Interviewing in 2011

As I sit here on Thanksgiving evening, with more to be thankful for than I have time to mention, I look ahead a few weeks, as I face certain layoff on December 22.

If you've been through a layoff before, then you know the roller coaster of emotions you ride.   I have had 3 months' warning, and have been doing all that I know to do to find a new gig, both inside and outside of my present place of employment, but at this writing, I have, at best, a few warm leads.


Some might be content to have leads, but I'd be a lot more content with a job offer.   The truth is that I've applied and networked as much as I can while working full time, and it has produced calls from potential employers.  I have done multiple phone interviews, follow-up thank you letters, a couple of really good face-to-face interviews, but that is as far as it goes.  Naturally, I'm wondering what I might be doing or not doing in the interview to not move past the initial face-to-face interview.


Many thoughts go through my head about my interviewing--- too confident, not confident enough, wasn't specific enough, went into too much detail, etc., etc.    The truth is, I do not know what is going on.   "Behavioral interviews" are the interviewing style du jour, and depending on how strict to form the interviewer is, it can be very difficult to answer the unspoken questions being asked by the question being asked.

For example, if you are asked "tell me about a time when you had a disagreement with your boss.  What was it about, how did you approach it, and what was the result?"   Is the interviewer interested in that specific incident?   Somewhat, but more than that, the real questions being asked are "How do you relate to your boss?  How do you handle conflict?  What people skills do you have?   Will you fit in to our culture?"   etc....or at least that is what I perceive to be the questions behind the questions.   I've had one interviewer give me feedback about these questions behind the question, and it is very difficult to understand what the interviewer really wants to know or hear.   It is sad that this newest form of interviewing is seen as superior to having a conversation with the person you are interviewing about their experiences and accomplishments as they relate to the specific position for which that person is being interviewed.   In all honesty, it is much easier to fool the interviewers using the behavioral interviewing approach if you know the game and can play well, especially in a situation where the interview is short and there isn't a lot of other discussion before a hiring decision is made.

Behavioral interviewing is all the rage today, but I would caution anyone who thinks it's a panacea for poor interviewing of the past.   It wasn't that past interviewing techniques were inferior; it's that the same bad interviewers of the past are now doing bad interviews in the present with the behavioral interview model.    Frankly, anyone can talk a good game using any interview model.   Multiple discussions over time and with different people about experience needed for a position should not be replaced by an "all powerful" behavioral interview. 

Perhaps a better approach to the behavior interview is to ask interviewees about specific skill/experience/accomplishments that would show that an interviewee has the skills and experience needed to be successful in the role for which they are interviewing.   For example, "How do you work with a group of diverse people as we have at our company?  Can you give me an example of when you have done that?"    This is straightforward questioning that will generate a straightforward answer.   If the interviewer has no ability to discern the skill level from this approach, behavioral interviewing will not help them. 

I've had several behavioral interviews lately, and people will ask me about an organizational development experience, I answer the question with a clear OD example, only to have them say that they did not hear an OD example, and they re-ask the question.   The issue is not so much that I didn't answer the question, but that they are non-OD people, do not understand what OD people do, but by using a behavioral interviewing sheet, believe they can discern if I have OD skills.  Ludicrous.

Perhaps it is just me, but behavioral interviewing is another "HR trend" that HR believes will suddenly help bad hiring decisions from being made.   Giving a person a supposed tool does not enable a person to suddenly have discernment or make them analytical enough to read the human being with whom they are thinking.  It is unfortunate that the root cause of bad interviewing hasn't been truly addressed--the interviewers themselves.   More skill building in this area with hiring managers and HR personnel would greatly improve the interviewing process.

Really?

It's been approximately 8 months on my new gig---the best job I've ever had in many ways.  I haven't written a blog entry in 2 months.   So, should I be thinking about my next job?  How many of you say "NO!?"   You're wrong.

The thing is, none of us know how long our jobs will run, with long tenures and golden watches for retirement not the norm, none of us can afford to get complacent.  Have you done a skills inventory lately against the skills currently being sought out in your field?  Is it time to hit a couple of seminars in 2011 to get yourself up to date or to inspire yourself to grow intellectually? 

I've been at my job for 8 months, and since I was, more or less, in job search mode for 1.5 years (though I was working contracts), I find myself like a coworker who, after completing his Master's degree, found himself going to his study on Sunday afternoon as he'd done for a couple of years, realizing that he no longer had to spend EVERY Sunday afternoon in study and paper writing.  It feels weird to NOT be on an intense job search--of course, I'm not complaining.

