Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Recession Proof Your Career

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Clearly, the U.S. economy has seen better days.  Justin Lahart wrote in The Wall Street Journal Online that a combination of debt, high food and energy prices and a weakening job market points to a troubled economy.

I have written about these concerns…Numbers show that unemployment is at a 2-year high.  In December, the economy only added 18,000 jobs instead of the 70,000 predicted.  These are the worst numbers reported since August 2003.  U.S. News & World Report’s Best Careers for 2008 lists jobs with a positive growth outlook, but job losses will cut across many industries – from banking to Yahoo!

What can you do now if you think you may lose your job?

Anita Bruzzese, columnist and author of 45 Things You Do That Drive Your Boss Crazy, offered several tips for those concerned about their jobs in her blog, Protecting Your Job in Tough Times.  She suggests:

  • Getting connected by increasing face time in the office (including telecommuters).
  • Keeping in touch with contacts in other departments to get the pulse of your company’s situation. If things look bad, you can start getting resumes out.
  • Network like crazy.
  • Stay on the cutting edge of your field and be ready to lead, as leaders and innovators will find opportunities.

Penelope Trunk, a columnist whose book and blog is Brazen Careerist, offers this advice to prepare for a bad job market:

  • Be a specialist, not a generalist, as a tight job market will allow employers to seek an exact match to their qualifications.
  • If you can’t list a few strong accomplishments for your current job, make something big happen now so you’ll have good fodder for your resume.
  • Consider graduate school.
  • Focus on the quality of your work and securing strong mentors.

All of these suggestions remind us that it’s not a good idea to wait for a crisis to plot our career path.  Networking, specializing, leading, finding mentors — none of these are things that can be done overnight.  We are so busy DOING our jobs, we don’t take the time to drive our own career bus, so to speak.

We should all consider this a wake-up call.  Plan ahead.  Network all of the time, not only when you are looking for a job.  Cultivate mentorships, both in and outside of your company.  Focus on how you can stay ahead of the pack in your field and be a leader.  Always have an up-to-date resume that you can confidently use at the drop of a hat should an opportunity arise.

Hopefully, if the next pink slip is yours, you will be able to see past the scary part of losing a job to the potential prospects.  Maybe, with hard work and effort, you will be able to find something that may be a better opportunity for you.  Much has been said on the power of positive thinking…Maybe now is a good time for that.

Networking Strategies – What is an Informational Interview?

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If you haven’t read my previous posts about Networking, click on NETWORKING in the Categories section to your right! 

One of the best networking strategies is to conduct many informational interviews. 

What is an informational interview?
This is just is a fancy way of saying a meeting with someone who may be able to share insights or information with you that could help in your job search.

  • You seek out the contact and issue an invitation to meet.
  • You conduct the interview.  You ask the questions to help you learn about your potential career or organization.
  • You decide what you need to know and tap the hidden job market.
  • You draw conclusions.
  • This is NOT a job interview. 

Why do informational interviews?
Informational interviews are the best ways for you to learn about an organization and/or gain insight and expertise from a professional whose opinion you value.  Other benefits include:

  • Everyone you meet becomes a  member of your network.
  • Your job prospects multiply exponentially!
  • You may discover jobs that are not publicly advertised.
  • If you endear yourself to someone, they are likely to think of you if a job becomes available.  People like to help others, especially if they had a good connection.  The more strong connections you make, the more friends you have in your field.

Stay tuned for more about informational interviews!

www.keppiecareers.com
We advise, encourage, enlighten!

What NOT to Wear to the Interview (or Job)

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In an article from the Wall Street Journal Online, Tassels, Pantsuits and Other Interview Fashion Faux-Pas, writer Christina Brinkley uncovers what might be some surprising news about dressing for interviews.

We have all heard that we should dress conservatively for an interview.  Scuffed shoes, dangling jewelry, too-tight attire – all to be avoided.  Some may be surprised to learn from the article that at least one relatively young (35) manager won’t hire a woman who wears a pantsuit to the interview.  Others in the article suggest that light colored suits on women are less intimidating than dark suits and therefore a better choice.  (This issue is a topic for another blog!)

Some interviewers evaluate candidates based on how their haircut is tapered, how the inside of their car is organized or the color of their socks. 

This information demonstrates an all encompassing point about the job search.  Especially  in a tight job market, everything is a matter of scrutiny.  Before you even get to the interview, employers have potentially vetted you online by checking social networks and Googling your name.  Your resume may have been scanned for key words and scoured for skills and accomplishments.  You need to know who you are, but also how other people perceive you.

It’s not an easy job, but Keppie Careers is here to help.  We hope you’ll review our services at www.keppiecareers.com.  When you work with us, you gain clarity about the job search process and expert advice every step of the way.

keppiecareers.com – We advise, encourage, enlighten!

Soft Skills for Your Job Search

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What are “Soft” Skills?

“Soft” skills, otherwise known as emotional intelligence, may make a difference between an employee who can do the job and one who does it well. Soft skills include: leadership, written and verbal communication, problem solving, motivation, interpersonal skills and creativity. Soft skills are transferable to any position; they do not rely on technical abilities. They are not skills typically taught in classrooms. (Although some business school programs are incorporating training in emotional intelligence to give their students a competitive edge.)

Take a look at this soft skills (emotional IQ) test that you can take on line to get a sense of how your skills rate.

Some recruiters believe that soft skills make the difference between the candidate who is hired and the second choice applicant. Employers today seek flexibility, teamwork and integrity. They realize that someone who communicates well and has a strong work ethic makes a good employee. As a result, incorporating these skills on your resume may make the difference between getting an interview and getting passed over.

The key is to incorporate soft skills with specifics that SHOW your abilities. For example:

Before:
Excellent oral and written communication skills.

After:
Wrote and presented successful training sessions to 200 telephone operators, resulting in measurable gains in company’s ordering efficiency.

The first bullet begs the question: Prove it! The “after” bullet leaves no room for doubt: This applicant can communicate verbally (in front of a group) and in writing.

Selected Soft Skills List

approachable
business acumen
charisma
communication
composure
conflict management
creativity
crisis management
critical thinking
decision making
dedication
empathy
energetic
ethical
flexibility
hard working
honesty
humor
ideas
initiative
inspire others
instincts
integrity
interpersonal skills
leadership
listening
management
morale building
motivational
multicultural sensitivity
multi-task
organizational
passionate
personality
planning
poise
problem solving
professional
public speaking
reasoning
research
respect for others
self confident
self-motivated
sensitivity
supervisory
take constructive criticism
team building
team leadership
team player
time management
verbal
visionary
work well under pressure
writing

Baby Boomers Retire – Possible Impact for the Rest of Us!

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An article in the January 14th issue of The Wall Street Journal suggested that companies prepare for looming baby boomer retirements by, among other things, offering flexible work schedules in an effort to retain older employees and avoid a worker shortfall.

The AARP’s website reports that by 2014, 32% of the U.S. workforce will be 50 or older.  They note that, as numbers of younger workers decline, companies who want to maintain their competitive edge will seek to attract and retain experienced workers.   

The impact of this potential trend may be felt by a variety of job seekers.  Parents of young children who want flexible schedules may benefit.  Experienced workers who opted out of the paid workforce for a variety of reasons (raising children, caring for relatives) may find companies more interested in their experience and less worried about a gap in continuous paid work.

AARP lists companies that value the mature worker.  If you are a job seeker who might benefit from an organization that values experience and may offer flexibility, this could be a valuable resource.

It will be interesting to track how companies react to predicted trends.   Informed job seekers will be prepared to take advantage of developments as they come!

keppiecareers.com…We advise, encourage, enlighten!