Given the fact that only 25% of new hires (and fewer women than men) attempt to negotiate the terms of an employment offer, consider this...
When you receive a job offer, you are typically in a position to negotiate. The hiring process is costly in human resources and dollars. Once an organization has made their decision in favor of a candidate, they are not eager to go back to the drawing board.
While salary is by far the primary and most common factor discussed in any job negotiation, it is not necessarily the most important. The following are additional considerations in employment negotiation:
1. Is the employment offer in writing? If not, request a written offer before you begin your negotiations so you can be clear on the details of the agreement. If there are any negotiated changes, make sure the final agreement is written as well.
2. Are the terms of your appointment clearly stated including: a start date, job description, person to whom you will report, and how and when you will be evaluated?
3. Have the working conditions been described to you? If not, you may want to inquire about hours you're expected to work, travel required, work-life balance and your specific workspace.
4. Does the whole picture align with your priorities, interests and skills and what you had envisioned for yourself?
5. Are the salary and benefits commensurate with your experience and that of the marketplace? If you are not clear about this, check out any of the online salary surveys as well as inquire about similar positions in your geographic area.
You may also want to include in your benefits negotiations: more vacation and or personal time, increased flexibility in your schedule including a provision for
working some days from home, if appropriate, funded professional development opportunities, health care packaging and retirement contributions.
In order to pull your thoughts together and prepare a counter-offer, you'll need a day or two to carefully review your offer. Most employers expect that the candidate will need a little time to make a decision and there's no harm in asking for what you want--providing you can justify it by the value you'll bring to the organization.
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Events featuring or sponsored by Heart At Work
April 4,5.6: Women's Life Expo, Portland. Barbara presents: Live Your Life. Love Your Work At Any Age. Details: www.expoproducers.com
April 12-May 1: Through The Portal, a personal and professional development series for women facilitated by Barbara Babkirk and Susanna Liller.
Details: www.throughtheportal.biz
April 19-May 10: Saturday Career Workshop Series with Amy Jaffe
Details: http://www.barbarababkirk.com/amy.html
May 8: HR Convention at the Samoset Resort in Rockport: Barbara and Amy Jaffe, will co-present a workshop: "Averting Quarterlife and Midlife Crises in Your Workplace: 5 Key Retention Strategies".
Details: http://www.mainehr.com/convention/
September 21-27: Barbara's annual Women's Week in Provence.
Details: www.yourprovenceretreat.com
Trying to find a job from a distance may not be easy, but if you incorporate these tips in your efforts, you're more likely to have success.
1. Know the type of job you want and the specific ways you are qualified.
- Don't limit your search to job titles. Rather, recognize the broader criteria you desire in a job. Doing this will increase your options in the marketplace.
- Be clear about your skills and abilities and how they relate to the positions you seek.
2. Review and update your professional documents.
- A current résumé is essential to your job search.
- Do job possibilities warrant a portfolio of documents to supplement your résumé? Appropriate for the interview stage of the job search, a portfolio is a collection of materials that might include: a résumé, letters of reference or recognition, writing samples, articles written or presentations delivered, or other representations of your work.
- Identify references and notify them of your job search and interest areas. You may need to coach them about the specific skill set you'd like them to emphasize. Once you are a candidate for a job that requires references, send your references a job description to prepare them.
- Create a list of skills you have consistently used during your work history. Keep in mind those skills you enjoy using and be ready to give concrete, brief examples of times when you have effectively demonstrated them.
3. Become familiar with your target location.
- Subscribe to the on-line edition of the local newspaper, especially the Sunday edition. Pay attention to articles on businesses, expansions, and notices of promotions and hew hires, as well as job postings.
- Plan exploratory trips whenever possible to conduct informational interviews and network with key professionals. The longer you can stay, familiarize yourself with the environment, and meet people, the more likely you will hear of job opportunities.
- Contact the Chamber of Commerce, Office of Tourism, and the Department of Labor to request a relocation packet. Access the Chamber’s on-line directory of members. The State of Maine, like all states, has specific on-line information for people who wish to relocate here.
- Identify employers that hire for your targeted positions. Visit their websites for job postings and info on new developments.
4. Check out key resources in your industry or career field.
- Research the professional associations affiliated with your target job/s in the Encyclopedia of Associations, available at most libraries. It's a great resource that gives association descriptions, officers' contact details and info on local meetings and national conferences.
- Connect with the career services office at your undergraduate and/or graduate
schools or register as an alum on line. Request a list of alumni/ae working in your field near or in your target location.
- Tell friends and family about your plans to relocate. Ask if they know anyone who lives and works in your target location and if they would be willing to send an e-mail introducing you.
- Most major cities have a "Craig's list" website. This on-line resource has become increasingly popular with people who are relocating. Check out the site to find anything from jobs and roommates to furniture and housing.
- You may choose to contact headhunters/recruiters/executive search firms. Search these firms by location or industry at I-Recruit.com.
- Be familiar with the salary ranges in the new locale for the position/s you are targeting. The informative and comprehensive site, The Riley Guide, has links to salary surveys.
- Once you have an interview, do as much research as you can on the company/organization. Be prepared to ask intelligent questions that show you've done your homework.
Finding a job from afar requires creative and varied approaches to your job search. Resist the temptation to limit your strategy to combing on-line job postings for hours on end.
Get out and meet people, especially those who can help you make connections in the state to which you want to move. These networking conversations will help you feel as though you are making progress and will increase your success.