If you haven't taken stock of your current position/employer/field in a while (like over a year), I would strongly encourage you to do so.  Do a skills inventory, research jobs in your field that you qualify for and/or would like to do and hiring trends at companies that you think you might like to work for.  Expand your social networks, especially LinkedIn.   Right now, employers can afford to be selective when interviewing candidates for the positions they have open, and seeing the skills and experience for which they are looking might be a good indication of where your skills development plans should be going.  Some of the skill needs you may find that your field desires may be something that would take you a few years to acquire.  If you're working now, don't wait until you aren't to update your skills and make yourself more marketable.

*Scratches Head

Every time I have to ask myself this kind of question, I realize that I have that much more maturing to do, but I'll ask anyway.....

Why is it that people who are out of work are reluctant to try new methods of job hunting?  I offer to help people where I live, and there seems to be few takers in a down economy.  I'm not a job hunting expert, but having done enough of it, had outplacement training a couple of times, etc., I have some insights and contacts that I'm happy to share with job seekers, but I get few serious requests.   (checks armpits---nope, nice and clean).

I especially get concerned about those who haven't had to look for a job in a long time (anything over 10 years, or as close as 5 years ago), as the "game" of job hunting has had all kinds of rule changes.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me implore you all again---be preparing for your next job while in the one you have, and if you find yourself out of work, be a guerrilla job hunter, working every angle at finding your next gig.  I feel deeply for people who are unemployed, and feel frustrated when I see them not aggressively searching with a variety of methods that are necessary in today's job hunting climate.

Running the Good Race

I'm now on the job a couple of months now, and I can honestly say that I enjoy my job.  The first 8 weeks have been tough, as I am learning a new system, learning a job from a consultant, developing relationships, handling issues that I didn't create but have to learn to solve, considering the future vision for training and support, etc.

It's been busy and stressful at times, but it most assuredly beats being stressed by spending a zillion hours a day duing a job search.  Some may want to argue that work can't be fun, but since God created us to work and not to lay around and do nothing all day, I feel fulfilled in helping others learn and improve their lives, and that is core to who I am and why I am here.   It can't get much better than that in this life.

Job Tip # 48: You are not a Failure

Another networking group in DFW that caught my eye, as they hit the nail on the head....you are not a failure.  Job loss or unemployment can be especially hard on men psychologically, as many men get their self-worth and self-image from their jobs.  A job is indeed a career that you throw yourself into, but it is not WHO YOU ARE.   Easy to say; sometimes hard to remember, right guys?


Job Tip # 48: You are not a Failure
Of course you are not a failure, but this Tip title did get your attention. Here's some suggestions from pro Head Hunter, Nick Corcodilos……If your job search is failing, it's for one of two reasons. First, you may be scared because you believe you're not good at your work. If this is happens to be true, admit it to yourself and do something about it. If you don't, your work will never make you happy or successful. Second, you have been brainwashed like most Americans by the media and by America's Employment System to follow antiquated rules of job hunting. Realize that if this System worked, you wouldn't have to mail out 200 resumes or go on 20 interviews before finding a job.

There is only one rule for success in a job search, and almost no one follows it: you must prove, to the manager for whom you want to work, that you can do the job he needs to have done and that you can do it profitably. This is the single most important rule headhunters live by when they prepare a candidate to interview for a job. http://www.askthehe adhunter. com/habyoh. htm




For those in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex:

The Watermark job support group meets every Tuesday morning, 8am on the 3rd floor of the church tower building, 7540 LBJ at Park Central, free admission, no pre-registration. Here is a video introducing the group. http://cbs11tv. com/video/ ?id=51937@ ktvt.dayport. com

You can sign-up and your resume will be circulated to potential employers in our group.
http://www.watermar k.org/ministries /care/jobs- ministry- careers-in- motion/

James Reed
reed.james@yahoo. com

Contracting: Reality in the Current State of Things

I remember reading some years back that "in the 21st century, many people would be free agents, contractors," but I didn't really believe it.  There are so many reasons for hiring a person, none the least of which is ownership and productivity.  However, after being a contractor for just about a year, I'm not dismissing that as an option anymore.....but then again, I wonder if I can make a living with multiple income streams, some of which involve gardening and woodworking.

