This is another story that, to me, illustrates how some job seekers create their own results in their search.

Thanks to Laurie S. for sharing this tale:

After finding myself a smart self starting college educated experienced individual laid off and unable to find work for 15 months you can imagine I have a million stories. The following is just one of many from my journal.

The interview lined up for today was for a part-time position. Because there was nothing to chose from in the full time job opportunities. Unless a person is maybe a nurse or a DUI Attorney…it is slim pickings. The interview was with a small insurance company and I had been going round with trying to set up an interview with them.

Finally, I received an email from the company saying they would like to set up an interview and when would be a good time for me. This email hit me as a little odd. It would have made more sense for them to call me to set something up Johnny on the Spot instead of playing email games. I replied to their email because there was not a phone number to call. My reply email was greeted with yet another email letting me know the date and time I selected was not available. The sender of the email sent it out late Friday, which means I did not receive their reply to my reply until Saturday morning. The sender of the email let me know they had 9AM or 11AM on Monday morning available. I let them know I would see them on Monday morning at 9AM. This response would have been a reply to their reply of my reply to their reply are you catching my drift about the insanity with this?

…The office was right in front of me; however, there were no lights on in the office. Actually, there was not a soul in the office.

“Great now what?” I said aloud and with much disappointment.

I was less and less feeling like being involved with an interview at this moment. I was not in the mood to answer the obligatory question, “So, what is your 5-year plan?”

My mood grew from irritated and indignant to a mischievous twinkle in my right eye. I had decided that I was not leaving until I had an interview. If I had to camp out on the bench I was sitting on all day long, somebody from the insurance office was going to sit down and look at my happy little smile. After about 30 minutes, a young woman came through the front doors and headed toward the office space I wanted to call my new home. She opened the front doors, turned the lights and sat down at the front computer. I gave her a few minutes to catch her breath. I made my way into the office space.

I put on my brightest smile. “Hello,” I said warmly.

The young gal looked at me and smiled back.

“I believe I have an interview for 9am this morning.” I continued.

“Okay let me give Jason a call.” She said.

She picked up the phone, “Hey your 9am interview is here. Umm.. I do not know. Uhhh yes…sure okay I will tell her.”

“Okay Jason will be in about 15 minutes. Have a seat and make yourself comfortable.” She said.

“Great thank you.” I replied.

I took a seat and thought about the magazine I had left in the lobby. I should have brought it in because I do not want to sit and stare at the wall. I pulled out my day planner and made it look like I was organizing something in my life.

As luck would have it, my new friend at the front desk was a chatty. I  learned they received over 500 resumes for this part-time position.

“I am sorry I was late today but I had to stop and pick up the mail at our old office.” She said.

“No problem.” I answered.

“Jason should be here soon. He is actually a friend of mine that is how I got this job.” She laughed.

“We all just came back from a weekend trip to Las Vegas.” She smiled

Hmm.. I thought to myself. I am not sure about how I feel about that idea. This gal was about half my age. I was getting the feeling we did not have much in common. I lied and said, “Really that is cool your employer paid for you to have a weekend in Las Vegas.” I said

“So what do you do now?” She asked.

“Well I am one of those casualties of the economy and lost my job. It is tough out there right now so I am bartending at the moment.” I said.

A young guy with curly blonde hair whipped through the front doors.

“Hi, sorry I am running late I will be with you in a moment. Uhh, actually just follow me back.” he said breathlessly.

I followed Jason into a conference room. “Well this is our conference room.” he said. “Have a seat.” He said.

I took out a fresh resume for him. I knew since he had been running around at Mach 2 speed this morning and had forgotten our interview he would need to be refreshed about my qualifications.

After my conversation with Chatty Kathy, I learned the guy sitting in front of me was 27 and it was his Daddyâ€s company.

He took his time looking at my resume.

“Uh huh, uh huh” she said while nodding his head. When he finished he put his hands on the table  and said,

“Well you are over qualified for this position. Why do you want to work here?” He looked at me.