Research consistently shows that talking to people remains the most effective way to get actual job leads.
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Barbara is currently accepting applications for her ninth annual Women's Retreat in Provence. Click on the link for photos and more details!
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Barbara and Heart At Work associate, Amy Jaffe, will co-present a workshop:
"Averting Quarterlife and Midlife Crises in Your Workplace: 5 Key Retention Strategies" at the 2008 Annual Human Resources Convention in Rockport, Maine on May 8.
It's a story I hear over and over again: job applicants left in the lurch by prospective employers. This situation happens without regard to specific positions, compensation or status in the organization. It's frustrating, annoying and unprofessional and you need to know how to deal with this inevitable downside of the job search.
In most cases, you've taken all the right steps: followed application directives, used your network wisely and/or submitted professional documents as requested. At this point the ball is in the employer's court and the waiting game begins.
It used to be common practice for the applicant to receive an Email or a postcard indicating receipt of their application materials. This seems to be the exception to the rule nowadays. Consequently, it's up to you as the applicant to check on this important detail yourself. I've heard many scenarios where the applicant believes he or she effectively submitted a resume online only to find out (too late) that it was never received.
You may be told by the prospective employer that you will hear news about the hiring process by a certain date. Then the date goes by without any word. In this case, it's appropriate to wait a couple of days then make a call to inquire about the process and the status of your application. You may have to repeat this step a few times in the course of the hiring process. If you do this within reasonable timeframes, you don't need to be concerned about being pushy.
The hiring process can be delayed for dozens of reasons unknown to you. Ideally, some indication of a change in the process should be communicated to the applicant. But, I don't hear of that happening very much. So, be careful not to jump to conclusions about your candidacy or why the search is delayed. It's common to make up stories in your mind when you don't know what is going on, but this is not in your best interest.
Since you can never know how a particular hiring process will proceed, it's wise to keep several options going at once. That way, you will not be waiting by the phone or your computer waiting for word from your only prospect.
Heart At Work Career Workshops
offered by Amy Jaffe, MA:
Effective Resumes
Job Search Strategy
Advanced Interviewing
Informational Interviewing
Weeknights and Saturday mornings-$30 each
261 Main Street - Yarmouth
Call Amy for details: 207-846-0644
or email: amy@heartatwork.biz
There are numerous reasons why you might be having a difficult time finding the right job, and many of them are out of your control. A soft job market and the fact that you remind your prospective employer of her ex, are two that you cannot do much about.
However, there are important factors and strategies within your control that need your attention in order to maximize your job search efforts. Consider the following questions to determine if you might be undermining your own success. By taking these steps, you might reverse your pattern and realize your goal.
1. Do you present yourself in a professional way?
Research shows that people make an initial impression in the first 30 seconds. Give some thought to what you'll wear before your interview and make sure it's been recently pressed and laundered. Appear well groomed and you may get an invitation for a second interview; give little thought to how you look and you're not likely to return.
2. Are your résumé and cover letter tailored to the specific job and skill requirements?
It's not that you need to rewrite a different résumé for each job, however, it is important that your résumé presents important key words that appear in the job posting. While your résumé can be tweaked for each job, your cover letter should be customized and fresh each time you apply for a job. Cite requirements and examples of when you have demonstrated them and say how you are qualified rather than why you are so interested in the job.
3. Do you consistently follow through?
A thank you, whether or hand written or Emailed, can be a determining factor in whether or not you are invited for a second interview. After the initial interview, ask for the person's business card so you'll have what you need to accurately follow up. Mention something that was said during the interview as well as remind him or her about why you are confident that you are the right person for the job.
4. Is your job search strategy diversified?
While looking for jobs online is convenient, it is not effective as your only strategy. Limit yourself to an hour or so per day for online searches. The majority of your time and effort should be on networking and informational interviewing to uncover job leads and prospects or to speak with individuals to determine what you want to do next.
5. Do you indulge in negative thinking?
Transitions provide fertile ground for fear to grow. Where there is fear there is worry and negative thinking—neither of which will support you in your job search. Stay focused on the outcome you desire and resist the tendency to deal with the unknown by conjuring up negative "what if" scenarios. They will only raise your anxiety and hinder your ability to put your best foot forward. Stay positive and be open to support from others.
If you have spent time, effort, and perhaps even money crafting a great résumé that captures your marketable skills and experience in an attractive format, you may not be happy with the document your prospective employer actually receives.
Employers' submission requirements vary, but many, in an effort to avoid viruses associated with attached files, ask candidates to cut and paste their résumé and cover letter into an email. There's no mystery as to what they will see with those instructions: a plain and simple document that is distinguished from others solely by its content. In that case, it is imperative that your information is clear, concise and that it contains pertinent key words from the job posting as well as examples of how you have demonstrated the required skills.
When prospective employers accept attachments, consider sending your documents in a pdf format, rather than a Word file. The pdf (portable document format) format is a "photo" of your document that can not be modified. With this format, you can be certain that the integrity of your documents remains in tact, which is often an issue if the recipient uses a different platform (Mac vs pc).
Pay close attention to the employer's instructions for submitting your résumé and cover letter. You can avoid surprises by first sending your documents to a friend to make sure it is consistent with the original version.
Finally, I suggest that you mail a paper copy of your résumé and cover letter the same day you submit them online. It's always a good idea to call to confirm that your material actually arrived at its destination and use this contact to inquire about the hiring process and timeframe at the same time!