I've spent most of this past year in a focused, informed, network-savvy job search.  I've done some presentations at professional groups, had some interviews, even 2nd and 3rd interviews, but no offers.  In the past, I've averaged a couple of calls a week, and on a good week, I would have two interviews with two separate companies.  Not so at the present time.

It's not that I don't like my present contracting situation--it honestly doesn't pay too badly.  It's just that there are no benefits--especially health insurance--and that puts a damper on things. (Disclaimer:  I do not support the socialized medicine that our current administration is pushing.  When a high-ranking Canadian official comes to the US for surgery that he could get "free" in Canada, that says a lot about the highly-touted Canadian system and others like it.)  So, a major concern is health insurance, and if you've had to buy insurance privately, you know why that is an issue.  If you haven't, pray that you never have to, and have an AED nearby when they tell you the rates.


The other thing about contracting is that no matter how involved you get in the business, no matter how great your co-workers are about making you feel at home, you will always be a NON-EMPLOYEE.  I'm not saying that my current contracting company treats me badly; they don't.  It's just that as a contractor, you do not share in any of the "company" things, and there are some issues you have to steer clear of, as no one wants a co-employment issue to crop up. 

Companies like contractors because they aren't as difficult to get rid of (pretty much a phone call will take care of it), and companies want to bring in just the right skills for just the right job.  Of course, that only happens in the bizarro world.  Though a contractor does bring established skills that are useful to a company they contract for, he or she must also get a lay of the land and understand the issues surrounding the work they are contracted to do.   Perhaps some contract positions/temp employees may be able to "drop in" and perform a job adequately, but others need time to assimilate to the work environment, learn what has been done, and understand the political situation to be effective.  

I wonder if when regular employees see contractors filling positions that could be and would be better be served by a regular employee, they may become less engaged (a hot topic these days), as they may be concerned that their position may be given to a contractor or that they are always preparing for the eventual departure of the short-term contractor.

Companies like to tout contracting as being cheaper, but in reality, after the fees by the contracting company (the contractor's employer of record) are taken into account, the cost is about the same.  The only difference is that you have a worker who does not have the same investment in the company's success as a regular employee and who is looking for his or her next contract from almost the start of the job. 

Rebecca Metschke has done it again.....see the article that sparked my comments on contracting.

Are You the Boss of You?

from The Interview Edge by Rebecca Metschke

 

Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal ran an interesting piece about the “age of going solo” – working for yourself. While it focused on the ins and outs of how to succeed as a consultant, I was struck by the snapshot of today’s workforce in the article’s setup.

With unemployment stuck on “high” and millions of people in the “long term unemployed” bucket, seismic shifts are taking place in the composition of the workforce.

According to author Richard Greenwald, 20% to 23% of U.S workers are “operating as consultants, freelancers, free agents, contractors, or rmicropreneurs.”

Think about that. Close to one quarter of working Americans are employed on a contingent basis.
Goodbye, defined career paths and benefits – hello, project-to-project work.
With the employment picture looking gloomy for literally years to come, contracting may be in your future, too (if you haven’t gotten there already).

I know many folks who were forced out of traditional jobs during the last recession – and quite a few are still working for themselves today.

Contracting/freelancing/consulting isn’t easy, especially if all you’ve ever known is the 9-to-5 world…but it can be rewarding. Many independent employees will tell you they don’t ever want to go back.
Bottom line: given the lackluster employment outlook, you may very well end up being the boss of you, whether or not that’s what you were planning.

The Interview Edge- a comprehensive guide for people who are serious about their careers. Available in instantly downloadable format.

Reasons to Invest in Your Career NOW

Found a new job hunting site that appears to be targeted at new college grads and 20-somethings http://www.careerealism.com.

This site looks like a 2 x 4 across the forehead for a generation that grew up on the relative affluence of the late 1980's and 1990's, but I know that those of us who are out of our 20s need to hear the same message...don't sit around and just answer Internet job openings all day.  According to CNN, there are 6 people seeking work for every job opening.  While I would challenge that 6:1 is true of every career field, it surely is in some, and as those of us actively hunting for a new job, we know it's tough right now; but then again, so is sitting around doing nothing and whining.  Don't let these numbers bum you out; let it be a challenge to meet head on.  Like I was once told, "You're looking for a job and not many openings. Thing is, you only need 1 job."