Now my real answer floating in my head was because I do not have a Daddy to give me a job. However, I smiled my most charming smile I could muster and said,

“Look I would like to work in an industry that I know is going to be around. I have a lot to skills to offer a company. I have friends who work in the insurance industry and it seems to be somewhat stable. Job security is really important to me.” I finished.

“Well where do you see yourself in 5 years?” he asked.

There it was the question I most hated. I wonder if there is some unwritten rule in an interview that this stupid question must be asked by the employer or the 5-year plan association people fine them some exurbanite fee.

I took a breath looked directly into Jasonâ€s eyes and said.

“Everyone has plans and goals but I have personally found life these days is more about figuring out how to maneuver around all of the stuff that life throws at you. I certainly did not plan on my father dying when I was 22. I did not plan on the economy taking the biggest dump in history since The Great Depression. My brother did not plan on his employer laying him off exactly a week after he told him that he and his wife were expecting their first child. It has been in my best interest to figure out how to not let things get in my way and to continue to move forward.” I finished.

I do not think Jason knew what to make of my answer. But it was the truth. It took him a moment to get back on track.

“Well we have more business then we know what to do with and that is why we are needing to add to our staff.” He said.

“You are very blessed and this is a nice thing to hear.” I smiled.

“Would you like a tour of the office?” He asked.

“I would love one,” I answered.

I think a tour of the office is a good sign. If he were not interested in my filling the position, he would not waste his time with a tour. There was not much to see in the office. He showed me to the part of the office that would have my cubicle. It was not much but it was more then I had now. And as he said in the interview, it was a position that could grow into different things.

“Jason, do you know when you would like to have the position filled?” I asked.

“By the end of the week,” He answered.

“If you are still seriously considering this position when you get home if you could shoot me an email,” he requested.

Something about the request felt strange and I could not put my finger on what it was. I mean why I would not want the job?

I held out my hand to shake his and said, “It was a pleasure to meet you.”

Regardless of sending my email to let him know I was interested in the position and several calls to the office I never heard from Jason. Probably a blessing in disguise. 

It seems to me that Laurie sealed her own fate here by answering questions in a bit of a defiant manner. Instead launching into a tirade indicating that she wanted job security, she could have given some plausible, believable reasons that she was applying for the job. She might have expressed a real interest in the organization itself or in the industry.

In describing her future plans, she could have given an answer that did not incorporate her personal story or that of her family. Clearly, she knew she had made the interviewer uncomfortable with her reply. She knew to be prepared for this question, and could have delivered an answer that would have appealed to a prospective employer and given her a chance to land the job and to turn it down.

In my estimation, the tour was just a way to end the interview, not a positive sign of an impending offer.

On the other hand, clearly, Laurie had pretty much made up her mind that this was not the right place for her. They were late for the interview, traveled as a team for fun and it was a family business. None of this added up in Laurie’s mind as a great opportunity. However, as a job seeker, it is important to follow through so that YOU are the one turning down the opportunity that is not right. “Throwing” an interview and not taking things seriously just makes this another in a series of negative job experiences.

How great would it have been for Laurie had she landed this job, and then decided whether or not it was not the right environment for her? She could have declined the job, but boosted her confidence level at the same time.

So – think about it…Are your “horror stories” someone else’s fault? Or, are you contributing to your own downward spiral?

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You have an actual offer. Now what? How can you negotiate for the best possible deal?

Instead of saying “OK” to an offer, it may be beneficial to pause and say “HMMM.” According to Jack Chapman, the well-known career consultant, telecoach, and author of Negotiating Your Salary: How to Make $1,000 a Minute, this single technique enables more people to negotiate a better salary than any other. In other words, don’t jump at the first offer. This single technique along with the following information will assist you in obtaining the most favorable compensation package.

It is very important to thank them for the offer and indicate that you are looking forward to getting it in writing so you can review it carefully. It’s ALWAYS important to negotiate. You don’t want to leave money “on the table,” so to speak. I can tell you stories of two people, equally qualified, from the same school, similar experiences, who wound up with the same job but unequal salaries because one failed to ask if it was negotiable.

It’s also a good idea in many industries to ask if there is a signing bonus! This is another example of an opportunity to leave money on the table!

