Job Search Archives

Q.   I will graduate next May and am interested in pursuing public relations on an international scale (I hope to move to London).  How do you suggest pursuing internships/jobs across the pond?  -JS

A.  Landing a job in London is not easy for non-UK citizens, but it's possible.  The best way to do so if by attending college in the country and then migrating to an internship or full-time position.  You also have a better chance if you're working for an American company that has operations in London. 

Since there are a lot of rules and regulations that affect jobs in the UK, I asked someone who has managed through the process -- my goddaughter, Amanda Felt.  Amanda is director of business development, executive education for the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in London.  Amanda worked for the University of Chicago in Chicago before being asked to move to London.  Here are Amanda's tips and suggestions regarding London jobs and internships, and how to navigate the process. 
 
All visas come with a price.  Legal assistance is helpful but not necessary.

Work Sponsored-Visa:  Many (if not most) Americans living in the UK have been sponsored by their companies and are on a work permit visa.  These visas are tied to their company.  So, if they are no longer employed by that company they are no longer legally able to reside in the UK.  Work permits are normally valid for a period of three years and are then renewed.  After five years, you are eligible to apply for an indefinite leave to remain that isn't tied to a company. 

When I began my agency career seven years ago, I hadn't yet heard of a Social Media Strategist.  Come to think of it, I don't recall seeing the title until maybe two years ago.  Today, agencies and corporations have created a bull market for the digitally savvy.   

Individuals addicted to social media are the best candidates for careers in online networking.  College students should hone their skills in social media--going beyond routine texting and Facebook.  Those with a true passion for everything digital emerge as top candidates for excellent, fun social media jobs. 

CareerBuilder blogger Rachel Zupek cites the following five prospective jobs for social media gurus:

 

1.  Recruiter
2.  Strategist
3.  Enterprise architect
4.  User operations analyst
5.  Director of social media

 

I lost my prescription sunglasses last week, and spent several hours on-and-off looking for them.  Finally, I gave up the search and decided it was time to buy a new pair.  That evening, they mysteriously turned up on the floor of my car.  Once again, I was reminded that sometimes the best way to find something is to stop looking for it.  The same sometimes goes for a job search. 

Pressures of landing a job are so intense that we sometimes need to take a break.  Guest poster Tim Conway sent me an article from The Miami Herald that suggests if you're working harder looking for a job than you ever did in your last job, maybe it's time for a break.

More often these days, the right opportunity comes from connections.  Lauryn Franzoni, vice president of ExecuNet.com, says that her recruiting firm's research shows only 20 percent of jobs available are advertised.  The best places to learn about hiring, she says, are the golf course, basketball court, a book club or church meeting.

``Get involved in something you love and wish you had time for and use it as a way to meet others who can help you,'' Franzoni says.

Needless to say, there's a lot of stress associated with any job search.  Circumstances driving urgency of landing a job include rent and mortgage payments, student loans and expiring unemployment benefits.  However, if you've been searching non-stop for a job, don't let guilt keep you from taking a break.  You need to recharge your mental and physical batteries, and someone you meet might lead to the job you're looking for. 

Aaron Levie

Two years ago, I read Inc. magazine's top 30 under 30 feature story (a.k.a. America's coolest young entrepreneurs).  At the time, I wondered how many would find ultimate success in business.  Today's New York Times Corner Office column validates the career and wisdom of one of those young entrepreneurs--Aaron Levie, co-founder and CEO of Box.net, an online file storage company that allows access of data from anywhere. 

What I love about the Corner Office column is the weekly questions about how CEOs hire.  Hearing how a 25-year-old CEO thinks about hiring is especially relevant to young job seekers as well as hiring managers.  Here's how Aaron responded to two key hiring questions: 

Q: Let's talk about hiring.

AARON:  One thing that's really important is understanding what they've done in their career.  Just walk me through how you got to where you are today.  What are the factors that led to specific decisions -- that can give you a level of insight into behavior and how they make decisions. One thing that I'm asking now is to talk about a project or job -- "What could you have done differently to do that bigger or get more revenue or execute better?"  You see if they can look back on their decisions and find out where they could have improved.

Energy and persistence are the two most important factors, in addition to just having a clean résumé where there's nothing crazy going on.  In a business like ours, we have to be super, super competitive, and we have to be able to get people who are going to be persistent and relentless and have a level of energy that gets them through challenging things.

Curiosity is another big thing and a way to identify who's going to be energetic and have the right attitude. Sometimes the best people are the ones who are very curious about our business model, how we're going to grow.  They actually care a lot about us as a company; that's actually been a pretty good way to find people who are going to be really dedicated to the business.

And ultimately, we're looking to hire people who can adapt to what a role might become, not just what it is today.  When you're at a start-up, things move and scale very quickly, and you want to hire people who can grow with the company and into roles that expand beyond the job description they were hired for.

Q:  If you could ask a job candidate just a few questions, what would they be?

AARON:  "What questions do you have for me?" That will help you see how they're thinking about the challenges.  A lot of times I'll say, "When you're thinking about Box as an opportunity, how do you compare it to other organizations? What do we have that you want to be a part of?"  Getting them to articulate the values back to you about what kind of organization they want to be a part of can actually be very useful.

 

Several readers of this blog have asked about non-traditional jobs, perhaps totally unrelated to their college degrees or current positions.  Melissa Tamura writes the following guest post about a career possibility that had never crossed my mind--but I'm impressed with what it takes to become a modern-day Eliot Ness. 

Every year hundreds of eager recruits apply to join the Federal Bureau of Investigation, yet only a small handful are accepted. Many potential applicants are disqualified or quit because of a few basic misunderstandings regarding the work of the FBI, and the qualifications for employment.

 If you are serious about joining the FBI, here are eight important issues to consider before you apply.

1. The FBI is Focused on Crimes Within the United States.

While the work of an FBI agent may take them overseas on occasion, the primary focus of the FBI is domestic. Foreign affairs, especially espionage, are typically under the jurisdiction of agencies such as the CIA and NSA.

2. Special Agents Are Only a Part of the FBI.

Special Agents get the majority of the publicity, and typically when new applicants think of the FBI, they are envisioning themselves as agents. However, most of the FBI's 30,000 employees are involved in more common-place occupations, such as Accountants, Engineers, Architects, Researchers, Budget Analysts, Chemists, Software Engineers, Graphics Designers, Intelligence Analysts, Lawyers, Police Officer Linguists (a particularly important need at the current time), Pilots, and Security Specialists (including hostage situations).

3. Your Past May Disqualify You.

If you have ever been convicted of a felony, particularly illegal drug use, or failed to register with Selective Service, you may not be allowed to work for the FBI. Even defaulting on a federal student loan can put your application in jeopardy. You will be subjected to an intense background check to verify your application information before you are invited to training.

4. The FBI is One of the Most Diverse Employers in the Nation.

Over 25% of the FBI workforce is comprised of minorities, and over 45% of FBI employees are female. Because they are a federal agency representing all of America, the FBI strives to reflect the diversity of the nation. Any racial, ethnic, or gender offenses are carefully investigated, and may disqualify you for employment.

5. You Must Pass Physical Fitness Requirements for Employment.

FBI employees, particularly Special Agents, must complete a physical fitness test, which includes situps, pushups, a three-hundred meter sprint, and a 1.5 mile run. Details regarding the fitness requirements are available at: http://www.fbijobs.gov/.  You also must pass visual and auditory tests before you can be considered for employment as an Agent.

6. Education is Helpful.

Because of the wide range of available positions within the FBI, there are no standard educational degrees that are required. However, individual jobs have specific requirements. For example, if you are interested in a research position, you may need to have a science degree to apply. Additionally, prior experience and education can qualify you for a higher pay grade more quickly.

7. You Will Have to Take a Polygraph Test.

All prospective FBI employees must submit to a polygraph (lie-detector) test covering such issues as your application, past drug/alcohol use, citizenship status, and national security matters.

8. The FBI Investigates a Large Range of Crimes.

Media outlets tend to publicize specific arenas of FBI investigations, such as drug enforcement or organized crime like Chicago's own Al Capone. However, the FBI enforces over three hundred federal statues, covering crimes ranging from terrorist attacks, cyber crime, organized crime, white collar offenses (such as Enron), and public corruption. Additionally, the FBI is committed to assisting other organizations, including agencies at the federal, state, and local levels.