15 Reasons Professionals (Ages 18-25) MUST Invest in Their Careers NOW

December 10, 2009 by sparktalk   By CAREEREALISM Founder, J.T. O’Donnell

I saw this video on CNNMoney.com of college seniors being interviewed about their future plans after graduation this spring: http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2009/12/04/n_cmr_class_2010-jobs.cnnmoney/.
YIKES!


Students are on their own when it comes to finding a job – and it’s not pretty. I think the worst part is to see most of them believe the answer is to just stay in school and spend even more money on an advanced degree. I wish they could talk with all the unemployed MBAs out there right now who are knee-deep in loan debt.

Reality-check for College Students & Recent Grads
How you look for work, as well as how you find work you love has changed deeply in the last 20 years. And yet, college teaches you everything EXCEPT how to get the job. That being said, there are two ways you can attempt to learn what you need to in order to take control of your future.
1)   You can try figuring it out for yourself. Unfortunately, most students opt for this, get too busy at school, and end up putting it off until they graduate. They return home, unemployed and hundreds of miles from their campus career center.
2)   You can invest in a program that can help you get organized and focus on the right things to do to identify a career path and land a job. [Note:  This is the site's sales pitch.]

Let’s face it, the latter option is going to help you more and is much faster.

And still, if that doesn’t convince you…
Here are 15 reasons why you should invest in your career early:

• 23%. How much a college education has gone up in the last 10 years.
• 11%. How much the starting salaries of college grads have gone down in the last 10 years. (FYI – In 1985, the average starting salary for a college grad was $40,300. In 2008, the average starting salary was only $39,000 and it continues to drop in this recession.)
• Less than 50%. The number of students who ever see the financial return on their investment in an advanced degree (i.e. Masters, MBA).
• 70M+. The number of Baby Boomers (people in their 50s-60’s) in America who are ‘retirement-ready, but under-funded’ and thus will stay in the job market, holding back the entry of new grads to the workplace.
• 90%+. The number of young people today who plan to go to college because they feel they have to in order to get a job. Most DON’T know why they should go or what they should study!
• $100K+. The minimum you can plan to spend on a college education from top private or state university.
• Less than 30%. The number of students who actually work in a professional setting while they are in high school or college in order to gain professional skills they can use when they graduate.
• 25 years old. The average age before a college grad can finally afford to move out of their parent’s house and live on their own. (They are called Boomerang Kids and K.I.P.P.E.R.S – Kids In Parents Pockets Eating Retirement Savings.)
• 80%+. The percentage of jobs people get by networking. Most people don’t know A) how to create and leverage a network effectively, and B) feel uncomfortable doing it.
• Less than 20%. That’s how many 2009 college grads had jobs when they graduated last year.
• 6:1 ratio. There are 6 job seekers for every job out there right now.
• 18 months. The average time a young person spends in a job in America . The reality is EVERY job is temporary for young professionals.
• 9 careers with an average of 3 jobs in each one. That’s what today’s college grad can expect over the lifetime of their career. Can you imagine looking for a job 27 times!?
• 5 years. The amount of time it’s going to take for us to recoup the jobs we’ve lost from this recession. This does NOT include the additional number of jobs we need for all the college grads in that time.
• 10 years. That’s how long it’s going to take for us to fully recover from this recession: 

http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2009/12/07/n_cmr_slow_recovery.cnnmoney/.

Networking Groups in DFW

Terrific Google Map of networking groups in DFW from Career Search Network.   There has to be one near you.    One or two good ones are all you'll need.  Don't know if it's available for other cities, but worth looking into.

 

www.careersearchnetwork.org

Career Diversification

Once again, Rebecca covers a topic that is so critical, yet I'll bet that the majority of readers of this blog NEVER think of it. Stated another way, never stop asking yourself what you want to do/be when you grow up. If you do, you may find yourself disgruntled with the jobs that are "available" to you.

Rebecca's line "Nothing about the market is static" is very true and applies to life in general. Nothing stays the same, despite our wish for it to do so, but then, it is also true that "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose." ("The more things change, the more they remain the same." Alphonse Karr). Life is in constant change, and as jobs/careers are an important part of life, you can count on them to change; however, if you're like me, you now notice that the changes are predictable and are the same ones you endured at a previous job or from a previous boss. So, things change, and things don't change. :)

Thanks, Rebecca!