What are some behaviors you’ll want to incorporate into the negotiation?
While you don’t want to jump at the offer, you do want to indicate that you are excited about the job and remind the organization of why they chose you. This is not the time to remind the organization about the tuition you need to pay for your son in college or for your penchant for designer clothing! Focus negotiations on your value. It’s a good idea to remind the decision makers of everything you bring to the table.

Keep it positive and be flexible and a team player throughout the process. Remember – you want to work with these people!

What do you want to consider regarding the offer?

Again, be prepared! What’s your “bottom” number? Is there a salary you MUST earn, no matter what? Decide if there is, and recognize that you may lose the offer if it doesn’t work out. Be ready to explain why you believe you are asking for a specific salary.

Evaluate a company’s entire benefit plan.

Sometimes, the hiring manager will not be able to negotiate the salary up. Think outside of the box and be creative in your negotiating. Look at the entire package. Think about negotiating using:

• Vacation time, flexible hours, tuition reimbursement
• Overtime, days off, relocation expenses, stock options
• Company car, expense accounts, bonuses, etc.
• Benefits (health, retirement, disability, stock options, education assistance)
• Relocation expenses, reimbursement for commuting costs

What every negotiator needs to remember:

• Never burn bridges – communicate in an open and thoughtful manner.
• If you aren’t prepared to walk away, don’t offer ultimatums.
• Look for the common points – use them to negotiate.

It’s a good idea to practice your techniques (I’m happy to help!) and prepare as you would for an interview. With the right attitude and preparation, you will be set to earn what you are worth, even in a down economy!

photo by ingorr

The post How to negotiate a job offer in a recession, Part 2 appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Many express interest and include their contact information. Some even let us know when they are available to see the car. Others followed up their original email with YET ANOTHER email – within 24 hours! But, the most interesting (to me) were the ones who had 8 or 10 (!) additional questions, wanted a picture AND asked if the price is negotiable! Faced with 30+ responses, which do you think we’ll contact first? Yup – the ones who gave us the information we need and didn’t seem too demanding.

Lesson? When you connect with someone – for any reason – think first about THEIR needs. How will your note, letter or request strike them? If you hope to hear back, make sure you include information that helps your target understand WHY connecting to you would be advantageous. Make it easy to them to respond (by including your phone number and email address).

Finally, don’t be too demanding! If we can sell a car without responding to extra questions and sending pictures, we’re going to go that path. “High maintenance” isn’t a label you want as a used car buyer in a seller’s market or as a job seeker in a recession.

Think of this analogy when you apply for your next job. Are you putting yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes? What can you do to make things easy for him or her? Are you connecting the “dots” between what the job requires and what you offer with your resume? Are you addressing the employer’s key questions in your cover letter? Are your materials optimized and competitive? Do what you can to increase the odds that you will be in the “short stack” of people contacted for the opportunity.

My clients get interviews and land jobs, even in competitive industries. I can help you achieve your goals. Contact me to learn more!

photo by preciouskhyatt

The post Used cars and job hunting – don't ask for the sun, moon and stars appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Looking for a job can be a lonely process, even when it is clear that no unemployed job seeker is alone. All you need to do is read or listen to the news to know that you are in good company if you’ve been laid off of your job. However, knowing that you’re not alone isn’t usually enough to help keep job hunters motivated and on track. In anything, the negative news may just send more people to bury their heads under their pillows to escape the incessent bad news

My colleague Alexandra Levit recently wrote about how job seekers are turning to “accountability groups,” teams of job seekers whose goal is to help each other stay motivated and on track.

She shared information from a New York Times article that reported on one such group in suburban Chicago. The article notes what we all recognize: being out of work and job hunting can be difficult and demoralizing. It may be a very lonely process, especially for those unaccustomed to job hunting and for job seekers who don’t know how to conduct a successful search.

The benefit of an accountability group is that job seekers encourage and support each other, network and keep each other motivated and on task in what might otherwise become a very unstructured time.