Whether you are the applicant or the prospective employer, it is essential for you to attend to the details of the job search process from start to finish. A job offer or your company's reputation may be riding on how well you take care of business.
To get right to the point, below is a list of important steps in a job search and the appropriate follow through actions to take:
Applicant's list:
Apply for a job.
- Keep a current list of the jobs to which you have applied and the dates of submission of your documents. If you apply on line, send a hard copy to the hiring individual by mail.
- Inform your references of your application and give them the job posting as well as an idea of how you would add value to this job.
- Follow up with the prospective employer to confirm receipt of your documents after a week or 10 days if you have not heard from them. Ask about their timeline for the search process.
- Make a note on your calendar to contact them again if the next date has passed by which you were told you would hear from them.
- If you are contacted for an interview, ask with whom you will be meeting (titles and names) as well as how long the interview should last.
- Ask your interviewer(s) for their business cards as you leave the interview. Inquire about the next step in the process.
- Send a follow up thank you to each person with whom you interviewed. An email thank you is fine, but a hand written note is a nice touch. Reference something in particular that was said during the interview, so your note does not appear to be a "standard" one.
- If you are seriously considering the position, stay in touch with the prospective employer, especially after any deadlines have passed. If you know you are no longer interested, contact the employer and ask to be removed from their candidate list.
- Be patient in waiting for the employer's decision, but do your part to stay in touch with them and provide any information requested in a timely manner.
- If you do not hear from the prospective employer regarding their decision, do your best to get closure on the process. You may have to be persistent if they do not have a plan in place to contact applicants who were not selected. Nonetheless, it is important for you to know your status and move on.
- If the employers' lack of follow through is unprofessional (and I've heard many examples of this), consider whether or not this behavior is reflective of the way they do business, and whether or not you want to work in this type of environment.
Employer's List:
Post a job.
- Make sure you have a current job description for the job that you have posted.
- Determine the person in your organization who is responsible for any inquiries about this job and provide them with the necessary information and timeframes to handle questions.
- Create a timeline for the hiring process.
- Acknowledge all applicantions upon receipt.
- When you eliminate an applicant, send a letter acknowledging that they are no longer being considered for the position.
- When you set up interviews, inform the applicant as to whom they will meet, the interviewer's title, and how long the interview should last.
- After the interview, give the applicant an indication as to when they will hear from you regarding a decision or the next step in the hiring process.
- If for any reason, this timeframe changes, contact applicants with new dates.
- Once you have have extended an offer that was accepted, inform all other candidates that were still in the running of your decision. Thank them for their time and effort.
Some people may think that these steps are obvious. However, I can assure you that a week does not pass when I do not hear about an applicant or employer's lack of follow through in the job search process. It is often the simple courtesies and actions we take that make the ultimate difference—in this case, whether or not you are offered a job or whether someone in the marketplace sees yours as a professionally-run organization.
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This year's Women's Retreat in Provence is full! Email me if you'd like to be notified about the 2008 trip.
If you are in the job market, "Honesty is the best policy" holds true as an adage for you to follow. However, it is important to be discerning and thoughtful about what and how much to reveal to a prospective employer.
Here are a few examples of questions that could come up during any job search and real-life responses that might cost you the job of your dreams:
1. Why did you apply for this particular job?
Honest, but not the best reply: I love Maine and have always wanted to get back to sailing.
While this may be true, your personal motivation should not be stated as the first and primary reason for applying. Be prepared for this commonly asked question by indicating a strong match between your skills and experience and the qualifications required.
2. Why did you leave your last job?
Honest, but not the best reply: Well…Let's just say that my boss and I did not get along.
Whenever possible, keep your comments positive, particularly when it comes to past employment experiences. Even if you did not see eye to eye with your supervisor, stating this might cause the interviewer to question your ability to get along with authority figures. Instead, say that it was time to find a job that offered different working relationships where you had more autonomy (or whatever else might be pertinent to you).
3. What are your salary requirements?
Honest, but not the best reply: I'm flexible.
Employers want a ballpark figure of an applicant's compensation expectations. While you may indeed be flexible as to what you might accept, you need to do your homework around compensation. Research what this type of position pays in the marketplace and indicate a salary range that is consistent with your experience and expertise. When it comes time to negotiate a specific salary, consider your knowledge of the specific job and what value you will add.
4. What are your weaknesses?
Honest, but not the best reply: You respond with a list of shortcomings only your mother would know!
A brief answer is key to this question. If you are confident that you have what it takes to do the job, focus on that, rather than any weakness that is not relevant to your getting the job done.
5. What do you want to do? (Asked during an informational interview or by a friend or colleague who wants to help you with your job search.)
Honest, but not the best reply: I really don't know.
When someone offers to help you with your job search, they need to have some clues about your goals. It is not necessary to name a specific job title when asked this question. Instead, be prepared to state a few key skills you want to use along with some thoughts about the type of work environment in which you'd like to work. Let them tell you what comes to mind as possible matches for you.
In order to put your best foot forward during your job search, try to anticipate these types of questions. During conversations or job interviews, breathe, and even pause a few seconds before answering difficult questions. Being reflective might allow you to discern between a naïve and honest response and a frank, but wise one.
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This year's Women's Retreat in Provence is full! Email me if you'd like to be notified about the 2008 trip.