______________________________________________________________

October 27, 2009

Career Diversification

The employment landscape is littered with people who’ve allowed their skills sets – and their careers – to become inert. The more competitive the job market, the greater a liability this becomes.  Nothing about the market is static. 

Economies fluctuate. Industries and products alike progress through inevitable stages. External influences – like foreign markets – shift and transform. The one thing you can count on is change.  If you want to succeed professionally, you need to be just as dynamic as the market –and you must avoid tunnel vision. 

Think like a company:  figure out how you can diversify. How can you broaden your reach? How can you break into new markets? How can you extend your brand?

The key is to ensure you’re as marketable as possible. What do you need to do to augment your skills? Is there some sort of project or initiative that would give you good experience and exposure? Volunteer for it.
How might your background and experience apply to another industry? Are there competencies you should pick up that will make you a more attractive candidate should you want to attempt that kind of transition? Who do you need to meet?

Stay on top of trends. Know what’s “hot” and figure out what you need to do to position yourself to get closer to it. Find out what you need to learn…and figure out how to pick up that knowledge or proficiency.
Think ahead and always be looking to broaden your skill set. You’ll be much better positioned to survive during the lean times, and ultimately to thrive.

Rebecca Metschke is the author of The Interview Edge, a comprehensive guide for those who are serious about their careers. Visit http://blog.TheInterviewEdge.com for free tips and strategies to gain a professional advantage.

Job Hunting Presentation in Second Life

Just finished a live presentation in Second Life on job hunting and the use of social media in a job hunt.   Was a very fast hour, and had about 16 avatars/people in attendance.  I got some very nice comments on the presentation, and I sincerely hope that everyone will use what they have learned. 

Job hunting is and isn't the same as in "the past."   I talked a lot about the use of electronic media and how to aggregate job listings to save time looking for openings, but as usual, I came back to something that has never changed in job searching since the beginning--- networking.

Despite all of the wonderful tools and electronic gizmos, finding a job comes down to getting in front of a human and selling yourself.  Bottom line.   Electronic networking tools, fancy resumes, hours spent searching job openings will NOT net you a job.   They can only get you in front of another human....and then, the fun begins.

If I were to list what I consider the second most important thing in job searching (behind networking), it would be to practice, practice, practice your 30-2 min commercials (elevator speeches) until you were mumbling them in your sleep.   This is part of being able to interview well, which is where you win or lose a job offer.  If you know who you are and what you have to offer, and you couch it in "sales" terms ("here's what I can do for you"), you'll have a tremendous advantage over 90% of the rest of the population.

Being prepared for an interview is a book in itself, but being emotional prepared will help you even more.   Frankly, if you go into an interview so worried about getting the job that you can't function, you will fulfill your own prophecy.   Now I have been in some tight spots in my time---had no job/income and was interviewing---and those are tough.   I am blessed with not having debt, and that relieves a lot of pressure.  Of course, picturing my family scraping by because I'm out of work adds a tad more pressure.   I have had to learn the hard way that if I really trust that God will take care of me, I will relax in an interview and my thoughts will flow much better.   It's a test, or should I say like a test that we've all had in school (remind your kids of the kinds of tests adults take and the stakes of performing poorly on THOSE tests).   If you are prepared for the test, your stress level is much lower than if you know you're winging it.  Of course there could be a test that asks questions poorly (bad test design) or something you totally forgot, but that's where part 2 of preparedness comes into play---trust God.

No test, no interview is life ending.  Though we don't believe that we'll ever find another job as our last good job, honestly, we will.   I have often counseled job seekers with two words:  patience and persistence.  You must be patient, and you must never give up.   Since I like Star Trek, the analogy I offer is that of the Borg.  For those unfamiliar with Star Trek:  The Next Generation, the Borg are a race of cyborgs who are notorious for taking over and assimilating other races in the galaxy, and they are incredibly persistent.  Nothing seems to phase them...they just keep coming and coming.   Like the Borg, we must all keep pressing on to find the next job, and most of us need to work on our patience while we do that.

Cyborgs and virtual worlds like Second Life aside, the reality is that job hunting will continue to be the bane of our existence, at least until we land that next job. : )

I Know I've Said This Before...

God is in control. Period. You will destroy yourself if you put the burden of return on your invested job-searching time on yourself. We have to be smart and work hard at job searching, but in the end, we do not control the process. My encouragement is to not let the process control YOU.

