Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

You Control Your Job Hunting Destiny

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I recently received an email from a former colleague. He’s an empathic and caring professional who never has an unkind word to say and is one of my mentors in the career world. So, I certainly took notice of his strongly worded comments.

He wrote:

I was watching Good Morning America this morning, (not a normal part of my routine), but on the show I learned they are sponsoring/promoting job fairs across America…I only saw one segment, but it was very revealing and certainly blog-worthy.

DRESS!!! Attire was absolutely HORRIBLE. What are these people thinking???? The men were less than business casual. One man Robin Roberts interviewed had no tie and literally 4 buttons undone on his shirt. He has been unemployed for over a year and has no idea why. Sure, he was in construction, but he has to dress when meeting potential employers. Overall, of the people they showed in line, at least 2 – 3x were more inappropriate than appropriate for a job fair. It was SHOCKING!!!!

Then came the interviews. Robin Roberts talked to 3 people. Talk about depressing. Sure they are unhappy because they have been unemployed since February or longer, BUT, that is NO REASON to have lack of energy and purpose. They will never get hired with the hang-dog pessimistic attitude. Who wants to hire that??? People need to suck it up and get a burst of happy because being morose will not earn them work. Someone needs to shake these people and wake them up. It was awful…terrible…pathetic.

Think about it: are YOU one of these job seekers? You don’t even try very hard anymore because you’re so tired of looking for a job? I often think about all of the clients I meet who blame the economy or any number of other factors when they can’t get a job, when there are some very basic things that job seekers can do to improve their chances.

In your efforts to focus on resume standards and interview questions, are you forgetting the basics?  You MUST make an effort to appear positive and not down and out at the interview. Appearing desperate won’t win you points, and most people wouldn’t purposely choose to work with a sad sack. In fact, career columnist Anita Bruzzese said, “Most hiring managers I have interviewed say they won’t hire desperate candidates, although they can’t exactly explain why. They also say they really take notice of people who give off a positive energy.”

Are you giving off a positive energy? Would YOU want to hire you? Think about it…Take control of what you DO control. Dress up for interviews. Smile. Sit up straight and look confident. Stay tuned for tips to help you stay positive and use your time well while in a longer than expected job search.

If your job search is getting you down, consider partnering with me to help get you on the path to landing a job. You will be amazed at the things you could be doing that you are NOT doing that can help you get where you need to go.

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Ethics and Your Job Search

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Having grown up in the Chicago suburbs as a kid a little more interested in politics than average, I certainly encountered more than my share of information about crooked politicians and the notorious “Chicago Political Machine.”  So, it’s with particular interest that I follow the story of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested in Chicago on two counts of Federal corruption charges because he may have been trying to sell Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat.

The first thing I always think about when a politician gets into trouble is, “What was he (typically, it is a he!) thinking?” Don’t these people recognize that there are rules and laws for a reason? Did they miss some all-important lessons about following the rules back in kindergarten?

As an employee or job seeker, it’s a good idea to remember what you (should have) learned in kindergarten! While you may not be a high-profile personality, your ethical compass is just as important to set. In a recent post, author and Alexandra Levit shared a link to a quiz testing your business ethics. Alexandra also offers a link to a primer on ethics from the Josephson Institute. She notes that the primer has, “realistic examples and a step-by-step decision making model, [and] examines the hows and whys of making choices that withstand ethical scrutiny.”

Consider how you conduct yourself at work and in your search. Are you truthful in your application? Do you lie on your resume? You know it’s not a good idea, but maybe you think it’s okay as long as you don’t get caught? My advice? Stay on the up-and-up and you won’t have to worry about getting caught!

Need help with your search? I can help get you ready for a new career in the new year!

photo by janerc

P.S.

In the category of “the things I never thought I’d learn while blogging,” did you know that there is a  plant nicknamed “honesty?” (Pictured above!)

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Is there A Silver Lining in the Job Loss Cloud? New Careers or New Locations to Consider

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Marci Alboher, author of New York Times column and blog, Shifting Careers, which recently ended its run, tweeted about a piece on the NBC Nightly News in which she commented. The segment, which is called, “Layoffs Land Some in Second Career,” tries to focus on a potential positive outcome of being let go from a job, especially a long-term career position. The upside? Turning a negative into a positive by retraining for a different career, possibly one that was once a pipe dream or seemed unrealistic.

In the piece, they highlight a former Wall Street executive who decided to go to school to become a chef after losing her finance job. It had been a long-time dream, and she decided to view the lay-off as a doorway to a new career.

The woman in the segment was able to use her savings to pay for schooling, but Marci suggests in the piece that there is scholarship money for those willing to look for it. If you are considering changing fields and retraining, another NBC segment (Recession Proof Jobs) suggests the following industries to consider:

  • Healthcare. Reports show that 1 in every 5 jobs in the next 5 or 6 years will be in health care. This includes doctors and nurses, home healthcare aides and new medical technology experts.
  • Education. In certain parts of the country, especially in the west (California, Utah) as well as in places such as Georgia and Kansas, there is a big need for post-secondary teachers, elementary school teachers and substitutes. Apparently, Connecticut has such a shortage of subs, they were calling in parents to watch classes when teachers were out! While substitute teaching isn’t necessarily a career path itself, you can certainly look into this option while pursuing other training or looking for steady work.
  • Technology. There’s a big need for network systems administrators and main frame experts.

Unless you already have a background in these fields, re-training will be required, but at least you’ll probably be buying yourself some job security for the next few years!

