolio when appropriate.

Answer interview questions using the Challenge-Action-Result story format. Employers are interested in learning about your past successes because they feel that past successes are a good indicator of future success. By describing the challenges you faced, the actions you took to address those challenges, and the corresponding results for the organization, you are more likely to create interest and excitement about your candidacy.

Ask questions that invite the interviewer to tell their story. In order to build a strong rapport with the hiring authority, you need to share information. Asking the interviewer to also share information helps deepen this relationship. Ask what issues the department is struggling with and what types of strategies they have tried in the past to address these issues. Asking questions shows your interest and concern for the company's problems and also positions you as the right person to address them.

Posted by Barbara Safani

Will it Sell?

Just answering some questions from a client who wanted to know why certain information had been omitted from her resume and after a while my answers got repetitive - really there was just one answer: "I didn't include it because it won't sell."

For example, the two colleges she attended for a year before settling at a third and getting her degree. They're not ivy league schools and there's nothing remarkable about them - they won't sell her and so I left them off the resume to make room for more valuable information.

How about the retail sales job she had right out of college? She's not in retail sales anymore and it's 10 years later. It won't sell so why include it?

She wrote: "Shouldn't company names be bolded?"

My answer: "not necessarily - not if they won't help to sell you." (In this case, the companies were unknown and I wanted the reader to focus on the job titles, so I bolded those instead).

Finally she asked 'shouldn't I include the towns and states of the companies I worked at? By now you probably know my answer. 

If you have questions about what should or should not be on your resume, you can usually make a quick determination by just asking yourself 'does this piece of information make it more likely that I will get interviews?'

In other words: Will it sell?

Cross posted on my own blog.