However, despite the range of investigations, please note that the FBI does not currently investigate paranormal phenomena; there is no X-Files division. Officially.

Melissa Tamura writes about online degree programs for Zen College Life. 

 

Q.  I have been looking for jobs at ad agencies and I see many positions that are available.  I've made a lot of contacts through LinkedIn.  The issue I face is that I do not have any traditional ad agency experience.  My major was a discipline that I designed to cover all aspects of advertising from the creative to the management.  Many recruiters have told me to get an internship, but I work to support myself.  Currently I do advertising sales.  What is the best way to approach this situation? I feel like the longer I stay in my current position the more difficult it will be to reach my goal. 

A.  Since my primary focus is on PR, I asked two friends in the ad world to offer their suggestions for your dilemma.  One heads a major agency, and the other is an account executive in her third year at a major agency.

EnergyBBDOPresident and CEO Tonie Paul says you'll need to get serious about finding an entry-level job at an agency before it  is too big a step back for you financially. 

"Depending upon his experience to date, it is possible that he would be a candidate for an entry level position," Tonise says.  "The most critical thing he needs to do is to determine what kind of position he is looking for within an agency.  Then he needs to start hunting to determine his entry options.  He might even explore different kinds of agencies (e.g., events, healthcare communications, digital).  If he is intentional, he can do it!"

Taylor McDougal at Draftcb feels relationships within the industry and through LinkedIn are important, but they only get you in the door, they do not get you the job.

"The most integral part of finding a job at an advertising agency is having relevant experience," Taylor says.  "So although it may be rough financially for awhile, the best choice would be to take any internship offers so that you can start building your skill set within the agency.  After that first internship, it's much easier to move up and get hired within the same agency, or look for entry level positions at other agencies."

A former business colleague called me this week to express frustration about the volume of resumes he's receiving.  He said only one in 20 has relevant experience for the current opening he's trying to fill.  He asked: "Do people actually read job postings anymore or do they simply send resumes to every job posting they see?"

Unfortunately, the tight job market causes people to apply for jobs that are beyond their skill levels.  At the same time, many over-qualified people apply for openings seeking more junior staffers.  A HR manager told me that she received more than 300 resumes for an entry-level position, and nearly half were from people with considerably more than five years experience.  And a corporate PR head said red flags were waving in his head when an individual applied for three different job openings in his department--positions ranging from entry-level to VP. 

While individuals are willing to take lesser positions in this economy, most companies aren't willing to take the risk of hiring over-qualified people who could become bored with the kinds of work performed much earlier in their careers.  It's also not very productive to try to switch careers by trading down to entry-level PR jobs.  For example, we've received resumes from lawyers applying for account coordinator openings.  HR executives correctly advise job seekers to focus their searches on jobs that are within the scope of position descriptions. 

In a weak employment market, it's a smart strategy to take risks.

Push yourself to try unconventional job search methods.  By being a go-getter, you will spot hidden opportunities.

Here are surprising tactics that are productive:

• compose brief bio and case studies (format of Situation, Actions, Results); send as an alternative to a boring resume
• create a digital portfolio to showcase academic/campus/on-the-job achievements (fact:  "less is more" so only display best samples such as transcripts, commendation notes and awards)
• skim "Newsroom" press releases of target employers to spot names of executives; then use those names during outreach campaigns (e.g., postcard)
• join professional associations to access membership databases; schedule lunch with chapter officers for insights
• attend industry events; stay afterwards to meet-and-greet speakers/panelists
• rehearse 30-second Personal Pitch to highlight useful skills/career goal with relatives, neighbors, community/religious leaders, family physician/dentist/attorney and former supervisors/professors/tutors/coaches; mention preferred organizations to spur others to share contacts
• approach sole proprietors, boutique agencies and fastest-growing firms since these are first to hire during a slow economy; call before 8 a.m. and after 5:30 p.m. when gate-keepers aren't there
• craft a Solutions Letter to organizations covering specific recommendations to existing problems (that you've identified from input by referrals along with observations)
• make phone calls to university/Greek alumni to seek advice (objective is to establish a mentoring relationship so do not inquire about job openings; instead ask about hot projects that need support)
• move cross-country or overseas to an emerging location (check library publications for list of regions/cities)
• leave short voicemail messages:  "Hello ___________, this is ______ _________.  I have some useful information for you.  Please call me when it's convenient.  Reach me at ___-___-____.   Again, it's ______ _________ at ____-____-_____."  The information you exchange should be about recent category or competitive activity.
• submit a Results Letter to prospective firms stating your performance commitments for Years 1-2 (e.g., product training, account management, foreign language fluency, sales revenue, cost savings)
• accept a temporary role or unpaid internship with goal to quickly demonstrate value
• offer to work for F-R-E-E for a limited time in chosen or related field (for instance, pursue a hotel, rental car, airlines or retailer to build client service abilities)

By taking more chances, you will boost odds of being noticed.  Plus, you'll gain respect of influential staffers for being proactive.

Tim Conway is a one-on-one adviser to job hunters.  He wrote about proven employment techniques in "25 Ways To Make College Pay Off" (AMACOM; 2007).  Reach Tim at:  847-749-1394 (office) or timconway@igniteyoungadults.com

Q.  I have a major decision to make in the next month--grad school or continue my so-far unsuccessful job search.  I graduated in January and can get my grad degree in a little over a year, so perhaps the economy will improve further by then.  What do you recommend?  -LB

A.  Don't assume graduate school will increase your chances of landing a job next year.  You're not alone in weighing the decision to continue your education in pursuit of a master's degree.  Therefore, you will be entering the job market in a year or two with a record number of others who opted to return to college.  More alarming, the Wall Street Journal reports that a grad-school degree doesn't necessarily pay off in the job market.  According to the Journal, the jobless rate among individuals with master's degrees has risen to 4.2% vs. 2.9% in June 2007.  And the Journal indicates the average pay difference between bachelor's and master's degrees -- currently $7,954 a year -- will narrow as more qualified candidates accept lower-paying jobs. 

Syracuse University professor Bill Coplin recommends not using grad school as a place to wait out the current bad job market.  Coplin says, "Deciding to go to graduate school should be a business decision where the risks, costs and rewards of this significant investment in time and money are carefully considered."

I reluctantly admit that I watch too much reality TV.  Sadly, one of these shows -- "True Beauty"-- featured a discussion in last week's episode where the contestants couldn't recall when they last read a book.  None of these people would get hired by Linda Heasley, president and CEO of The Limited.

In today's New York Times, Heasley says she asks job applicants what books they are reading.  Other qualities she screens for:  passion, curiosity, energy level, sense of humor and willing to take a risk. 

Her advice to new hires: "Take 90 days. The relationships you build in your first few months here are critical to your success. Try not to talk in meetings. I know you're going to want to demonstrate that you're really capable and you deserve to be here by showing your smarts.  But if you listen and let the void fill with what's around you, you'll learn a ton.  It's really important to take the 90 days and watch and listen, and it's really hard to do that, because people want to perform out of the gate."

Several hiring managers have asked me to encourage job seekers to stop sending "teaser emails."  These are short messages containing few details, but almost always seeking an opportunity to meet in person.

Agencies receive hundreds of quality resumes each month, so some hiring managers speculate that applicants leave resumes off their email inquiries in hopes of increasing interest to learn more about them.  I'm not alone in feeling such emails are woefully incomplete, presumptious and annoying.  "Unless I personally know someone mentioned in the email, I automatically hit delete on any such email that doesn't contain a resume," said the HR manager director of a major agency.  

Rule of thumb, always include your resume any time you're communicating with a potential decision maker in a job search.  Don't think a cleverly written "teaser" email will engage a hiring manager into a two-way dialog resulting in getting your foot in the door. 

By the way, the same email expectations apply to phone inquiries.  Unless you know the hiring manager or are referred by someone who is well connected to that individual, don't make the call.  Send an introductory note and resume before dialing. 

Casual rules in the workplace today.  But job applicants shouldn't let their guards down by showing up for interviews in casual attire. 

I talked with a devastated job seeker last week who said he did everything right:  a one-page, results-oriented resume, showed up 10 minutes early for the interview and nailed Q&As during three separate conversations.  He also called in advance to determine the company's dress code, and dressed accordingly.  That was his only mistake.  Despite the firm's in-office casual dress code, he learned from the HR director that he didn't get the job.  She also let him know that he was the only candidate who didn't show up in business attire.  Although the office environment is casual, they wear business attire when meeting with clients or attend outside meetings.  Even though the interviewers were in casual attire, they felt the young applicant should have elevated his interview attire to a higher standard.  They also wanted to see how he might physically appear when meeting with clients. 