If you're feeling discouraged about your job search, you might achieve better results with one simple change to your process: diversify your approach. Polls indicate that more than half the people who employed only one strategy to look for jobs lost their momentum and abandoned their search after two months; while those who incorporated several strategies stayed the course until they found an acceptable position.
It may seem like an easy path to your next job to sit at your computer and surf the Internet. But, I'm sorry to say that a computer-based job search is typically not very effective if it's your only course of action. Furthermore, it is an approach that keeps you isolated and out of touch with individuals who could encourage you and keep you motivated in your efforts to find new work.
I suggest spending no more than an hour each day reviewing on line job postings and perhaps another hour with resume submissions and researching prospective employers' websites. Divide the rest of your day into a variety of activities, including ones that could have an indirect impact on your jobs search success by lifting your spirits or helping to relieve stress.
Below is a list of the primary ways people find jobs, with the first four by far the most effective. Select one or two to add to your job search process—doing that just might increase your success rate as well as improve your outlook.
1. Get clear on what you do well and what you enjoy doing. Then identify where in the marketplace those skills are needed. Conduct informational interviews with people who have these jobs to determine if there is a match for you. Ask for names of more people to speak with who are in this field.
2. Make cold calls and/or knock on doors of organizations or companies of interest to you and where you could add value to determine if they have openings.
3. Ask for job leads from family, friends, former colleagues and acquaintances.
4. Attend a group organized for people in the job search where networking is encouraged and practiced.
5. Apply for jobs advertised in the newspaper, trade journals or seen on line.
6. Go to private employment agencies.
7. Send out unsolicited resumes to random employers. (It is estimated that only one job offer results from sending out 1700 resumes.)
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One space remaining! Women's retreat in southern France, led by Barbara for the eighth year. For info, application form and photos go to: www.yourprovenceretreat.com.
If you're in the job market or contemplating it, you must know how to answer the question asking about your salary requirements. It used to be that job applicants could hedge the inquiry, with an "I'm flexible" response. But, many employers are now insisting on a bottom line figure in order to seriously consider an applicant. So, how do you address the question without over or under-pricing yourself?
First, it is important to know a salary range in your geographic area for the position for which you are applying. If you don't know this, you should find out.
Departments of Labor at the state level keep statistics on salaries and labor market trends. Begin by contacting that office in the state in which the job is posted and ask where you would find the salary information you need. You might also go to the comprehensive career resources website, The Riley Guide, for several links to salary statistics.
Once you are aware of a salary range for the position, then you need to determine where you fall within it. Your placement is based on your experience, skills and training that relate to the position. Some people erroneously think that they can base their salary requirements on their past compensation or even on the amount of money they need to pay their bills!
Until you know enough about the position to assess how you would add value, try to address the question of salary requirements with a realistic range that reflects both the marketplace and your background.
Once the interviews are complete and an offer is made, then the table is turned and you can determine whether or not the offer meets your expectations and requirements.
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Barbara is now accepting applications for her Annual Women's Retreat in Provence scheduled for September 23-29. For more info go to: www.yourprovenceretreat.com
If you're looking for employment, I imagine that you've tried to do all the right things in the job search process:
A. You think about what you want for your next job, prepare your professional documents that include a resume and cover letter tailored to the prospective job, reference letters and, if appropriate, samples of your work.
B. If you've read any research on how people secure jobs, you've also assembled a list of contacts and have thought about the best way to approach each person for informational interviews.
C. Once you learn about a job prospect through any of the most common avenues such as networking, classified ads, on-line search engines or company website postings, you follow the recommended directions for applying and take action within stated timeframes.
D. Then you wait for some type of response.
If more time has passed than you'd like, you might get discouraged or make up stories about why you are not being contacted for an interview. If you've had issues with self confidence or self esteem, this waiting period can bring up these old demons you thought you'd put to rest long ago.
Fears of never finding a job may cause you to abandon the quest for what you truly want for anything that generates a paycheck. Be brave and disciplined enough to review the details of your financial reality and determine how long you can wait before moving to an alternate plan.
There can be several "waiting periods" during any job search. One might occur after submitting your application and resume, after your first interview, and still another once you've been told you are a finalist or the "chosen one". Prior to any waiting period, you may be given a specific timeframe by which you will hear about your status in the search process. This date may come and go without a word since there is frequently a lack of follow through on the part of prospective employers.
Since you cannot control how applications are handled on the employer's end, here are suggestions on what you can do when you are kept waiting for answers at various stages of your job search:
1. Don't jump to conclusions or take the lack of response personally.
2. Make sure you've met all of the application requirements.
3. Call the employer to confirm receipt of your materials.
4. At the end of an interview, ask when you might hear from them about the search process.
5. If you have not heard from the employer one week after the stated date has passed, call for information.
6. If you have been told that you are a top candidate and that you will be notified for a final interview, ask when that might happen. If that date passes, call after a couple of days to inquire about setting up an interview time.
7. Keep in mind the facts of any situation as you plan your action steps to get the information you need. Do not make assumptions about why you have not been contacted. Let this be the mystery that it is rather than conjuring up bad news that may not be true.
8. As you apply for any job, consider how you are treated in the hiring process.
9. Decide whether or not you want to work for a company by taking into account its degree of professionalism, follow through, and priority on communication.
If you can relate to the question, then chances are you feel a bit lost, like you are spinning your wheels and going nowhere. You're probably keenly aware of people who have job titles and professions you wouldn't mind mentioning at parties, or former classmates who seemed to have defined their career niche years ago.