Alexandra notes,

According to the Times, membership in various networking organizations across the country for unemployed executives and other professionals has ballooned in recent months as the recession has continued its march, sparing not even the highly educated and skilled. Providing a spur as well as solace, the groups offer transition assistance for people who previously led comfortable lives in the middle and upper-middle class.

One thing that struck me about the group described in the New York Times article was that it was organized and run by the job seekers themselves. “Seven of nine members have been out of steady work for six months or longer; the other two are approaching the six-month mark.” The organizer of the group lost his job 16 months ago, struggled to get interviews and wondered if he was “spending too much time applying for jobs online.” The article quotes him as saying, “I’m not doing something right yet.”

Honestly, reading about this group breaks my heart! Clearly, these job seekers could benefit from some professional job hunting advice. What if they knew how much time to spend sending out online applications and had expert feedback about their resumes and other job search correspondence? I am sure they could benefit from up-to-date information about using online tools and social networks. I wonder how different their stories might be if they had engaged the services of a coach before things began to look so glum?

I am happy to announce that I will be facilitating “virtual” accountability groups to help job seekers succeed in this difficult and competitive market. Help is just a phone call away! Participants will benefit from targeted professional coaching, an understanding team of other job seekers for networking and support and a structured program to help keep their job hunt on track.

Please CONTACT ME if you are interested in learning more about these groups.

The post Get help for your job search before desperation sets in appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Can you believe it is already August? Before you know it, you’ll blink and it’ll be Labor Day, and the summer will really be over.

Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of good news in the employment sector. Rough waters continue to prevail, and many may be feeling lost at sea in a turbulent economy. Careerbuilder.com summarized the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which released its monthly summary of job data for July 2008:

• Unemployment rose from 5.5% in June to 5.7% in July.
• There were 51,000 fewer jobs in July. Total job loss for 2008 so far is 463,000. That is an average of 66,000 jobs lost per month.
• The most notable losses were in construction, manufacturing and employment services. The drop for employment services indicates far fewer companies are using temporary help.
• The report also mentioned that teenagers and young adults who usually take on part-time jobs during the summer have had challenges in finding a job this year.

What does all of this mean to you?

It depends. If you work in one of the harder-hit sectors, it could very well mean that your job is in jeopardy, and you need to start thinking about what you will do if you are out of work.

I’ve written a lot about job seeking in a recession. Some links that might be useful:

• Ideas for how to recession proof your career.
• Suggestions of the best careers for today’s economy.
• Information about what to do next if you’ve lost your job.
• Rules for job hunting in a recession.
• Tips if your search is going on and on.

You are still feeling lost in a tailspin of negative jobs data? You can’t focus on what to do next? Here is some advice from my friend and colleague, Walter Akana, Certified Personal Branding Strategist at Threshold Consulting:

Stop everything! Evaluate where you have been, what you most want to do and think about where you can do it. Walter suggests answering the following questions from the book Zen and the Art of Making a Living:

• What work best reflects who I am?
• Whom do I want to serve/work with?
• What will I most enjoy doing?
• To what will I be willing to devote myself?

To help evaluate alternatives and focus, Walter recommends creating a personal career alternatives matrix. List your ideal job criteria, interests and capabilities in the first column, and then three or four alternatives in successive columns. This exercise is designed to help you focus on getting on a track that suits you, which might be a very different track from the one you’ve been on most recently!

Take the plunge and look for a job! Still need a great resume? Some help to write the perfect cover letter? I’m here to help! Write to me.

If you want to receive free up-to-date tips to help with your job hunt, Click here to subscribe to receive future blogs sent directly to you!

Photo by Irish Sheep

The post Lost At Sea? Career Search Strategies and Tips for Today's Job Market appeared first on Keppie Careers.

“The evidence is now beyond a reasonable doubt,” said Scott Anderson of Wells Fargo & Co. Thirty-six of 51 respondents, or more than 70%, said in a survey conducted March 7-11 that the economy is in recession.

So, the big question of the day for job seekers is this:

What impact does this recession have on your job prospects?

Penelope Trunk blogged today that A Recession Probably Won’t Affect Your Job Market.