Once the job is landed, you also need to be mindful about how to properly dress in a casual work environment.  As a former boss once told me, "too many people don't know the difference between business casual and beach casual."  While The Etiquette and Dress Experts.com provides 10 helpful tips on how to properly approach casual attire, I offer a simpler way to guarantee success: Pick out one or two people in the organization who are in leadership positions and dress accordingly.    

Every day, my Junk Mailbox contains a dozen or more emails that weren't delivered due to questionable attachments.  As I scanned through the offers of cheap prescription drugs and watches, I found two legitimate messages--both containing resumes.  I don't know what triggered their quarantine status, but I have now moved them along to our HR director.

To avoid the risk of ending up in junk mail or raising concerns by individuals reluctant to open documents from unknown senders, I have a a suggestion:  Cut and paste your resume into the body of your email rather than making it an attachment.  

Many of us are reluctant to open documents from people we don't know, which underscores the importance of cover notes.  Since many HR functions prefer the stand alone resume, you might attach a resume along with pasting it into the cover email.  This requires keeping the cover note short and to the point.   Since most e-mail programs are based on a 72-character format, be sure to limit each line of your email resume to 72 characters.  This will prevent dropped and jumbled lines.   

Q.  Since graduating a year ago, I have been unsuccessful in landing a full-time job but I've picked up several freelance assignments.  I enjoy the work, lifestyle, and make decent money.  Is it practical to make a career out of freelancing? 

A.  Many freelancers do quite well, but most would rather be working full time--especially recent grads.  Freelance work is a good bridge over the current job gap, but I don't recommend it as a long-term career goal.  Most recent graduates should work in agency or corporate jobs in order to gain experience and insights that boost their long-term careers.  

Three of my friends have done quite well in their freelance careers, but they worked in corporate jobs for at least 15 years before becoming freelancers.  One friend recently returned to a full-time corporate position, citing the inconsistent peaks and valleys of freelance work.  He was bored one week and swamped the next. 

I highly recommend taking on freelance assignments if you're currently unemployed or lacking creative fulfillment in your current job.  Several sites list freelance opportunities, plus they allow you to register your freelance services.  Among the sites I like are:  Freelance Job Search, Freelancer and iFreelance.  If you decide to pursue a freelance career, be sure to join the Freelancers Union, which provides excellent job leads and offers insurance and other benefits that normally are provided by an employer. 

I'll never forget the job interview I had many years ago with an agency head who clearly was a regular at his club.  Seconds after sitting down for lunch, two martinis were delivered to the table--one for him and one for me.  Minutes later, a second was delivered.  Thankfully, the third arrived as he was notified of a phone call (pre-cell phones), so I poured most of it into my water glass as he was talking with a client.  While the interviewer didn't seem phased, my head was spinning and I couldn't recall much from the conversation.

What I learned from this experience is the importance of being prepared for a variety of interview situations and settings.  Today, interviews are conducted via phone, Skype, in-person, in group meetings, in restaurants, bars and Starbuck's.  Therefore, it's important to assess the interview environment and have a game-plan in mind. 

Klimpton Hotel Chief Operating Officer Niki Leondakis provides some insights into a hiring manager's interview technique in Sunday's New York Times' Corner Office column.  When asked how she hires, Leondakis says she attempts to have a variety of conversations -- "phone, face-to-face in an office environment, and a meal." 

Why a meal?  "I think people get a little more comfortable, and I can observe how they walk through a restaurant and whether they barrel through or let others go first," Leondakis says.  "When the server comes to the table to take the order, do they respond by looking them in the eye, or do they talk to them without looking at them, as if they're invisible?  It's telling to me how someone treats the service staff." 

Bottom line: Be prepared for every interview situation, don't wing it.  Think through what you'll order (my rule--nothing messy or on a bone), order iced tea or Diet Coke, not a martini.   

The ideal time for aspiring professionals to nurture on-the-job competencies is during college.  The good news is that anyone can acquire these proficiencies; it simply takes time and effort.

Due to ultra-competitive job market, future executives must showcase in-demand talents at job fairs, special events and interviews.  Here are essential habits to perfect if you want to excel in your next career opportunity:

Professional Demeanor (friendly smile; confident handshake; stylish attire/grooming; upright posture; articulate voice; direct eye contact; positive attitude; be polite to everyone)

Social Manners (unplug IPod upon entering building; be prompt for meetings; take initiative to turn off cell phone/PDA; display patience; send sincere thank you cards; grasp office culture)

Dining Etiquette (chew slowly; wipe mouth; engage peers in conversation; be active listener)

 

Q.  I've sent emails to more than 40 agencies in search of internship or entry-level jobs.  I've followed up by email and phone calls with places that list job openings, but have only heard back from one or two firms.  How many times should I follow up before moving on? Any other tips?  -CB

A.  Regrettably, understaffed HR functions in many firms sometimes are forced into bad business etiquette.  Every email job inquiry deserves a response, but that isn't happening in the current economic times.  My follow-up rule of thumb recommendation: two follow-up inquiries with organizations where you know there is a job opening -- one by email and one by phone.  If your inquiry is by email, don't ask:  "Did you get my resume?"  Attach another resume.  If calling, do so 48 hours after sending your resume.  Otherwise, it already will be buried under others.  If there are no job openings in the agency, loop back with another email and resume in six weeks or so. 

Ideally, check with friends to see if they know anyone within any agency with a job opening.  Even in this economy, many agencies pay referral fees to individuals who recommend job candidates that are hired.  If there is an active job opening in the agency, non-executive staff members have a real incentive to get your resume into the system. 

Finally, 40 emails and resumes isn't enough.  Long ago when I was searching for a job during another recession, I told a colleague that I had received no responses after sending out 70 resumes.  She asked:  "Today?"  She reported working full time on her earlier job search, sending out up to 70 resumes a day.  Within three months, she had accumulated five job offers.  I told her advice, ramped up my search efforts and landed a job within 30 days. 

Cathleen Johnson contributes the third part of a series stemming from a panel discussion involving successful women graduates of Northern Illinois University who were assembled by Denise Schoenbachler, Dean of the Business School, on the topic of: Lessons from the Front:  If We'd Only Known this Back Then.

   Cathleen Johnson

Things I Wish I'd Known in College

1.  EMBRACE MATH!

In college, I fought hard to avoid math--I majored in journalism, and have had a very successful career as a result.  But I now have to admit that I regret my decision to avoid numbers and hide behind the writer's shield at all cost.  Even writer types need to brush up on their math skills in business.  After all, for a PR professional to be truly successful, you have to be just as facile with numbers as words in order to develop a budget, understand a P&L and all that comes with it--quantify one's value as a result of contribution to revenue and profit. 

My value to a firm lies not just in my ability to write a great program, but also in my skill in building a profitable group, manage expenses, manage my clients' budgets, and understand the financial structure of my business and my clients.  That takes a fundamental understanding of, and respect for the "Dreaded Math".  And don't forget that as your success increases, so does your personal portfolio, and you'd better know what's involved in your financial statement!

2.  PE IS NOT YOUR ENEMY

Another thing I avoided like the plague while in school was sports.  I tried tennis--and found I had no hand to eye coordination.  I tried volleyball and had serious issues with my long, red fingernails.  I tried fencing and loved it, but it was never one of those fun team sports everyone else was cheering for. 

I wish I'd known how the game of golf could have helped me make deals and alliances when I came as a stranger to work in Hawaii where so much real business is done on the course.  Or how the lessons of team sports would translate into lessons of team leadership in any business.  Had I kept up with volleyball or basketball, I would have known how valuable the lessons of a good coach could be in the corporate world.

3.  COLLEGE ISN'T REAL LIFE, BUT IT'S PRETTY DAMN CLOSE SO PAY ATTENTION.  Just don't believe everything they told you! 

When I went to J-school we were trained for the "big time," but no one mentioned that not everyone will be a reporter for The New York Times.  That was a cruel blow when I began looking for my reporter's job, but I quickly learned that working for the college paper was probably the best training I could have received for any writing-based career.  Perseverance, attention to detail, proof-reading and patience are all skills I learned, that I use to this day.