All of this comparing is depressing and makes you wonder if you'll ever catch up to the place you believe you should be on your career path.
Even though you may feel rather hopeless at this point because you don't know how to turn things around, it can actually be a pivotal time. It's often when you reach a low point where life seems to slow down enough that you can actually begin to negotiate a turn for the better.
Here are several practical steps to get on track in establishing a focus and career direction:
1. Recognize there is truth to the cliché "there is no time like the present", and trust the timing of how your life is unfolding.
2. Let go of regrets about what you have not accomplished to date. While this may be easier said than done, begin by deliberately shifting your attention from those thoughts that make you feel inferior to those that are more uplifting.
3. Make time in your life for reflection and for addressing questions about what you want. Schedule a few hours each week to write in a journal, delve into a career related workbook, or read an inspirational book about finding your life's work. A few of my favorites include: Work With Passion by Nancy Anderson, I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was by Barbara Sher, The Pathfinder by Nicholas Lore, Callings by Greg Levoy, and Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work As A Pilgrimage Of Identity, by poet David Whyte.
4. Identify a couple of jobs/careers that are of interest to you. Think about the connection they have with who you are and what you value at this time. Pick one to investigate. Jot down your assumptions and questions about it.
5. Interview at least three people who do this work so you become more informed and clear about this option. After the interviews, decide if it you are still interested. If so, take another step and determine the best way to become qualified or to apply for this position.
6. Congratulate yourself! You now have a direction!
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Where Barbara is presenting next:
•Women Supporting Women, a free event of the The Maine Women's Fund
February 6, The Woodlands Club, 7-9pm. Come hear about work and life balance and unleashing your investment Goddess!
•Maine Association of Personality Type
Using the MBTI in career counseling featuring Barbara Babkirk and Amy Jaffe
Free, Tuesday, February 27, 6:30-8:30pm, Falmouth Library
•Yarmouth Wellness Fair, sponsored by the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce Saturday, March 3, 10-3pm, Yarmouth High School
•Hardy Girls, Healthy Women Conference
Saturday, March 24, Fairfield, KVCC
If you are in the midst of a job search, it's time to get clear about what you want. However, this does not necessarily mean naming a specific job title or position. The first step in making a successful transition to new work is realizing a change is necessary and committing to it.
What comes after that can delay the process, especially if you cannot adequately answer the questions: "What am I looking for?" And, "If someone wants to help me find work, what do I say to them?" Even if you do not have clear answers to these questions, you must come up with some response other than "I don't know…I was hoping you would tell me."
A prospective client making an inquiry about my career counseling business was on the mark today when he said, "I don't believe I need to tell people with whom I'm networking what job I'm looking for, but rather, what skills I have to offer." Offering a bit of free career advice, I added: "Yes, identifying your skills in a networking meeting is good, and even more effective if you follow with the question 'How are these skills used in your company?' " Perhaps at that point the individual could make a connection for you with the person who demonstrates your talents. Then you might have a handle on a specific job for which you are qualified.
Eventually you will need to connect what you do well with where those skills are used in the marketplace (i.e. the positions that require your skills). Then you will recognize appropriate jobs when you see them. If you are considering a significant career shift, this connection is particularly important and initially difficult to figure out.
Here are some steps to help you move beyond the dreaded question "What type of job are you looking for?"
• Review your work history and determine the generic skills, talents and attributes that you consistently brought to your positions.
• Create a résumé that effectively and clearly presents those skills. If you are changing careers or industries, consider a functional format for your résumé.
• Identify a few key individuals who would be willing to speak with you about how they see you fitting into the marketplace.
• Arrange meetings with those key individuals. Be clear about your intention: to receive help connecting your skills and interests with the areas of the marketplace with which they are familiar and to ask for the names of people who are using similar skills in their work.
• Follow up on contacts and conduct informational interview to determine if there is a good match between what these people (who are using the skills you've used) do and what you want to do.
• Once you have identified one or several appealing possibilities, begin to shift your approach from asking for information about the jobs to requesting advice on how to secure a position.
Consider these three different descriptions of people in job transitions. In spite of their diverse backgrounds, they share a common concern about what might deter them from reaching their career goals…
Jen is 30 something, bright and enthusiastic with several years of West Coast experience in her field. Her Master's Degree focuses her credentials and adds much to her credibility as a professional. She wants to establish herself back in her native New England, but she questions whether she will be perceived as experienced enough to distinguish herself from other, more established and older professionals.
During Bob's 30 years in technology sales, he has consistently achieved goals and deadlines and developed a wealth of knowledge about his particular industry. He's now looking to make a significant change to a different field and job altogether. At 53, Bob is concerned that he is too old to make such a drastic shift in his career. Having enjoyed a certain amount of comfort that comes with experience and years in a particular field, he is also reticent about the prospect of "starting over" in a new field.
After two decades as an administrative assistant in the legal field, Molly is in a midlife transition. While she is not certain about where she wants to end up, she is clear that she wants to complete her college degree. She wonders if she missed her opportunity by not remaining in school years before and she is scared that she will be perceived as too old to be a college student again.
It seems to be true that a person's age can be an asset or a liability when it comes to finding or keeping a job. What is not clear or consistent are the conditions under which age is in our favor or not. Consequently, many people are left guessing about where they stand vis à vis the age factor in securing a job.