She quotes experts who note that Boomers are expected to retire in droves causing a shortage of employees.  (Click here for another take on what the Boomers may have planned.) Penelope suggests that even sectors that have been hard-hit by the economy such as finance and real estate should maintain their hiring.  Trunk notes that “In terms of real estate…almost 60% of people working in this market will be retirement age by 2010.”  In theory, there should be plenty of jobs to go around!

I agree with Penelope’s assertion that it is pointless to get all worked up about a recession.  There are many steps to take to help make yourself more marketable and competitive in your search.  If you need a job, job  hunting at this stage may or may not be harder than it ever has been in the past.

However, the fact is, if you are out of work and can’t find a job, pundits and researchers aside…How you are impacted by the recession is based on your own circumstances.  If you are a Boomer not ready to retire or re-invent yourself, this may be a difficult time for you. On the other hand, Gen Y job seekers right out of school may find many job opportunities (assuming they aren’t starting their own online firms!)

Back to the point of the job search being in YOUR hands…

The fact is, optimists outperform their peers in their job searches. Research shows that persistence and a postive attitude pay off in the job hunt, even in difficult economic times.

I think most of us in the career industry agree that leaders, well-branded professionals  and flexible performers who are on top of their career plans should do fine.

The key point is to be prepared, keep on top of your game and donâ€t let negative talk get you down. Opportunities happen for people who make them happen.

The post Majority Say Recession Is Here…What It Means for Your Job Hunt appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Employers Slash 63,000 Jobs in February, Most in 5 Years, Feeding Recession Fears

The post U.S. Jobs Data Isn't Pretty appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Some are suggesting that some of the very tenants of our work world are likely to change as baby boomers retire and our system adjusts.  That may be years down the road, but talk of recession and lots of pink slips make talk about change a definite here and now topic.

How can you prepare for change?  Some thoughts…

 1.  Keep your head out of the sand.  You don’t want to engage in unsavory gossip, but make it your business to know the skinny in your area and the company at large.  Touch in with professionals in competing companies as well so you’ll have a finger on the pulse of your industry.

2. Make yourself vital.  Volunteer for projects.  Don’t complain.  Become an expert in a niche market.  Specialize in something useful and leverage your services when change comes around the bend.

3. Keep your eye on the prize.  What are your goals?  Plans?  Do you hope to move up the ladder in your company?  Move on to another industry?  If you don’t have plans, change will come and hit you in the face.  I don’t have to tell you that most people who are hit in the face aren’t going to be lucky enough to have much say in the directions they go.  Don’ t let that be you. 

Keppie Careers will help you prepare for your next career step.  We offer resume writing, career coaching, and an array of services to help you make the best change possible…www.keppiecareers.com

The post Job Change – Is it the other inevitable? appeared first on Keppie Careers.

The first thing to do is stop and get a handle on your job search materials.  Do you have a resume that represents you and all you have to offer?  Have you brushed up your job seeking skills (networking, cover letter writing, interviewing)? It’s not like riding a bike – you CAN forget how to look for a job.  Worse, you may never have really known how to job search in the first place.  Keppie Careers offers an array of services to help get you prepared.

Sarah Needleman addresses the topic of job searching in a recession in the Wall Street Journal Online.   Gary Rich, president of Rich Leadership, an executive advisory firm in Pound Ridge, NY, believes that selling and servicing jobs are more resilient, as they impact the bottom line.  He says:

Less durable jobs are those in human resources, public relations, finance, strategic planning and other non-vital business functions.

Needleman’s article also suggests that if you don’t work in a promising sector, focus on your transferable skills  and consider switching industries.  Plan your transition.  Network and research organizations and industries and learn how you can best use your skills to benefit them.  Consider volunteering with organizations on special projects to demonstrate your added value.

Keppie Careers can help tailor a transition resume to highlight what you have to offer.  We recommend focusing on your skills and accomplishments rather than “what” you have done in your jobs to help potential employers envision you working for them.

Don’t forget that, even in a recessionary economy, some jobs and skills are still invaluable and sought out.  So, just because you may work in an industry that is experiencing a lull, if you have prepared and positioned yourself to have the skills and training needed to fill management gaps, you’re in good shape!
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