I also learned to be determined to succeed.  PR was a fledgling field at the time, and I had one class.  On my final I received a c- and a personal note: "You have potential, but too bad you'll never make it in this field."  I didn't believe that, and 30 years later, I'm still enjoying a very successful career in PR--and I'm glad I didn't listen to that advice!

Cathleen Johnson is an Executive Vice President at Edelman Worldwide where she is General Manager of the Tourism Practice and Global Director of Education & Training.

A new 2010 graduate told me about a non-traditional job interview for which he feels he was unprepared.  The prospective employer spent the entire hour asking and following-up on questions about the candidate's hometown, summer jobs and extra curricular activities--not one question about his college curriculum or experience relevant to the job opening. 

Fortunately, the applicant launched into a discussion of his part-time jobs during high school and college and the variety of activities, including Boy Scouts.  He wonders if there's an omen in the fact the interviewer asked no job-specific questions.  I assured him that the novel interview approach is becoming increasingly popular since everyone can read a resume, but such questioning can elicit important insights regarding work ethic and personality. 

Today's New York Times Corner Office column confirms my point of view that bosses are increasingly asking non-job specific questions.  Steve Hannah, CEO of The Onion, asks non-traditional questions.  He says he wants to know where an applicant comes from, how many children are in his/her family.  "I want to know where you fit in and what your role was," Hannah says.  "I want to know what your mother and your dad did, what influence they had on you.  I find that, without overstepping my boundaries, most people like to talk about themselves."

Hannah said he wants to know if the applicant is "entitled" or whether they worked hard, excelled at school, held summer jobs, whether they got the jobs themselves, and if they got promoted. I want to know if you'll work hard. Hannah says, "I'm hopelessly old-fashioned. I want people who really want to work hard. And I absolutely loathe a sense of entitlement."

Before your next interview, take a few minutes to think about your childhood and how you might describe it in such a way to underscore its relevance to the job you're pursuing. 

When you're lucky enough to land an interview in this tough job market, it's critically important to show up on time.  That seems obvious, but in the past few weeks I've heard several horror stories about tardy applicants. 

One graduating senior who had the rare distinction of having two interviews on the same day, didn't plan for travel time from the suburbs to our downtown office.  When the interviewers wondered why she was an hour late, they checked their email and found a text message indicating traffic was terrible so she'd have to reschedule.  There was no rescheduled interview; the job went to someone who showed up on time. 

The head of a Chicago PR agency told me this week about an intern candidate who was 15 minutes late for her interview.  More importantly, when the interviewer asked if she had any questions about the briefing materials the agency had sent a week prior to the meeting, the applicant responded:  "Oh, were you expecting me to read all that stuff?"  Interview over. 

I'll also never forget the red-faced young man who was breathless and dripping from perspiration because he ran from the train station.  The train wasn't late, he just should have caught an earlier one that would have allowed him to calmly walk to the meeting. 

Enhance your job prospects by following these basic tips:

• Be On Time.
• Know Where You're Going.  Do a test drive; know if a security desk will take time to clear. 
• Allow Time to Relax.  Stop at Starbucks to catch your breath and relax for 15 minutes prior to meeting. 
• Know Who You're Meeting.  Do a quick Google search to learn about the company, and gain conversation ice-breakers.
• Study Anything The Company Sends You.  Be prepared with questions or points of view regarding the materials.
• Always Get Contact Info.  Call the interviewer if you encounter traffic delays or other emergencies. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During a break at the recent professional conference, I talked with an two colleagues from other companies about the incredible talent coming out of colleges today.  We agreed that entry-level hiring decisions are hard to make, so the "little things" become increasingly important. 

Actually, the "little things" are deal makers or breakers in job searches.  Brand name college degrees alone no longer guarantee serious job consideration.  Instead, our trio ranked extra-curricular activities first, followed by a strong portfolio featuring samples of work and creative thinking.  Networking came in a close third.  The surprising fourth "little thing" was the ability to admit that you don't know everything.

The off-the-cuff discussion didn't jump to mind as a blog post until I read Sunday's Corner Office column in The New York Times.  In the column, Rachel Ashwell, founder of Shabby Chic, the home furnishing retailer, drives home our fourth point. She's not impressed with applicants who think they know everything.

Here's Rachel's response to the question, "What turns you off in interviews?"

"What turns you off in an interview?  One thing is a kind of arrogance, the 'yeah-yeah' people who think they know everything.  I've seen people who just think they know it all, and then it happens over and over again.  And that's where I just think, 'Oh no.'  Because that, to me, is a character quality.  It comes from a place of fear and wanting to please, or maybe thinking that you know everything.

"I think the words "I don't know"' -- in a positive way -- is a little phrase much avoided, and I don't really know why.  I just turned 50 and there's still plenty I don't know and that's something that I often tell my staff.  If you don't know something, it's just so much better to say so.  Guessing can cause all kinds of problems.  But the point is not to be passive either, and to take responsibility and go find out what it is."

Chicago is a magnet for young people pursuing career opportunities.  Last week, I met one of those career adventurers when he moved into the office across the hall from me.  Here's Ben Miller's Chicago job search story:

Nervous laughter was what I heard from my parents after telling them that I had turned down a job in Alabama and decided to move to Chicago after graduate school.  They tried to discourage me with the typical colloquialisms, "a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush" and "this is the worst economy since the Great Depression".  I knew what I wanted, and so with the comforting words of my parents and a Presidential promise for a brighter tomorrow, I followed my heart to Chicago.

Upon arriving in what I was told was a warm winter (could've fooled me), my first plan of attack was to familiarize myself with the city and then start networking.  I didn't have to worry about step one in moving to a new city - I was fortunate enough to have friends that let me to live out of my suitcase and make their couch my temporary home.  With the basics covered, I was able to turn my full attention to "the search".

Before my journey began, I set a deadline for employment.  And like many before me, I underestimated the time-frame it would take to secure a job.  In a large city, with over-qualified applicants, I found myself competing for entry-level positions with people who already had previous experience.  The HR departments seemed to be so inundated with resumes and emails; it was virtually impossible to make contact beyond the company's website.  Enter the phone - the newest form of interview screening.  I think it is fair to say that most people perform better in person; I am one of those people.  My main complaint with moving to a city without a job was the lack of face-to-face contact.  I just wanted a chance, a chance to get through to a real live person.

An executive recruiter told me last week that his initial information source about potential job candidates is shifting from word-of-mouth references to social media--specifically LinkedIn. 

An increasing number of companies are enlisting social media to identify and recruit prospective employees.  Even staid Sears announced recently that it is using Twitter to recruit 7,000 employees.  Giant consulting firm Accenture is using LinkedIn to help recruit the 50,000 employees it will hire this year.  Fortune magazine reports that Accenture plans to hire at least 40% of its future workforce via social media. 

In an article entitled, "How LinkedIn Will Fire Up Your Career," Fortune says: "Facebook is for fun.  Tweets have a short shelf life.  If you're serious about managing your career, the only social site that matters is LinkedIn."  Therefore, it's important to properly use this business site.  

I recommend the following basic rules of LinkedIn etiquette: 

Don't Be Mysterious.  Fully complete your LinkedIn profile information. 

No Cold-Call LinkedIn Requests.  Don't randomly invite people who you don't know. 

Engage in LinkedIn Groups.  Raise your visibility by participating in the many job-related sites and groups. 

LinkedIn is Not Facebook.  Treat LinkedIn as the professional site it has become.  Don't use funny photos or use witty or caustic comments. 

Don't Hound Fellow Members.  Don't abuse your network by being overly aggressive in your job search. 

As I was growing up, my mother would pass judgement on my social transgressions by claiming "Emily Post would roll over in her grave."  It wasn't until college that I finally learned there really was someone named Emily Post.  Her rules of etiquette came to life during an enlightening one-credit-hour course taught by Mary Alice Banks. 

Unfortunately, etiquette doesn't get the attention it deserves.  But bosses notice when you commit an etiquette faux pas.  Lack of social orientation instruction is increasingly apparent in business and social settings today.  So, I made a trip to Barnes & Noble Saturday afternoon to meet someone who is a full-time etiquette advocate--Emily Post's great-granddaughter-in-law, Peggy Post.  Peggy was signing copies of her 12 books, including once I especially like: "The Etiquette Advantage in Business."  The 366-page book is loaded with important tips that will help in job searches and succeeding on the job. 

