CMS Career Blog

A recent Gallup Management Journal article encourages hiring managers and HR recruiters to begin “courting” qualified talent now for jobs that aren’t even available yet.  That’s because, even in a deep recession with so many people unemployed, recruiters have a tough time finding good candidates to fill important positions.

How can that be? Well, here’s my take on it. . . (continued at www.CareerAdvice4U.com/blog)

I hear it all the time. Unemployed people tell me that because of the current economy they are willing to take any job just to get by. They write their resume to fit every job posting that comes along. They are willing to expand their job search to cast the widest net possible. They search the Internet for ”fast hiring jobs” and “free resume examples” to copy what others have done, believing that they will increase their luck by increasing the volume of resumes they send out.

Let me offer a bit of free career advice as to why this is a BAD IDEA! (continued at http://careeradvice4u.com/job-bad-idea/)

The results are in!

This week we conducted a non-scientific poll via Twitter regarding how job seekers are changing their vacation plans.  Those who took the poll were overwhelmingly unemployed (75%).  More than 80% of respondents said that the economy has changed their vacation plans.  Examples they give run the gamut, including:

• Camping instead of renting hotel rooms
• Visiting family instead of going someplace requiring hotel
• No plans versus dive vacations in past
• Usually take a cruise or international travel
• This year I have taken one vacation - last year I took 4 (4 includes weekends away)
• Not taking any vacation at all which is a big change

Many people are vacationing around the house (taking a “stay-cation”) or trying to find a few days to get away.

The results were about even between those who think taking a vacation while unemployed is a good thing, vs. those who think it will take away from their job search.  Some of the reasons they gave for their answer include:

• I get a lot of support from the family and time to relax.
• Leaving the area will use extra gas and have to use money. On vacation we end up spending more on food. We don’t have any extra dollars.
• Get some perspective, talk to new people and get ideas, recharge so can approach search with new motivation    Take advantage of the slow summer to network and meet new people who can help in finding me a job.
• Give me some time to separate from the email checking, Twitter, etc., and re-focus on a strategy that aligns me with an organization admire or role that interests me.
• I spend several hours a day searching. I will not do so when on vacation. Therefore, it will be a pause where I won’t be applying for jobs.
• Time away means missing opportunities.

Thank you for taking the poll.  We will be writing another blog post on what we think is the best approach!  Stay tuned. . .

When you have a job you know when to get up, when to catch the bus, when to arrive at work, when to eat lunch, when to take breaks, when to go home and forget the work, and when to take a day off.  When you leave your job, your formal schedule goes out the window.  For awhile this can be a good thing.  MANY unemployed people just need to take some time to grieve, decompress, and rest.

However, sitting on your couch playing X-Box or updating your facebook every 10 minutes can get old fast!  These activities will NOT get you the next gig, so at some point you will need to get into a new routine.  That can be tough, especially if its something you have little experience with . . . like looking for work.

Never fear!  We have been through this ourselves, AND we work with dozens of job seekers every week.  Here are some things to consider when you go to make a schedule for your job search:

• Set weekly goals that you can measure.  Nothing is more frustrating than getting to the end of the week and not being able to say, “I accomplished something this week.”  EVERY Sunday evening sit down and decide what you need to achieve over the next week.  Then, on Friday, review your goals to see how you have done.  It will make the job search much more bearable!
• Network, network, network.  How many networking groups do you attend each week?  How many 1-on-1 meetings or informational interviews do you conduct?  Your goal should be somewhere in the 8-10 range PER WEEK.  If you aren’t out talking to people, your chances of finding a job are slim!  More than 80% of people find their job through networking, so get out and do it!
• Don’t answer email or touch the computer during daylight hours.  (That’s when you should be networking!)
• Practice your “elevator pitch.”  Nothing is worse than being in a group and listening to a bunch of people drone on about where they worked before the company went and laid them off.  Have something interesting to say and say it with ENERGY!  People will listen if you give them something to listen to.  But you better be well rehearsed, or they will tune you out!
• Plan for some “you time” in your schedule.  Stephen Covey calls it “sharpening the saw.”  You can’t cut wood with a dull saw.  If you don’t take care of yourself, you will be dull and ineffective in your job search.
• Let it go.  When you have completed your day’s work, leave the job search behind.  Let it go.  Disconnect.  Go enjoy time with your family and friends.  One of the reason’s you need to set clear goals, is so you can look back and say, “I’m finished for now.”  Then disconnect.  The job search will be there tomorrow.

When you leave your job, your regularly scheduled routine evaporates.  As a job seeker, you will need to set goals and create your own schedule.  A schedule helps you track your progress along the job search, and it allows you to take time for yourself, your friends, and your family.