The fact that age discrimination and bias exist makes some people ill at ease as they approach the job market. However, fearing something over which one has no control, is simply not productive or useful. Instead, it's important to remain focused on the skills, experiences, and qualities that are relevant to one's goal and let go of thoughts that emanate from fears and speculation.
Several of my colleagues have children who are graduating from college this year and they are wringing their hands about the job market and concerned about the “Don’t worry about it, I’ll find a job” attitude expressed by their soon-to-be graduate.
I know from experience that kids eventually come around to accepting, even asking for parents’ opinions, but it’s typically not until they have crossed the threshold into their 20’s. Until then, parents find stealth-like ways to pass on their sage advice or that of others from their generation.
That’s where I come in. While I’ve been a career counselor in private practice for 16 years, I actually developed my skills and learned the ropes in higher education. From the University of New Hampshire, to Nasson and Bowdoin Colleges, I worked with hundreds of college students needing guidance around selecting a major to what-to-do-with-that-major as they prepared to leave their 17 years in education.
It was true then and still holds true today--many students put off thinking about the inevitable and avoid the job search that will test their ability to make it in the real world. Perhaps a combination of feelings from fear of the unknown to reluctance to leave their friends and familiar surroundings, keep them in denial and far from the array of resources available to them.
Without any direct experience of their own, students dismiss career counseling, on campus recruiting, resume and interviewing workshops and tapping the alumni network as “not very useful” or “geared only to business majors”. Some make up any justification that will allow them to keep post graduation plans at bay for as long as possible.
It is a real loss to them. Even though career assistance is available after graduation at some colleges and universities, these services usually come with a fee and they are never as comprehensive as those offered to matriculated students.
While most of my clients today are well past college age, I still see a number of college seniors and juniors. Perhaps because I’m not their parent, they seem to be open to what I have to say. First on the list is a recommendation that they take advantage of all their college career services office has to offer.
Here's a summary of tips for the college grad:
1. Visit the career services office at your college and set up an appointment with one of the career counselors.
2. If you have not identified a job or field to pursue after graduation, ask how they can help you achieve that goal.
3. Ask how you can conduct an alumni/ae search for a list of names of people who are working in the city and or job in which you are interested.
4. Develop a resume or portfolio resume.
5. Set up informational interviews. Meet with people in entry-level positions so you can determine if the job is a good fit for you. After you have a sense of the job and what is required, you might then contact alums in mid to senior level positions to ask their advice on securing a job in their field. Ask for feedback on your resume.
6. When you learn of an actual job, request a job description. Make sure your resume incorporates key words and covers the most important requirements from the description.
7. Keep a written record of your process (Excel is great for that) and make sure you send appropriate follow up correspondence or emails.
8. Be prepared when the offer finally comes. Do the research that will tell you the salary ranges in the job and marketplace in which you are looking. Learn how to negotiate for a better offer, if appropriate.
9. Celebrate your first job!
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UPCOMING EVENTS WHERE I'LL BE PRESENTING WORKSHOPS OR KEYNOTES:
•Maine Health Women's Wellness Day: "Simple Steps to Love Your Work"
Saturday, May 13, Sheraton, So. Portland, ME
•Goodall Hospital Women's Health Expo: "Beyond the Midlife Crisis: Understanding Life and Work in the Second Half of Life
Saturday, May 20, Sanford, ME
•A Women's Retreat in Provence, September 23-30, 2006
I know you must be on pins and needles wondering if daughter Kate was offered and accepted the new job in San Diego! Well, I wish I could tell you some news, but I can't, because she has not yet heard from the prospective employers.
Kate's experience is typical of the many stories I hear from people in the throws of the job search. Rarely does a prospective employer keep to the timeframe that was mentioned during interviews. So, if you are overdue for communication from your job prospects, don't take it personally, or assume you are out of the running.
It is very frustrating to wait longer than expected for an offer of employment. Sometimes people wait weeks beyond the date they were told they would be called; only to finally receive a form letter stating another candidate was selected. While getting rejected is disappointing, at least the applicant can then put that option behind them and move on.
There are many people who never hear from an organization, sometimes after spending hours in interviews. This type of unprofessional behavior on the part of employers tends to span all positions. I've heard this saga from aspiring CEO's to administrative assistants. It's rude and fosters bad public relations not to close the loop with anyone who has invested time and resources in applying to an organization.
Here's what I advise people regarding follow-up communication after submitting an application or participating in an interview:
After sending in an application or résumé:
- Call the organization to confirm receipt and inquire about the timeframe for hiring for this position.
- If you have not heard from them by the time mentioned, call to determine the search's progress.
Following an interview:
- If, after sending a prompt thank you email or letter, you have not heard from the employer in 10 days, call the person with whom you interviewed. That is, unless you were told the process would take longer. In that case, wait a week after the stated contact date has passed and call then.
While calling every other day might make you seem like a pest, you have every right to request an update on your candidacy for employment after a period of time has passed since you first made contact with the prospective employer.
I'm back in Maine and still wondering if daughter Kate will have a new job soon. Her meeting with the start up company owners went well, but it raised questions in Kate's mind. While it seems likely she'll receive a job offer, her reservations are significant enough for her to request a follow up meeting where she will hopefully reach resolution about her concerns. How she has approached this job prospect gives points to consider in anyone's job search:
- Go into your interview prepared. That means, you should have an idea of the particular abilities and skills needed and examples of how you have demonstrated them in past jobs, internships or volunteer experiences. These "vignettes" should be brief, but effective. It's not enough to merely state that you have certain skills, you need to back them up with examples.