While she elaborates on each in her book, here are Peggy's top five job-interview tips:

I got an email this week from the father of a college sophomore, requesting my point of view regarding his plan to buy a summer internship for his son.  The "helicopter parent" is focused on building his son's resume so he hopefully lands a good job upon graduation or impresses the best graduate schools. 

 

The internship in question is being offered by University of Dreams for the same amount the student should be making in a traditional summer job.  The student isn't sure about the profession he wants to pursue, so I suggested that the father save his money.  While two or three internships are now the "cost of entry" in post-college job searches, I certainly don't think you should buy an internship between the sophomore and junior years of college. 

I'm alarmed about the increasing number of unpaid internships.  Unless an internship is with a nonprofit organization or qualifies for at least three college credits, all interns should be paid. 

Parents, students and mainly employers need to adhere to state and federal laws governing internships.  The New York Times sheds important light on legal implications of unpaid internships.  The article quotes a U.S. Labor Department official, who says, "If you're a for-profit employer or you want to pursue an internship with a for-profit employer, there aren't going to be many circumstances where you can have an internship and not be paid and still be in compliance with the law."   My bottom line:  If an organization benefits financially from an internship, they should pay for the help.   

 

After conducting an interview last week, I came across a column by Korn/Ferry EVP Don Spetner which confirmed why the interview made me so uncomfortable.  The applicant hadn't mastered the personality basics to succeed in business--or at least in her job search. 

During the interview, the applicant appeared obsessed with discussing the dysfunction of her former boss and colleagues.  Even when I changed the subject by asking a different question, she eventually looped back to why she disliked her last job.  Needless to say, there won't be a second interview. 

In his column, Don discusses the importance of being likable in business, noting that "nothing can kill a good career like a bad personality." He also refers to the classic business book by Dale Carnegie.  Written nearly 75 years ago, How to Win Friends and Influence People is full of common-sense advice, including these words that should have been on the mind of my interview candidate: "Don't criticize, condemn or complain." 

Here are Carnegie's "Six Ways to Make People Like You":

1. Become genuinely interested in other people.
2. Smile.
3. Remember that a person's name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
4. Be a good listener and encourage others to talk about themselves.
5. Talk in the terms of the other person's interests.
6. Make the other person feel important and do it sincerely.

Anticipating questions likely to be asked in job interviews is essential in every job search.  Yet, I've talked with several hiring managers who say they are surprised by how many interviewees struggle to answer basic questions. 

Job seekers must do their homework about prospective employers and seek out resources that provide insights into how bosses think and interview. 

You can get a weekly dose of insight from The Corner Office, a New York Times column featuring CEOs.  Almost every column includes tips about meaty questions bosses ask in order to determine who to hire.  Today's column features Debra L. Lee, chairwoman and chief executive of BET Networks.  Here are two key questions and helpful interview insights from Ms. Lee:

Q. How do you hire?

A. I like to get to know people as a person when I'm interviewing them. The most important thing for me, in addition to their experience, is just how flexible they seem in their approach to life. That indicates to me whether they'd be willing to take on additional responsibilities, whether they can grow with the company. It's always been a company where you had to do your basic job, but you also had to be open to doing different kinds of things.

I'm always looking for people who have the ability to grow -- overachievers who have always multitasked their whole life, who've done more than just go to school, who've been active in organizations and been open to new experiences. I also look for people who are compassionate and good people-people.

Q. What other questions do you ask?

A. One would be what do they know about BET and the company and how do they feel about it. The other one is: What do you want to accomplish in your career? I think that tells you about whether folks have thought through the long term or whether they're just looking for a job.

Q.  After a long, stressful search, I received a job offer on Monday and need to accept by Friday.  It's not exactly the job I wanted since it's with a small, fairly new company that no one has ever heard of.  What do I need to know or ask before accepting the offer?  -BR

A.  Congratulations, maybe.  Despite your eagerness to accept the job, you need to seriously evaluate the position and the company.  Even in this market there are jobs that aren't worth accepting.  You'll want to know the company is financially stable and that the prospects for its growth are real.    

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BSL) provides a helpful tutorial on how to evaluate a job offer.  Here are a few BSL points that may address some of your concerns:

Does the organization's business or activity match your own interests and beliefs?  It is easier to apply yourself to the work if you are enthusiastic about what the organization does.

How will the size of the organization affect you?  Large firms generally offer a greater variety of training programs and career paths, more managerial levels for advancement, and better employee benefits than do small firms. Large employers also may have more advanced technologies. However, many jobs in large firms tend to be highly specialized.

Jobs in small firms may offer broader authority and responsibility, a closer working relationship with top management, and a chance to clearly see your contribution to the success of the organization.

Should you work for a relatively new organization or one that is well established?  New businesses have a high failure rate, but for many people, the excitement of helping to create a company and the potential for sharing in its success more than offset the risk of job loss. However, it may be just as exciting and rewarding to work for a young firm that already has a foothold on success. 

After doing your homework determine that you definitely want to do the job, don't quit until you have the offer letter in hand.  Finding-the-Perfect-Job.com gives templates for acceptance and turn-down letters as well as other helpful information. 

 

(Have a job-related question?  Send it to ron.culp@ketchum.com)

Q.  Guys have it easy when it comes to job interview wardrobe decisions.  As a woman, I will spend hours trying to figure out what to wear to my first full-time job interview next week.  Conservative, stylish, creative?  What statement do I want to make?  I know the company's culture is informal, so that makes it even harder to decide.  What do you recommend?  -AF

 A.  You're right.  Guys have it easier, but many of them don't get it right.  I've talked with several hiring managers who are amazed with how many young women and men show up for interviews in inappropriate, casual attire.  Even if the company at which you are interviewing is informal, you'll never go wrong by dressing in a suit with conservative accessories. 

Bentley College provides basic tips for women's interview attire, while eHow features a short video by fashion writer Rachel Youens who offers helpful interview wardrobe tips for women. 

Men wondering what to wear to an interview should read Bentley's Dress for Success - Men tips. 

Q&A:  Got a question about your job search or how the workplace operates, send it to ron.culp@ketchum.com. 

I recently talked with some human resource directors, who said they are overwhelmed with resumes.  Some have turned to screening services to help with narrowing down candidate pools for job openings.  They responded with head nodding and growls when I asked if they get nuisance follow-up calls to determine if resumes had been received. 

"Email really works fine," exclaimed one HR director.  "There's no need to follow up since the email would be bounced back if it wasn't received."  (I noted that emails sometimes have been known to get caught in spam filters, but they responded that such incidents are rare).   Nevertheless, I thought it was worth passing along the heads up that resume follow-up calls are not appreciated.

The phone can play an important role in a job search, but ineffective use can derail your potential candidacy.  Before dialing, here are six suggestions for making better use of the phone in a job search:

1. Have a reason to call.  Asking if a resume was received is a feeble excuse and makes work for the recipient of the call.  If a mutual friend or colleague suggested that you call, this gives more reason to interrupt a person's work day.
2. Plan your call.  Keep your message short and to the point; rehearse if necessary.
3. Show energy and enthusiasm.  Don't sound beaten up and desperate, even if you are. 
4. Be prepared for omnipresent voice mail--and use it effectively.  Clearly state your name and phone number at the start of the message.  This allows the recipient to easily get your number without listening to the entire message again. 
5. Don't become a frequent caller.  One person-to-person call or voice-mail message is sufficient.  If you've been interviewed for a position, you can make a second call.  Don't misread no response as negative news.  Hiring decisions often are inexplicably long in most organizations and won't be speed up by your call. 
6. Plan for the call-back.  Make sure you and others who might answer your phone do so professionally.  A large Chicago-area computer sales organization called a young friend of mine early one morning to assess his phone skills.  Unfortunately, he had gotten home early that morning from a bachelor party and rudely answered the phone.  Another friend told of a roommate who insulted a hiring manager who called his apartment.  Both incidents killed any chances of job consideration.  Be prepared.  Pen and paper near phone, and talking points in mind.   

I did something rare this past week.  I used the office fax machine.  It appears I'm not the only one who seldom uses the machine since I found a sizable stack of incoming messages.  So I decided to sort through and distribute the incoming documents. 

After tossing the offers for supplemental insurance, $199 3-day vacations to the Bahamas and prescription deals, I was down to a handful of letters from job seekers.  All five letters carried generic "To Whom It May Concern" or "HR Director" salutations. 