Thank goodness for spring! You are looking for a job, and spring is Job Fair time.  But before you head off to your next Job Fair adventure, there are a few things you should know:

1. There are going to be LOTS of people there and very few jobs . . . if any.  You may be going to a Job Fair looking to find a job, but employers go for a completely different reason.  Most companies don’t show up with jobs to offer.  Companies are there to promote themselves and assess job seekers.  They are seldom there to offer jobs.
2. Company representatives will see dozens (perhaps hundreds) of job seekers at the fair.  The chances of them remembering you from the Job Fair are slim.  Your best bet is to get a verbal commitment for a conversation at some time in the future.  Get a name and email address, and follow up immediately after the event.
3. Take plenty of copies of your resume and business cards.  Give them out liberally – even to other job seekers.
4. Have a strategy, set goals, and know what you want to get out of the Job Fair.  Since landing a job at a Job Fair is not realistic, your goals should simply be to make a certain number of connections that will lead to a face-to-face meeting within the next week or two.  A good goal is to come away with 3 solid follow-up “leads”.
5. Other job seekers might be your best bet for making contacts.  Don’t neglect making connections with other job seekers.  They can be a great source of information and support.
6. Use the job fair to assess opportunities.  While specific jobs may be few and far between, you can tell what areas of the economy are gearing up for growth.  Companies are not going to waste their time or money by going to a Job Fair if they have no plans for growth in the near future.  Be aware of the companies and industries represented.  They may be hiring soon.
7. Follow up.  My mentor, Kathie Nelson says, “The money is in the follow up.”  A Job Fair is a great place to meet people.  If you want to turn those meetings into potential job offers you MUST follow up.
8. Follow the advice of my good friend, Cleon Cox III – “Meet people, learn something, and have fun!”

Job Fairs can be a lot of fun and very instructive for your job search.  Just be realistic about what you hope to accomplish from attending the fair, and you won’t walk away empty-handed.  Go looking for a job and you will be disappointed.  Go looking to make connections and you will succeed!

I’ve been at this for nearly 3 years now and here are some of the things I’ve learned about what it takes to find a job.  These “hints” are important in ANY economy, but perhaps MORE important in this deep recession.

1. No postings does NOT equal no job — people are always being hired, even in a deep recession.  Why? Because other people move, get sick, quit, retire, die. . . Just because there is not a posting, doesn’t mean there isn’t a job there to be done … stop thinking of yourself as a “employee” and start thinking of yourself as an “independent contractor” — ee’s get hired and fired.  Independent Contractors are always on temporary assignment (who isn’t these days) and are able to pick up a “new gig” as the need arises.
2. Don’t wait until you are looking for a job to update your resume — or your network.  If you are currently employed you are probably aware of how temporary that could be.  We have had client with 25 years of experience in the same company come into work to find they no longer had a job.  NOW is the time to think about your next job . . . even if you aren’t thinking about your next job.
3. It’s not what you know, it’s WHO you now.  Somewhere 45-80% of all job seekers find their job through networking.  Networking is about WHO you know — not so much for what you can get from them, but what you can OFFER TO THEM.
4. Don’t work all the time.  You have heard that finding a job is a full time job.  Finding a job is also (for most of us) a series of learning and applying new skills — most of the time these are DIFFERENT skills than you will use in your regular job.  The process of learning new skills is exhausting.  You need to take some time off.  I recommend you spend 30-35 hours a week on the job search.  Plan into your day some time for networking, a small amount of time on answering ads and submitting resumes, AND time for physical exercise.  It’s really important.  Set goals.  Measure your success towards the achieving of those goals and not “did I get a job.”  You will be able to take some time off at the end of the week knowing that you have accomplished something.
5. You WILL land.  Eventually you will find work.  Hopefully it will be your perfect career.  Hopefully it will fit your life goals.  Hopefully it will be sooner than later.  But have faith, you WILL land.
6. You WILL go through this again.  Learn the process of finding a job now so you can use it the next time you need it.

These are some of the things I’ve learned about the job search.  What have YOU learned?

In a recent post we discussed the difference between the old resume style and the new resume style. The new resume style focuses on key, quantifiable accomplishments to show a prospective employer what you are capable of and willing to do for them.  The new resume focuses on the ROI (Return On Investment) that your new employer can expect when they hire you.

One tool that we recommend our clients use to identify key accomplishments and show their ROI is the CARS (the Condition Activity Resolution Statement).  Here’s how they work.

• First you identify a specific condition (problem, situation, need) you worked on in a prior job or career position.  What was the need?  What was happening that needed your attention?  Whenever possible, use numbers to define the scope of the situation. Write two or three bullet points to identify the condition you encountered.