- See yourself as an active participant in your job search. During interviews, listen for any red flags that might come up for you and, after the meeting, jot down questions that you will ask in the next phase. You may have to initiate a meeting after the offer of employment is extended.
- Let go of any desperate notions that you "must have" a particular job. Such a mindset may prevent you from seeing aspects of the prospective job that might cause you problems later on if you do not investigate them in the beginning.
- Make sure you have a job description before accepting any position, even if the job is new and you will be shaping it as you go along. Otherwise, the expectations of you will not be clear, possibly creating a problem at your performance review.
- Ask the same, key questions to different people during your interviews. The consistency of the responses will give you a sense of what is really true.
- Before you leave the interview, ask for the business card of anyone with whom you met. This will make the follow up easier.
- Always follow up an interview with a thank you that acknowledges a few points you discussed that relate to your qualifications for the job. This can be done by e-mail or handwritten.
Stay tuned for Part 3: What to do when the offer comes in…
I was attempting to write a blog while en route to San Diego to visit my daughter, Kate, who recently moved there from San Francisco. Very tight seating in the A319 jet made it next to impossible to find a position that would allow me to breathe and type at the same time. Finally, the person in the seat in front of me adjusted her seat forward and I could manage both tasks.
The trip to the west coast was exciting not only because I was visiting my daughter who had settled into a new city, but also because she was in the throws of a job search. The combination of my being a career counselor and her mother can be a little intense for Kate in times like these. Yet, she seems to take my natural fascination for people's career paths and wholehearted curiosity about her particular approach to the job market in stride.
Take, for example, her first job search… It's hard enough at times to find a job in a place you know well, let alone in a city 3,000 miles away which you've visited a couple of times on vacation with family. Right after college, Kate made the journey to San Francisco with resume in hand and a very vague notion of what she might like to do: work in a cause-related organization using her writing and verbal skills. It was not an unrealistic target for anthropology major with fluency in Spanish, but didn't translate into any particular job. She clearly needed to look around to see what the marketplace had to offer.
With her home base quickly established, Kate first scoped out the employment agencies for temporary work that would tide her over until she found a more permanent position. I was surprised to learn that the hourly rates were so much higher there: $12-$20 compared to $8-$10 in Maine. Of course, this makes sense since the cost of living there is astronomical.
I'll never forget her first temp job. She was hired to temp at $14 per hour for a major bank as one of six greeters at a reception for their boutique customers. Kate was told to wear a business suit to the event and to show up at 3pm sharp at a swanky downtown hotel. So far, this gig was not hard to take; and it got better. Upon arrival, she was told to make conversation with the guests and help herself to the abundance of hors d'oeuvres and mai tais flowing from a fountain in the center of the room! Four hours later, her job was done and she went home thinking, "This temping thing is not bad!" I, on the other hand, could not believe my ears and wondered where in the world my daughter had landed. Although not all of Kate's subsequent temp jobs were as glamorous, many were interesting and one led to an actual job offer, which she declined because it would have set her on a career path she knew was not of interest to her.
She finally received her first job offer in San Francisco through a Maine connection. In addition to temping, Kate spent hours developing and following up on contacts from her college alumni, to friends of friends. Her most successful lead was from Karin Anderson, Executive Director of the Maine Women\'s Fund. After years of my preaching the value of networking, Kate was somewhat convinced and followed up on the lead. A month later, after one appointment with a contact, Kate received a call from her soon-to-be-employer. Kate had come so highly recommended that the woman felt convinced she had found her new staff person. Meeting her clinched the deal. Three years and a promotion later, Kate now telecommutes from San Diego, as a transitional arrangement knowing that it is only a matter of time when she will have a new base of employment in San Diego.
What's next for her? Well, a friend passed her name on to a colleague whose mother owns a start up company. Last night she had an interview with the president of the company who told Kate she was the only candidate for the job at this time. Could this be yet another stroke of luck for her where she does not have to vie for a job with other candidates? I'll be eager to find out. But in any case, her job search to date certainly bodes well for the power of networking. Stay tuned for to hear the latest in her job search…
People in job transitions who are not certain about their career direction always dread the question: "So, what do you want to do next?" Thinking that they must reply with a specific job title, they may dodge conversations that could potentially be helpful in their transition.
These days, job titles, even in specific industries, are not standardized as they once were. Plus, there are so many more titles in the marketplace than ever before. "The Dictionary of Occupational Titles", now called O*Net lists more than 12,740 occupations with brief descriptions, for anyone who wants to try to locate their dream job. There certainly are some zany titles out there that make it difficult to zero in on a position by its title. For example, if you want to work in tech support at Disney, you'd better look for the title "Imagineering", at a New York ad agency, all staff has non-traditional job titles, like "grand master of client satisfaction" for the manager of customer relations. You won't find those titles on any job search engine.
So, if a person does not identify a job title, how do they explain to others what it is they want to do? I advise my clients to be clear about what they do best (and also enjoy doing) and be able to communicate it in four or five sentences. Period. Rambling on and on will only give the impression you don't really know what you want. Be concise yet informative; then ask where those tasks are performed in the person's organization. The answer will direct you to your next step in your transition: talking with the person who is using the skills you want to use in your next job. At this point, it doesn't really matter if there is a position open or not. Situations in the marketplace change from minute to minute. A job vacancy can occur at any time and it's good to be prepared and know what it is you want—short of a specific job title.