Debra Wheatman, professional resume writer and career coach, says it's not always easy, but certainly critically important, to identify decision makers and hiring managers within organizations where you are applying.   Here are her seven tips:

1. Try calling the receptionist at the company where you are applying. You can ask the receptionist for the name of a person in human resources. If you are nice and engage the person on the phone, you will likely come away with a name.
2. When calling a company, ask to be directed to the human resource department; you will likely get the voice mail of a person within the department. Even if he is not the right guy, when your résumé shows up, he will pass it along to the appropriate counterpart in the department.
3. Looking for the name of a hiring manager? This takes more digging. Use LinkedIn and Facebook to find people. If you are on LinkedIn you will need to do a lot of looking to identify people that are associated with the company you are targeting. Join affiliated groups so that you can write to those people directly without an introduction. Is that sneaky? No. LinkedIn is a tool like any other. You need to know how to use it. From there, you can introduce yourself to a person at your targeted company, network with them and obtain a name. Facebook takes a little more work, because you need to introduce yourself and be added as a friend.
4. Traditional research also works. When doing research on a company, oftentimes the company will have a listing of senior management. You can start there. Send a letter or email to one of those people. You never know, you might get a response asking you to send your résumé to them directly, or they might even give you the name of someone to reach out to within the company.
5. Network with everyone you know. The rule of six degrees of separation is what LinkedIn is all about. For every person you know, that person knows six people. You can get names from friends, friends of friends, acquaintances, and many, many others.
6. Have access to a powerful tool like Hoovers? If you do, you are in luck. Hoovers has the names of people in virtually every company you can think of, as well as those companies you have never heard of.
7. Get a trade publication. Why you ask? I will tell you why. The trades publish newsworthy information about what is going on in a specific industry and continuously publish the names of people and companies. It is a great way to maintain abreast of industry happenings too. When people are promoted or move to a different company, a name is often published.
   

A new study conducted by staffing consultants CareerXroads indicates that hiring managers are bullish about job prospects in 2010, but it also confirms that internal hires and referrals have the greatest chance of filling open positions.  The study underscores the need to work your network as you pursue career opportunities. 

Here are the three key findings from the CareerXroads study:  

1. Internal Transfers and Promotions were the source of 51% of ALL the full time positions companies filled on average - a significant increase from the prior year and one directly impacted by the economy. Expect this to fall back to normal ranges in 2010.
2. The most efficient way to hire someone or find a job? Referrals, referrals, referrals. Referrals make up 26.7% of all external hires. Corporate plans for 2010 indicate a strong interest in leveraging referrals.
3. 2010 looks bright. Two years ago, CareerXroads asked respondents about their future plans and, for the first time, more firms predicted that they would make fewer hires in 2008 than 2007 (and they eventually confirmed that prediction by filling 22% fewer openings). 2009 was even grimmer. 100% predicted at the beginning of 2009 they would fill fewer openings... and they did... 27% fewer. This year only 10.8% predicted further reductions in hiring while 48% expect to grow and the remainder to hold steady. If realized, the predictions for 29% growth in 2010 would bring the recruiting function back to front and center.

 

Many of my friends are teaching one or two college courses, and a few have moved into full-time faculty positions.  One friend gave up his long, unsuccessful search for a PR position in order to return to college for a year to get a teaching certificate.  He's now an elementary school teacher and happy with his personally rewarding career choice.

In each instance, these friends have had a variety of reasons for their decisions.  Some simply are in the "give-back" mode of their careers.  Several haven't had success in finding appropriate-level positions in their fields.  A couple have always wanted to be teachers but got onto other career paths due to opportunities that seemed more appealing (and profitable) at the time they were starting out. 

The Sunday New York Times carries the career-switch story of Peter Wilson, a Boston-area businessman who was laid off in 2006, and eventually decided to return to college to get his master's degree in teaching.  Today, Peter is a middle school teacher.  His story provides important insights that will be helpful to anyone contemplating a career switch into teaching.  

A six-step approach for becoming a teacher is available from All Education Schools, a comprehensive online directory of accredited teacher education programs and teaching career resources. The site allows you to:

• Search for schools by location and degree
• Compare and research schools
• Request free information from schools
• Explore education options and career paths  

A staggering 60% of currently employed individuals are unhappy with their jobs and plan to pursue other positions in 2010, according to a survey by Right Management, a major career management firm. 

Fearing this survey might be correct, smart companies are scurrying to develop employee retention programs to retain and attract top talent.  If you're one of the 60% contemplating a job change, you need an game plan before jumping ship.   

Right Management offers a simple 5-point game plan that will set you apart from the competition:

1. Build a plan
2. Research and strategize
3. Come recommended
4. Align skills and strengths with employer needs
5. Practice core messages

  

Attempting to stand out from the piles of resumes mounting up for most job openings today, some job seekers are resorting to unconventional ways of getting in front of busy HR managers and recruiters. 

 

My advice:  Stick with traditional resumes.  Don't be misguided into thinking that bold graphics, photos, mixed type faces and fonts will call positive attention to your resume.  The folks at Microsoft offer excellent free resume templates for basic resumes, job-specific resumes and situation-resumes. 

Recently, I've seen more online portfolios from individuals who feel they need to go further than a traditional resume.  Originally developed by individuals seeking highly creative positions, online portfolios provide a broader picture and examples of an individual's experience and interests. 

During the first round in job searches, most employers are too busy to spend much time reviewing anything other than your resume.  Online portfolios have a better chance of being reviewed if you make it through the first round of interviews.  At that point, an online portfolio can differentiate you from others.   

Chris Spooner of Spoon Graphics recommends 10 excellent resources to help create your online portfolio.  He also provides a tutorial for online portfolios along with mini reviews of each site.  

Several unemployed friends have given up long, unproductive job searches and are now are focused on starting their own businesses.  They have a passion for doing so, and this appears to be the right time in the economic recovery to follow their dreams. 

According to Chicago-based outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, 8.6% of the executives they follow have opted to start their own businesses.  That's a 3.5% jump since 2008, and the outlook is even stronger for 2010. 

Before giving up your job search and hanging up your own shingle, be sure to research the business idea and its potential.  The Small Business Administration provides an excellent tutorial for individuals who want to start their own businesses.  Another government-hosted website provides 10 Steps to Starting a Business with links to a variety of start-up resources. 

Entrepreneur-focused website StartupNation suggests your chances of business success are greatest if you convert your passion into a business, and this is the right time to venture out on your own.

Starting a new business is not easy, however.  According to the Small Business Administration, nearly 50% of new businesses fail within five years.  So, while planning the new business, be sure to consider risks associated with doing so.  Study the Seven Pitfalls of Business Failure before launching out on your own. 

 

 

 

 

 

Besides an effective "elevator speech," job seekers must bring enthusiasm and a likable personality to job interviews.  Favorable first impressions open doors to serious job consideration.

Bobbi Brown, founder of the hip cosmetics company bearing her name, says she knows if she likes someone in the first two minutes of meeting someone.  In her Corner Office interview in the New York Times, Brown says:  "I find that if it's easy to talk to someone and I see an openness and honesty and integrity, then I usually hire them." 

Besides doing your homework in advance of the interview, job seekers should approach an interview with the following basics in mind: 

• Firm handshake
• Look interviewer in the eye
• Show enthusiasm -- both in voice and facial expressions
• Don't oversell yourself -- fine line between confidence and arrogance
• Ask relevant questions about company goals

An interesting Spain-based online job search site, Job Interview Questions, is worth a quick review prior to job interviews.  The site provides tips on appropriate interview attire, how to prepare for the interview, and ways to better sell yourself.   

Sales positions dominate classified ad sections in many newspapers and online sites, yet many job seekers pass over them in search of preferred career-specific opportunities that are harder to find.

During my tenure at Eli Lilly, management-level employees were required to go through sales training and actually work for six months in the field as pharmaceutical sales representatives.  I went reluctantly at first, but then didn't want to return to headquarters when my sales stint was completed.  Many organizations that rely on product sales require such hands-on experience, and the experience builds internal credibility.

At Sara Lee, whenever I proposed a new initiative that had significant cost implications, President Paul Fulton would ask:  "How many pairs of underwear do we have to sell to pay for that?"  (Sara Lee owned Hanes and Champion at the time).  Fulton instilled the business fundamentals in me that you had to sell something before you could afford to do anything else. 

Bottom-line oriented executives appreciate the practical knowledge that comes through sales experience. 