• Second you describe the activity or action you took to address this condition.  What did you DO to address the problem?  Describe it in a few bullet points.

• Third you describe the resolution that came about as a result of your actions.  What happened?  Be sure to use quantifiable results – how much money did you make or save?  How many people were involved?  How much time was saved?  How did you reduce waste or increase efficiencies? One or two bullets ought to do it.

• Finally, write one to two sentences that pull the 5-9 bullet points in the first three steps. These two sentences should pull all of your points together in a concise statement.  A simple format for this is: “did what”, “for whom”, “resulting in . . . “ Be sure to use numbers to show how the results were measured.  This is important because managers use numbers to measure the success or failure of just about ANY business activity.  When you quantify your results you are speaking their language, and that is more likely to lead to an interview for you!  Numbers make the accomplishment “pop” off the page.  They allow you to stand out among the competition.

We recommend you come up with 3-4 CARS for each key accomplishment area in your career.  Use different times, jobs, and situations to show a variety from throughout your work history.

You can use the CARS on your resume, in other marketing materials (i.e. blog, LinkedIn profile, portfolio, etc), and in interviews.  CARS are a helpful and important way to let your prospective employer know that YOU are uniquely qualified to solve their business problems.

The new style of resume focuses on the results you have had in the past to prove to your prospective employer that you are both capable of and willing to do something similar for them in the future.  CARS will help you get that point across in a clear and concise fashion!

According to a recent NY Times article, President Elect Obama has upped his goal of providing new jobs in the first two years of his presidency from 2.5 million to 3 million. Many of these jobs will be in areas that will enhance our current transportation infrastructure (roads and bridges) and help us cut our addiction to foreign oil (new energy sources such as solar and wind power).  My fervent belief is that Mr. Obama and the new Senate will want to get started on this project within a few weeks of his taking the oath of office.  New jobs should be coming online within the next few month.  Are YOU ready?  Here are some things you can do now to be prepared when those new jobs come around.

1. Build your network.  You have heard that it’s not what you know, but who you know.  The saying is even more true today than it ever has been.  Statistics say that
2. Enhance your skills.  What do you need to know that you don’t currently know?  Do you need some training in a specific skill area or with a particular software program?  Now is the right time to take a class or return to school for a program that will enhance your skills and abilities.
3. Develop a strong, compelling, memorable, and inspiring Unique Selling Proposition.  Here’s link to a recent article on developing your “Elevator Pitch” that will be helpful for pulling together your USP.
4. Create a winning resume.  Make sure you focus on developing a resume that highlights that which you are both capable of and willing to do in your next position.  It should include a strong USP (Unique Selling Proposition) and clearly quantified results of your accomplishments.
5. Explore growing industries. Some of the industries sure to grow in 2009 are healthcare and alternative energy.  What skills do you have that might be transferable to either of these industries?
6. Clean up your Internet presence.  Do you have an account on Facebook? Plaxo? LinkedIn? Career Crossroads 2.0?  Have you updated them recently?  Do so now.

Obama’s innaguration is just 2 weeks away.  Are YOU ready for the new jobs this new administration plans to create?

I’m on a mission.

The more I work with people to help them develop their career, the more strongly I believe that there is NO REASON why anyone in our culture should not be doing work they absolutely LOVE.  In fact, I will go so far as to say, “If you don’t LOVE your job, quit!”

Now I realize that this is a radical statement, and that most people will ignore me.  Some might even get angry.  But I’m willing to stand firm in my mission until EVERYONE IN AMERICA finds their perfect career.  Even in this economy.

As a Career Consultant with an international outplacement firm I work with lots of people who have recently been laid off or downsized.  Once they get past the initial shock of not having a job, many of them tell me that getting laid off is actually a blessing.  They haven’t been happy in their current position for a long time.  Many haven’t been happy for years.  They have wanted to make a change, but they’ve become complacent and comfortable.  NOW they have an opportunity to do what they’ve always wanted to do.  Some decide to change careers.  Others retire or work for non-profit organizations.  Some stay in their industry and find a company whose corporate culture is more in line with their own personality.  Losing a job can be devastating, but for many of my clients they also find it life-giving.

That’s why I’m on this mission.  Wouldn’t it be better if you quit now and go find your perfect career before you are forced to?  What if you had a chance to do some UP-PLACEMENT before your company forced you into outplacement?  Well, you have that chance NOW.

I’m on a mission to help everyone in America find their perfect career.  So, if you don’t love your job, quit. Take a risk and see where it leads you.  I bet you will be happier for it!