While it is easier to find a job when you reside in the area, most people don’t have the luxury of moving without a job. So, if you need the job to make the move, you will have to conduct your job search from a distance. Here are tips that I share with my phone clients who live in other states to help them make a successful transition:
1. Identify your career and personal goals.
- Clarify the type of job want. Are you interested in changing careers or just employers?
- Where do you want to live, including location as well as type of residence?
- What is your ideal time frame for moving?
2. Write a job description that reflects what you want and use it as a benchmark.
- Know what is necessary or negotiable for you in terms of: salary and benefits, responsibilities, physical work environment and colleagues, skills, and workplace culture.
3. Update your professional materials.
- A current resume is essential as you begin to conduct your search. Once you apply for an actual position, you may want to change the resume format or modify the information so it represents you best. Since employers may question your commitment to move, or hesitate to contact you because of relocation expenses, consider using a friend or relative’s address as your contact information on your resume.
- Many people in the job search today are creating portfolios to supplement
their resume. Appropriate for the interview stage of the job search, a portfolio is a collection of materials that might include: the resume, letters of reference or recognition, writing samples, articles written or presentations delivered, or any other representation of your work.
- Identify references and request letters to have on file.
- Create a list of skills you have consistently used during your work history. Keep in mind those skills you enjoy using and be ready to give concrete, brief examples when you have effectively demonstrated them.
4. Become familiar with your target location.
- Subscribe to the local newspaper, especially the Sunday edition. Pay attention to articles on new businesses, expansions, and notices of promotions and hew hires, as well as the classifieds.
- Plan an exploratory trip to conduct informational interviews and
network with other professionals.
- Contact the Chamber of Commerce, Office of Tourism, and Department of labor and request a relocation packet. Access the Chamber’s on-line directory of members.
-For specific information about relocating to Maine, go to the Maine State Government's special page dedicated to this topic.
-Identify organizations and companies that employ people in your targeted positions. Visit their websites for job postings and info on new developments.
5. Identify and research key resources in your industry or career field.
- Research the professional associations affiliated with your target job. The Encyclopedia of Associations, available at most libraries, gives useful descriptions. Note the officer’s names and the date and place of their annual conference. Plan to attend if possible. Contact the association's officers for help with networking.
- Contact the career services office at your undergraduate and graduate schools. Request a print out of alumni/ae working in your field near your target location.
- Tell anyone you know of your plans to relocate. Ask if they know anyone who lives and works in your target location and if they would be willing to send an e-mail asking if you might contact them for networking.
- Check out craig's list for job postings. Many major cities have a “craig's list”--a site that is becoming increasingly popular for finding anything from jobs and roommates to furniture and housing.
- You may choose to contact headhunters/recruiters/executive search firms. Search these professionals by location or industry at: www.i-recruit.com.
- Know the salary ranges in the new locale for the position/s you are targeting. The informative site The Riley Guide has a links to salary surveys, as well as severance and separation packages.
- If your profession requires licensure or credentialing, you can look up requirements by state at Career One Stop Centers.
Stay focused on your goal and take specific steps each week toward it. Before you know it, you'll be living and working where you want to be!
Most of the people in my career counseling practice are seriously considering or forced into a work-related transition. While their professions and stories are diverse, most share a common set back: they ask "how" prematurely and it stalls or halts their process. Over the years, I've noticed that no matter what the specifics are of a situation, asking those demanding "how" questions too early in a transition squelches momentum.
Here is a fictitious, yet realistic story that backs my theory. Mary Jones has had a successful career as a vice president in a service-oriented corporation. At 46, she's experiencing burnout and dreams of a life where she can devote more time to her husband, provide service to her community, and adopt a puppy that will nudge her into a routine of daily exercise. While her desire for a more balanced life is clear, the way to get there--the how of it all, is not. Frustrated with her inability to translate her dreamy thinking into concrete steps, Mary gives up before exploring her options. She is unhappy about remaining in her current job, but sees no way out.
What Mary needs to keep her dream alive is a different way of proceeding, one that invites her creative imagination and allows for patience with the change process. She needs to focus on the "what" of her desire by writing and talking about what she already knows about it. She would be well served by staying open and expansive to possibilities, rather than constricted and worrying about how it will all happen. While the "how" questions initially seem compelling and critical to success, they are often created out of fear and offer no help with the development of the plan itself.
If Mary recognizes that the development of her dream will take time, and that a period of confusion is inevitable, she is more inclined to be steadfast in her desire for change. Being in a place of uncertainty is integral to any transition according to William Bridges, author of the groundbreaking book on the subject. But, with our culture's mindset of "get to the goal as quickly as possible", there's little tolerance, let alone appreciation, for the period of confusion that comes with any change.
Here are a few tips to keep the momentum in your transition:
- Take time to focus and write about it, explaining why you want it and how it
will impact your life.
- Acknowledge any "how" questions that may come up. Write them down if you
wish, but don't allow them to distract you from your thinking about what it is
you want.
- Identify a question that pertains to the "what" of your dream, desire, or goal.
- Take one step in the next week that will help you to find an answer to it.
- Keep this process going as you gain more clarity. You will probably notice that
the "how" questions have shifted. That's progress.
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