While convenience often is the stated reason for a job interview over lunch, job seekers need to realize that the dining experience often is a subtle part of the evaluation process.  The pressure mounts even further if the discussion is held over dinner. 

I have talked with several colleagues who mention dining etiquette mistakes ranging from using the wrong fork for salad, encouraging ketchup out of a bottle with a knife, and claiming the wrong bread plate or napkin.

Reviewing dining etiquette tips from FindALink.net is a good idea before heading out to lunch or dinner with a prospective boss.  Also, it's a good idea to refresh your memory about table placements.  (The most formal of which is pictured here).  And, of course, drink more water than wine. 

 

The Great Recession has caused an increasingly number of job seekers to switch careers, but many have not re-engeneered their resumes.

Rather than cutting and pasting an existing resume, individuals pursuing career changes should start with a blank sheet.  Develop a functional format resume that highlights industry knowledge, transferable skills and accomplishments--especially those with bottom-line results.  

Format flow should include:

• Brief career summary
• Skills summary
• Professional experience/jobs
• Relevant skills, include relevant volunteer and extra-curricular activities
• Education

Key ingredients of a career-switch resume and examples are available at Resume Resource. 

 

A growing number of my friends and former colleagues recently have migrated from corporate jobs to positions where they are get considerable self satisfaction while helping others. 

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) jobs are growing at a faster rate than other job categories.  "Green" and sustanability projects have seen significant growth as companies discover positive economic impact from such programs.  Therefore, corporations are increasing their commitment to CSR-type programs, while other community-based efforts also seek paid and unpaid help. 

Interested job seekers should check websites of companies in their areas since most now list thier CSR programs.  In addition, there are a large number of CSR/green job sites that list a wide-range of opportunities.  Here's an excellent list compiled by Green Jobs Network:

A friend contacted me yesterday seeking advice on how to re-think his six-month job search that has gone nowhere slowly.  After spotting typos in both his resume and cover letter, I suggested that he re-launch his search and re-do his support materials. 

The typos were understandable since I, too, often slip up on singular and plural noun/verb agreement.  But in resumes and cover letters, there is no room for sloppiness or improper grammar. 

In some cases, it is best to start from scratch in developing resumes and cover letters.  Excellent sample templates for resumes and cover letters are available through a number of online sources.  I particularly like the cover letter templates offered by Microsoft, and the wide range of free sample resumes available from ResumeTemplates.org. 

Finally, I suggested that my friend design a new game plan for his job search, which has been too heavily centered on simply responding to online job sites.  He has a good personal and professional network which he's not tapped effectively.  Set up meetings with friends and former colleagues, and try to enlist at least one lead from each conversation. 

 

For the past several months, I have encouraged frustrated job seekers and college seniors facing graduation that 2010 will bring a far better job market.  That optimism now appears to be supported by employment professionals in Chicago and nationally. 

Employers in every region of the U.S. intend to increase their number of full-time employees in the new year.  In the Midwest, 16 percent of companies plan to increase their number of full-time jobs in 2010.  As the economy improves, it's important to stay on top of hiring trends so you can best position yourself for your job search--or for growth in your current position. 

Chicago-based job site CareerBuilder sponsored an online survey through Harris Interactive to find out what 2,720 hiring managers and human resource professionals are thinking about employment prospects in the new year.  Fortunately, the survey results offer an optimistic belief that companies will begin making up for significant cutbacks during the recession.  CareerBuilder's survey cites hiring trends that provide insights into how the employment market will play out in the new year.

Here are the 10 hiring trends for 2010:

1. Replacing Lower-Performing Employees
Employers are taking advantage of the large number of top talent in the current labor pool to strengthen their work force. Thirty-seven percent of employers say they plan to replace lower-performing employees with higher-performers in 2010. When asked to grade their current work force, 25 percent rated them an "A", 60 percent a "B", 15 percent a "C", and 1 percent a "D." Less than one-half of a percent felt their current staff was a failure.

2. Emphasis on Social Media to Strengthen Brand
The economy required companies to make some tough decisions about their businesses, which had a negative impact on their brands. Close to four-in-ten employers (37%) plan to put a greater emphasis on social media in 2010 to create a more positive brand for their organization. One-in-five employers plan to add social media responsibilities to a current employee, while close to one-in-twelve (8 percent) plan to hire someone new to focus or partially focus on social media.

3. Rehiring Laid-off Workers
Companies needed to scale their businesses to market last year and four-in-ten employers say they were forced to lay off workers. Among those who had lay-offs in 2009, thirty-two percent of employers now say they plan to bring back workers with three-in-ten either doing it now or plan to do so in the first six months of 2010.

 

An interesting question was raised yesterday by a caller into WGN Radio's job-related program with the Job Stalker and me. 

The caller noted a recurring problem of being told that he is too experienced for many of the jobs for which he applies, asking how he can overcome the "your overqualified" road blocks. 

At first, I thought he might be applying for entry-level positions, and noted that it's not wise to pursue jobs that require too many steps back in your career.  Career experts indicate that a growing number of highly qualified individuals are applying for jobs far under their experience levels.  Such individuals more quickly become impatient and bored with jobs that don't take full advantage of their experience.  However, the caller said he was applying for jobs at his level, but encountering supervisors who felt insecure in hiring individuals who had the same qualifications.

In the current job market, high qualified candidates are finding it difficult to breakthrough a variety of road blocks, ranging from older boomers who are delaying retirement and potential bosses who might be overly protective of their own jobs.  Some are "dumbing down" their resumes, which Job Stalker and I don't recommend.  Instead, approach each interview with your ears wide open.  If you detect an insecure interviewer, engage him/her in conversation rather than try to over sell yourself.  Many eager job seekers feel they need to demonstrate that they can do anything, so they try to impress rather than stick to the basics.  

Bottom line:  Relax, listen, be yourself and don't oversell.   

 

 

The Internet is filled with job-search advice, but here are 13 valuable sites that my blog readers have recommended.  Add any you've found helpful in Comments.   

1. Grad.Guidance.com.  Free "super-site" for students, recent grads.
2. AfterCollege - Sizable job data bank from 30,000 employers.
3. CampusCareerCenter.com - Entry-level job search tips.
4. CareerBuilder.com - Search tool for jobs, including entry level.
5. College Recruiter - Compilation of jobs and resumes.
6. CollegeGrad Job Hunter - Help for students/recent graduates.
7. EmploymentSpot.com -- Lists of best cities and job tips.
8. Job-Hunt.org - Entry-level job site directory.
9. JobWeb - Association of Colleges and Employers.
10. Review.com - Princeton Review career guide.
11. National Archives - Jobs for high-school and college students.
12. True Careers - Connects students with entry-level jobs.
13. Come Recommended - Entry-level job listing.

More than half of the just-released Top 50 Gen Y Companies have a presence in the Chicago market.  

The list, prepared by online Gen Y career site Brazen Careerist and online compensation firm Payscale, provides an excellent new tool for assessing best places to work for young professionals.  

Beginning with more than 50,000 companies, the analysis eliminated companies with fewer than 2,500 employees.  In order to focus on companies that are major employers of college graduates, they then narrowed the list to companies with more than 2,000 bachelor's degree and higher graduates.  From that list, they picked the top 50 based on percentage of Gen Y employees, median total cash compensation for Gen Y employees, gender balance and "Green" score, as determined by Climate Counts.

The top 50 Gen Y companies and links to their career sites are: 

#1

NBC Universal, Inc.
Media

 

Employed or unemployed, everyone needs a one-minute elevator speech describing their job or career goals.  

On Thursday evening, I met several impressive executives -- both employed and unemployed -- at the annual holiday open house hosted by Shields Meneley Partners, a leading Chicago-based career transition consulting firm (a.k.a. C-suite outplacement).  An impressive array of executive recruiters, employment attorneys, job-seekers, and recently re-hired executives mingled and chatted about the economy and jobs. 

During my 90 minutes at the party, I met no fewer than 30 individuals, most of whom were in the job market.  Each had an impressive one-minute "elevator speech" about their backgrounds and goals.  Doing it well requires work, but it's essential to open doors for further conversation.  You can hone your own one-minute introduction by following the 4 P's recommended by Brent Peterson, creator of job-search tool Interview Angel. 

