now2planBlog

Rebuilding Your Network

Great article below on the importance of keeping your network up-to-date and tips to make it easy to do.

Rebuilding Your Network 

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Find A Port in the Storm

Recently, I read an article about young adults moving home after college graduation.  One statistic says that 80% of 2009 college graduates are jobless and living with their parents!

Elina Furman, author of Boomerang Nation, suggests that these 'quarterlifers' think that 'if they can't find a job in their chosen career, they don't have to be working.' WRONG! 

Ms. Furman goes on to suggest finding a 'survival' job while searching for the ideal position.

I call this 'survival' job a port in the storm, a bridge position, a stop-gap measure.  This employment strategy applies to all job seekers - not just the boomerangers. 

I believe that it is vital to fill in the gap while in job search. I know of executives who work at big box retailers for minimum wage, high-salaried folk who volunteer for no pay, and other job seekers who take positions well below their skill level. The point is that these job seekers are taking control of their situation when they lost their job. They are "out there" doing what they can to stay sharp, be around others and fill that time gap between their last position and their future opportunity.

How will you answer the question, "what have you been doing since you left your last employer?'"

Consult While in Job Search

Consulting is a wonderful way to bridge the gap between jobs.  As you can see from this article, some types of consulting are even recession proof. 

What is your expertise?  What should you charge?  How do you get started as a consultant?

There are some great tips here.

~From http://jobbait.com/a/solo.html

Google Thyself

To find out what your online presence looks like, go to Google.  Customers do it.  Friends do it. Parents do it.  And so do POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS.  

Blog Your Way to a New Job

The folks at www.typepad.com want to help you in your job search.   Go to Type Pad for a free tutorial on how to create a professional blog and resume online.  

Are you in a field (photographer, graphic designer, writer) where it is important for you to have a portfolio?  Then begin to build your web-based portfolio at www.typepad.com. 

It's simple to use and there's even a free trial period.

Networking 101

"So what is networking, anyway?"

Networking is simply trading information.  A friend asks you about a restaurant in your neighborhood - "is the food good? expensive?"  

You ask your friend where they purchased their Christmas tree - "are the trees there fresh? does that lot support the Boy Scouts?"

Networking is the way to find positions that are not advertised; it's the way to make a career change; it has a 75% success rate.  It is also an active, you-in-control method to search for a job.

"I don't have a network."

Yes, you do!  You have relatives, friends, co-workers, neighbors, church friends, former classmates, and hopefully a dentist and a doctor.  There are your children's friends' parents who are affiliated with their neighbors, relatives, etc.  Still not convinced?  Then join LinkedIn, Facebook or if you are near Nashville, Tennessee, attend the Monday Night Career Transition Group Meeting at Brentwood United Methodist Church.

"Okay, I have a network - so what?"

Well, what do you want to know?  Are you in a job transition?  Are you looking for a contact inside a particular company?  Do you want to know about the trends and opportunities within your profession?  What about salary information?  What about feedback on your resume or your job search strategies?  Ask, listen to your contacts' answers and GIVE BACK.  (more on "Giving Back" on the next Blog installment)

In my work with people who have lost their jobs, I often hear, "I wish that I had kept up with my network."    There are legitimate excuses - working long hours, too much trouble, don't want to be a bother...

What these folks are saying is that the small investment in time and energy through ongoing networking makes it easier to call on your network during career transition or during some other need.  An energetic friend of mine, Beth, makes a point to attend and volunteer at a lot of social gatherings, church events, and community activities.  When she suddenly found herself in need of folks who could look in on her nursing home-bound mother while she was out of town, Beth simply asked 1 person in her network for help.  That 1 person spread the news and Beth's mother had daily visitors and special treats for each of the 7 days that Beth was out of town.  Beth's giving nature and ongoing networking with people led to these acts of generosity.

What can you do today to build and nurture your network?

Happy Thanksgiving! Holiday Job Search Tips

Thanksgiving is upon us and I'll bet you are thinking . . . 

'This is the start of a 6 week time period where my job search and networking activities can slack off. NO ONE hires during the holidays.'

Well, even if that is the case, the holiday period is no time to quit your job search activities.  Here are some tips:

1. Join family and friends at as many social events as you can.  Usually, folks are caught up in the spirit of the season and it is a great time to reconnect.

2. Attend your professional association's December meeting.  It will probably be a more relaxed gathering with more focus on meeting and greeting.

3. Stay in touch with your contacts.  'Miss seeing you!  I'll call you in January.'

4. Volunteer.  Giving of yourself can do wonders for your mental well being.

5. Turn off the news.  Don't need to elaborate on that one.

The Black Hole of Job Search

I had the opportunity recently to spend time with an Executive Recruiter who told me of a friend of hers who is going into his 6th month without securing employment.  This recruiter wanted to help him but did not have any positions that matched his skill set.  Evidently, this job seeker had been laid off and spent hours on the Internet looking for an opportunity.  Worse yet, the friend has applied for a number of positions on line and has never gotten a response back.  Not a "we received your application;" not a "no;" nothing.

The Internet is the black hole of job search.  You spend a lot of time filling out those on-line forms. (and don't you hate it when your computer freezes up right as you get toward the end of the form?)  And with a click here and a click there, you send in your resume which is, after all, the perfect match for the advertised position.  And you wait and wait and wait.

There has to be a better way.  And there is . . .

What if...?

Several weeks ago, you may have allowed yourself the luxury of thinking about finding a new position.  Can't stand my boss, want more meaningful work, a better commute, higher pay. 

Now, with 401k's turning into 201k's, you have abandoned such thoughts, haven't you?  You're hoping that you can survive this economic instability (okay... mess) with your job intact.  Maybe you're telling yourself, my job isn't so bad... what was even thinking?  Leave my job and my generous/kind boss?!?

What if you get fired?  What if tomorrow you are called into HR, walk in to a room with a group of somber looking co-workers who tell you, "This isn't your fault, it's a business decision.  We're going to have to let you go."

What if they cannot pay you a severance?

An old saying states, "Hope for the best; prepare for the worst."  So how do you prepare for the worst?

1. Update your resume.  Invest your time in thinking about your accomplishments, the projects in which you participated, and your unpaid work.  The best accomplishments are ones that you can quantify.
2. Think about who you will ask to serve on your list of references.
3. Is your contact management system up-to-date?  (What is a contact management system??)  It can be as simple as a basket full of business cards (I confess - this was my 'system.') or your email address book.
4. Have you stayed in touch with friends and colleagues?  Perhaps now is a good time to reconnect - coffee before work, lunch with friends.  You will be glad that you have made the time and effort IN CASE the 'What If" happens.

What if you are stuck and can't get moving to prepare for the worst?  A good career coach can partner with you on your journey.

Hiring a Professional Resume Writer

The Wall Street Journal's Career section is a great resource for career seekers. In last Tuesday's print edition, there was a helpful article written by Joann S Lublin. In her article, Finding a Master Resume Writer, Ms Lubin states, "in today's tight market, the right resume can land you the right interviews..." She correctly suggests that job seekers who need resume writing services do the following:

• Shop carefully and ask for writing samples.
• Ask for recommendations from satisfied customers.
• Know what you are paying for. Ask for a proposal in writing and find out when you will receive your initial draft.
• Make sure your resume accurately depicts your background and accomplishments. In most cases, your deceptions will be discovered.

The purpose of your resume is to get you an interview. It also serves you when you network and interview. Want to know how? Hire and ask a reputable resume writer.