None of these areas appeal to you? Lindsey Pollak suggested some other resources to consider in a recent blog post. Some of her suggestions:

  • North Dakota is experiencing a shortage of skilled workers.
  • BusinessWeek offers a list of places to ride out the recession.
  • The following industries have potential, according to one study: railroads and utilities, the logging and mining sector, food, drink and tobacco manufacturing as well as oil pipeline transportation.
  • President-elect Obama pledged to create a huge public works program to stimulate the economy, which will mean jobs in that sector. Lindsey suggests that  “you could set up a Google news alert for phrases such as “public works,” “national infrastructure” or “expanding broadband access” to keep abreast of this growth segment.
  • Accounting is a growth industry.
  • Looking to move outside the U.S.? Lindsey notes that Australia and Dubai are two hotbeds of job opportunities to consider.

The point is – even if you aren’t interested in moving to North Dakota, Australia or Dubai, keeping your options open and thinking beyond the obvious could help propel your search. With open eyes and a strong career search strategy, there ARE opportunities, even in an economy that seems to be spiraling down the drain.

What other locations or fields are offering opportunities? Share your thoughts in the comments!

You’ll want to be competitive no matter what your field of choice. I can help you succeed by writing a great resume and teaching you how to leverage your strengths and skills for today’s job market! www.keppiecareers.com.

photo by matty_p

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Are You Jumping from the Frying Pan Into the Fire? Would You Accept a Position Because You are Desperate for a Job?

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Maybe you’ve been out of work for a while. You are watching your savings dwindle, the holidays aren’t looking very jolly and you are envisioning a long wait for the right job.

So, when you finally land an offer, it is easy to try to overlook the fact that:

  • During your interactions with the company, they treated you badly,
  • They weren’t particularly well organized and
  • Everyone working there seemed unhappy.

I’ve written about this before, but since today’s economy seems even more likely than ever to make job seekers grab the first job that comes their way, it seems a good time to remind everyone to consider a few important facts:

  • When a company is hiring, an applicant should assume that they (the company) are on their “best behavior” during the process.  So, if arrangements are disorganized, interviewers seem unfriendly, people around the office seem unhappy or disgruntled, someone makes a snide remark about the boss or HR is unclear about the position’s duties – consider yourself forewarned.
  • If you take a job with a company that you know comes with problems, you may very well be jumping from the frying pan (unemployment) to the fire (employment with a badly run organization).
  • If you are miserable in your new job, it will be difficult to spend time searching for yet another job, and you may wind up in a situation (if you leave the  new job) of explaining why you left, which is never easy.

The main point of this post is not to convince you not to take a job offer that will help you pay your bills. It’s to remind you that you should try not to let desperation make a decision for you. If you go into a situation with your eyes open to potential problems, don’t put on rose-colored glasses and assume everything is going to be okay. Use whatever skills you can muster to manage yourself and protect your career. Focus on how you can make the most of the situation while you are there.

I’m a big believer in the idea that awareness of a problem actually helps lead to a solution. So, if you take a job despite red flags during the interview process, remember that forewarned is forearmed. Act accordingly.

Have you REALLY done everything you can to help yourself and the RIGHT job? We can help! You may need a transformed resume, some outside-of-the-box advice and a professional to coach you along. I can help you! www.keppiecareers.com

photo by image-ination

After a Lay-Off – Don’t Fall Into these Traps

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One constant in job seeking is that there is no ONE “right” way to do anything. For example, some recruiters don’t appreciate thank you notes. Others require or expect them. (I maintain that it is safest to send them!)  There is, however, advice that seems to be ubiquitous. If you are job hunting as a result of a lay-off, Sarah Needleman offers some terrific, always relevant advice in her article for the Wall Street Journal. To avoid putting your foot in your mouth, keep these tips in mind! (Tips are from the article; commentary is my own.)

When applying, avoid expressing bitterness or self-pity. There’s no need to be specific about the circumstances of your job loss in your initial communication. While you should have an answer to the question about how and why you left your job for an interview, being laid off is not as much of a stigma as it once was, so don’t get too worked up about it. Focus on the positives – that you still have great skills to offer and are looking forward to using them for a new company.

Signal Confidence. Don’t be overly thankful! The article suggests that it isn’t a good idea to include lines such as, “Thank you so much for giving me consideration” as this may be a signal a lack of confidence. Don’t be overly self-confident, but make it clear what you have to offer instead of groveling and begging for consideration.

Be flexible and not fussy. There’s no question that employers will prefer candidates willing to do what it takes to get the job done. Demonstrate that you are a team player who is willing to hit the ground running.

But, don’t be TOO accommodating! Needleman reports that Russ Riendeau, a senior executive recruiter, does not believe candidates who say they are willing to go anywhere, travel all of the time or make other difficult concessions.  “When I hear that, I know it’s not true,” he says. “I know I’m dealing with a desperate candidate.” So – be flexible, but don’t come off as desperate!

Some unemployed job hunters also hurt their chances by volunteering to take a significantly lower salary than what they earned in their last job. Some recruiters will hold it against you if you offer to take a pay cut of more than 20%. I always suggest waiting as long as possible to discuss salary. Focus on why you are a strong candidate for the job and indicate what aspects appeal to you beyond salary. (Maybe the company specializes in an area where you know you can really contribute.) If you have good reasons for being willing to take a pay cut (beyond the fact that you will take any job to pay the bills), you’ll be more competitive.

Don’t forget – recruiters need to be sure you’ll stay in the job, or they may lose their fees or their credibility with their clients. If you seem like the type of candidate who will leave at the first opportunity, you aren’t going to be considered particularly desirable!

What other ideas do you have? I invite recruiters and candidates to share experiences in the comments!

Don’t forget that Keppie Careers can help you find the job you’ve been seeking, no matter what your circumstances: www.keppiecareers.com.

photo by g-hat

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