Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Great Employers Are Best, Even in Recession

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Are you still waiting for things to look up in the job market? You may be waiting a while…All indications are that we are in for a bit of a bumpy road for the next patch. But, all is not lost for job seekers! Did you know that workplaces that have been recognized as “great,” such as those highlighted on GreatPlaceJobs, historically outperformed the general market and are less likely to have to resort to layoffs during tough times?

These award-winning employers typically offer better job security, which is a terrific benefit for anyone who needs a job!



Read more at my blog at GreatPlaceJobs…


photo by Nick Starr

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Search for Jobs By Company Size

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Photo by gisarah

This week’s Wall Street Journal’s tip of the week: Search for jobs by company size.

I have many clients who do this.  They say, “I want to work for a small company where I will be able to get involved in a lot of different areas.”  Or they say, “I want to work for a large company with opportunity to be promoted.”  Or, “I’d love to work for a large firm and be pigeon-holed into doing the same work day after day.”  Except for that last one…

I have a client who works for a small family firm.  Her stories are exactly what one would expect based on stereotypes of small family firms…Uncle Bill comes in to do the taxes, Aunt Sue is hired to decorate the waiting area.  Non-family members work at their own peril.  At the same time, this client had the opportunity to take on responsibilities and hone skills she otherwise would not have had the chance to do had she worked at a larger firm. 

Points to consider…

Small businesses offer:

  • Quick response time
  • Decision making flexibility
  • Personal attention
  • Specialization opportunities
  • Ability to change with the times

Salary.com offers these reasons to choose a small company:

  • Improved work/life balance
  • Less political
  • Better company culture

Larger firms may offer better benefits (free lunch, anyone?), training opportunities and an HR department that prevents Uncle Jim from getting a job that someone else is more qualified to do.  Although I was glib in noting that large firms may pigeon-hole their workers, it is also true that they may provide more opportunities for advancement from within or transfers from one office to another that would not be possible in a small firm.

Suite101.com notes these advantages of working for a large company:

  • More resources
  • Leadership potential
  • Ability to specialize
  • More job options

The Wall Street Journal’s expert notes:

In general, small company people find delegating difficult and like to have hands-on control over as many aspects of the business as possible. Conversely, large company people usually like to control large fiscal budgets and see their products or work in lights.

There are pros and cons to every choice, but it is interesting to consider:  Are you a large company or small company worker?

Keppie Careers can write your resume to appeal to any type of company.  We’ll support you in your job hunt every step of the way:  www.keppiecareers.com.

Majority Say Recession Is Here…What It Means for Your Job Hunt

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After all of the talk about “are we” or “aren’t we” in a recession, the Wall Street Journal reports that it appears that the people who know these things really think we can honestly say we are in a recession:

“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 don’t let negative talk get you down. Opportunities happen for people who make them happen.

Tips if Your Job Hunt Goes On and On

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Is your job search getting too lengthy for your taste?  A Wall Street Journal online article, How to Hunt for Jobs as Time Out of Work Drags On and On, by Joann Lublin reports:

18.3% of jobless Americans in January had been out of work for at least 27 weeks. The figure far exceeds the 11.1% of those who had gone as long without work when a recession began in March 2001.

Lublin suggests several strategies for you if you are in the same boat.  (I love to quote experts who agree with the advice I give clients!)  Some ideas she suggests (in bold):

Reassess your strengths and weaknesses.  If you were a brand, why wouldn’t you be selling?  Seek advice and figure out what makes you special so you know how to sell yourself.

One reason may be a flawed résumé.  Lublin notes, “A professionally written résumé counts more than an attractive typeface.”   Ensure that your resume conveys exactly what you have to offer.  Don’t make the potential employer figure out how you fit in.  Connect the dots for your reader.

Don’t waste a lot of time sending online applications. This article notes:

“Posting résumés on job sites should be the smallest part of your search,” because you rarely land positions that way, says Annie Stevens, a managing partner at ClearRock, a Boston outplacement and executive-coaching firm. Nearly two-thirds of applicants find work through networking, ExecuNet surveys show.

Network, network, network, network.  Even if you are shy, be sure to take advantage of the #1 job search strategy!  (Follow the 5 links in this paragraph to get you started on the right foot!)

Consider re-meeting with your references to ensure that they are highlighting your best skills.  Keeping in touch with referees is an important job search strategy from day one, but if you have gotten to the reference-checking stage without landing a job, this could be an important evaluation point.

Do what you can to keep up your spirits.  Frequent exercise, support or networking groups and chocolate can be good stress relievers!  Don’t spend every minute on your job hunt.  You still need to have a life!  Plus, you never know – it could be someone you meet on a trip to the grocery store or a seatmate on an airplane while on vacation who winds up linking you to your next job!

Job search dragging on?  Get some professional help!  Keppie Careers is here for you.  We’ll make sure that your resume is top notch and coach you every step of the way.  Save time and money – hire Keppie Careers!  www.keppiecareers.com

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!