 

 

Whether you're a recent grad or a recent layoff, a job search is a daunting proposal. Nobody needs to remind you that the market is tight. What's more, not having a job presents you with an infinite number of paths forward. You have a clean slate set before you and you can use it to reinvent yourself: an English teacher in Seoul, a ski lift operator in Aspen, a bartender in Oahu.
 
While some people truly take a radical new direction, most don't. For the majority of us, that TEFL job on the Pacific Rim remains just enough of a possibility to distract us from attacking the job search with focus. In a tight market, it takes more time and more ingenuity to land a quality position.
 
A well-thought strategy will elevate you above the daydreamers and ensure that you put your best foot forward.
 
First, be honest about what you're hoping to accomplish in your career and what stands in your way. Before you can productively take the next step, you need to have a good idea where it will leave you off. Make a list of the skills and credentials that you'll need to pick up along the way: not just for your next position, but for the position after. You can also use this list to assess what you might realistically be able to get this time around.
 
Second,  set a reasonable target.  An "I'll take anything" mindset doesn't increase your chances, it just signals your desperation and prevents you from focusing your efforts. Your job target should be something that you are enthusiastic about, and that enthusiasm will propel you forward.
 
Lastly, allocate your time efficiently.  Imagine that you have two nets: a wide one and a narrow one. With your wide net you scan Indeed and Monster daily, stay active in online communities like LinkedIn and Facebook, attend job fairs and conferences, and post your resume on Careerbuilder. The primary value of your wide net is generating leads.
 
With your narrow net, you reach out to people directly. You already have an idea who is hiring and how rich your network is. Personal contacts take priority, followed by headhunters and "cold-calls" that you might pull from an alumni network. Ask around, get your name out there, write emails, send letters, make calls, grab lunch, buy drinks... your narrow net takes more time and skill to wield, but ultimately this is the way that most jobs are landed.

Launching a job search can be overwhelming. By taking the time to set a coherent job search strategy, however, you can avoid hundreds of unproductive attempts and make sure that your aim is true.

 

Mike Trapanese is a corporate strategist and co-founer of TheCanned.com, a website that aims to help job seekers navigate unemployment.  Visit TheCanned.com for resources on how to file for unemployment, get health insurance, land a job and find the lighter side of unemployment.

 

 

 

Job seekers spend a lot of time and anguish on building their resumes, but often overlook the importance of the cover letter that transmits a resume to prospective employers. 

 

Cover letters simply need to be short, to the point and typo free.  No need to repeat everything in the resume.  Just convey key information--mention the specific job for which you are applying and one sentence about your relevant experience. 

 

Most employers today prefer receiving cover letters and resumes via email, although some job seekers also send hard copies via mail.  If you opt to do both, be sure to mark the hard copy with a note that explains that you also submitted your resume via email. 

 

There are hundreds of cover letter books and online writing services, including Cover Letters for Dummies.  But excellent cover letter templates are offered free of charge by Microsoft Office. 

 

 

Most job seekers wind down job search efforts during the year-end holiday season.  However, the five weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years are some of the best times to lay the groundwork for a successful 2010 job search. 

 

Sixty percent of jobs reportedly are landed through networking, so it is important to continually seek out opportunities to meet individuals who can help with your search.

 

Prospective employers are more receptive to informational interviews during this time of year since their calendars often are less jammed.  Most busy people want to be helpful to those seeking jobs, and the holidays provides some subliminal incentive for them to "give back." So now is a good time to send a tightly written request for an informational interview.   Here's a sample informational interview letter from About.com.

 

Civic and nonprofit organizations host holiday parties which offer excellent networking opportunities.  And don't miss attending neighborhood and family get togethers since you never know where you'll meet someone who can help with your search. 

 

Finally, be sure to send year-end "thank you" notes to those who have helped with your search during the year.  This keeps you top-of-mind with those in your network.   

 

Several friends this year have left corporate America--some forced out by economic conditions and others by their own choice.  Most are focused on returning to corporate positions, but a few have boldly decided to hang up their own shingles as freelancers and independent contract employees.

 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that freelance careers will grow faster than traditional jobs, and other experts also see significant increases as more and more people look inward for their next opportunities.  Sue Shellenbarger's Work & Family column in the Wall Street Journal details the growing ranks of freelance opportunities as companies realize they can can cut costs by tapping independent contractors.  Still, the odds of landing such jobs range from about 25-to1 to 300-to-1.  However, those odds aren't too much different than many "normal" jobs.

 

 

While enjoying a cup of Starbuck's with a friend recently, she told me she had sent out hundreds of letters and resumes that morning.  Initially impressed, I quickly became skeptical when she told me that she had hired a blast fax resume service.

 

I received eight such resumes last week and they all looked alike, including identical paragraph indentations and similar language.  More importantly, none of the resumes had anything to do with the type of work performed in our office. 

 

Blast resume services charge fees for alleged targeted distribution to hiring managers in your fields of interest.  In some cases, the services simply send letters with no resumes. The letters attempt to entice recipients to follow up for more information and a resume.  The generic nature of the letters and delivery vehicle usually results in their not getting beyond the recycle bin under the fax machine. 

 

Although the mass distribution of cover letters and resumes appeals to some, I recommend sticking with more traditional and specifically personalized cover letters--sent by email or the postal service.  Cover letters need to talk about the job and your potential contributions to it, rather than about yourself.   

 

"If you want to sell hats, you have to go to where the heads are," was the advice given to me years ago by a mentor who urged me to to move from a small city if I wanted to land a bigger and better job.  He was right. 

 

This advice is validated by EmploymentSpot.com, which consolidates a number of "top cities" lists. CollegeGrad.com also conducts a quarterly survey of the best cities for entry-level jobs.  The Website provides job listings and can be sorted by profession.

 

Best cities for entry-level jobs:

1. New York, NY
2. Los Angeles, CA
3. Washington, DC
4. Chicago, IL
5. San Francisco, CA
6. Dallas, TX
7. Philadelphia, PA
8. Miami, FL
9. Houston, TX
10. Phoenix

For the record, the 10 worst U.S. cities for employment are: Detroit; Fresno, CA; Las Vegas; Stockton, CA; Youngtown, OH; Bakersfield, CA; Warren, MI; Buffalo, NY; Providence, RI, and Toledo, OH.

 

The Internet is filled with job search advice.  Unfortunately, it often takes hours to sift through the clutter to find the help you're seeking.

  

Online career advice site Job Profiles compiled a well-organized list of the 100 best job search posts. Thanks to Amber Johnson and the Job Profiles team for sharing the following invaluable resource with Hire Learning.

 

For many, finding a job in this economy is an uphill battle. Of course, that doesn't mean that there aren't jobs out there and that a job search is futile. While it might be a challenge, with the right attitude, a little finesse and maybe even a dash of luck, you can and will find a job. Whether you need a little inspiration, want to revamp your resume or just start the whole search process over from scratch, these blog posts offer you a wealth of information on getting the job you want.

 

Resumes

Before potential employers ever meet you they see your resume, making it the ideal place to make a good first impression. Check out these posts for advice on building a resume that will keep employers interested in you and get you the job. 

1. The Power of a Well-Written Resume: This post will help you learn why it may have been your resume that was holding back your job search and small ways you can tweak it to make it better.
2. Drafting the Perfect Resume and Cover Letter: Read through this post to get some helpful advice on building a resume that will make you stand out.
3. 7 Resume Lies Employers Will Never Check: While you shouldn't fudge key information on your resume, this post will tell you how you can choose to highlight or omit information so that your resume works to your advantage.
4. Reducing Resume Clutter: No one wants to wind through a resume that's pages long and full of unnecessary information. This post will help you pare down your resume to the essentials.
5. 10 tips to a killer resume: Because so many people are out of work, resumes have to be better than ever to stand out. Read through this post to learn some ways to make yours the best it can be.
6. 5 Ways To Rescue Your Rotten Resume: If you know your resume is less than stellar, use this post as a guide to revise it.
7. Resume Format- Sink or Swim: This post will help you learn how to format your resume so that it's easy to read and find pertinent information within.
8. Minding the Gap in Your Resume: If you took time off work to care for children, help sick relatives or pursue personal interests, then this post can help you deal with the gap in your employment history.
9. Top 5 Resume Tips: The information in this post will work well for new grads and older workers alike who want to create a well-branded, attractive resume.
10. Five Signs Your Resume is Passe: If you haven't updated your resume in years, it may not make the grade in today's marketplace. Learn how you can tell if your resume needs a major overhaul from this post.