...and believe me, I know all too well how hard that is.

U.S. Job Seekers Exceed Openings by Record Ratio

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/business/economy/27jobs.html?_r=1&em

"Job seekers now outnumber openings six to one, the worst ratio since the government began tracking open positions in 2000. "

The last lines of the article: “I’ve learned that I can’t look to tomorrow,” she said. “Every day, I try to do the best I can. I say to myself, ‘I don’t control this process.’ That’s the only way you can look at it. Otherwise, you’d have to go up on the roof and crack your head open.”

In this economy, it takes a lot of work to find a job

Once again, I'm passing on a blog entry from Rebecca Metschke at The Interview Edge in which she nails this issue. I have often said that I hate looking for a job, because I work too many hours looking for a job. It's inconceivable to me that anyone would only do a couple of hours of work per day on finding a job if they do not have a job. If you are working full time, have kids, spouse, and other activities, and you spend 2 hours at night looking for a job, that's more understandable (but you should still be creatively searching and networking during the day).

Could Your Job Search Strategy Use an Overhaul?

The other day I quoted Rich Karlgaard, who said that recessions unmask bad business models. As you’ll recall, he wasn’t just referencing companies…he was citing careers, too.

Those bad business models extend to job search strategies.

Remember the dot com bubble? Candidates in the technology sector were riding high. It wasn’t unusual for a person to decide to change employers on a Friday, make a few phone calls, and have a job offer the following week. Actually, it wasn’t uncommon for candidates to have 2-3 competing offers. No exaggeration.

Obviously, it’s always easier to look for work when it’s a seller’s market. If you could guarantee that you’d only have to look for work when the economy was humming along, you’d be in great shape.

Now, as we’re stuck in the ultimate buyer’s market, though, a lot of people are struggling to find work.

In this economy, it takes a lot of work to find a job.

Most candidates will have to invest a lot of time and go the extra mile to get the results they want.

The problem is – a lot of people are still searching like it’s 1999. Government data indicate that active job seekers spend just 1.97 hours a day looking for work.

Less than two hours a day.

That’s a bad search strategy business model.

One sure path to becoming a discouraged worker…one of those people who has given up looking for work…is to spend less than 2 hours a day on a job search.

If your job search strategy is in need of an overhaul, the first place to look is how much time each day you’re devoting to actively looking for work. Be honest.

Don’t let fear, or worry, or pessimism – or simply not knowing what to do next – paralyze you. Channel all your energy and focus on the job at hand…which is to find a job.

It’s up to you. And you can do it.

http://blog.theinterviewedge.com/the_interview_edge/2009/09/could-your-job-search-strategy-use-an-overhaul.html

Rebecca Metschke is the author of The Interview Edge, a comprehensive guide for those who are serious about their careers. Visit http://blog.TheInterviewEdge.com for free tips and strategies to gain a professional advantage.

Using Twitter

I've done a couple of presentations now on the use of Twitter as a job-searching tool, and in both cases, when I asked the groups about using Twitter, I got blank stares (ok, a few people blinked).

Twitter is a "micro-blog" tool/site on which you can network (the magic word for job hunters) with people at companies you have an interest in and actually search (like Google) for job openings. People usually tell me they just don't get it and don't see any use for something like Twitter. Of course I agree with them when someone tweets about waiting in a doctor's office or sitting on their couch.

A very mind-stretching article on the use of Twitter (and why it will grow in importance) is at http://zikkir.com/it/12274, "10 Ways Twitter Will Change American Business" by Renato Leon | 22 September 2009. I thought I was informed, and I was surprised by a comment in his blog entry:

"Outdoor ads are used almost everywhere in the world because of their simplicity and the relatively low cost of creating them. Current estimates are that global outdoor-advertising sales will be a $30 billion business this year. One of the great weaknesses of older ad media, like outdoor-billboard marketing and newspaper display, is that results have been nearly impossible to quantify effectively. Twitter will change that."

Think of the applications of "instant blogging:" instant feedback on TV shows, ads, anything!

So, I'm NOT Imagining Things...

Rebecca is spot on, again .... I just thought it was my imagination, seriously.

Job Search Seem Like It’s Getting Tougher? You’re Not Imagining Things

from The Interview Edge by Rebecca Metschke http://blog.theinterviewedge.com/the_interview_edge/2009/09/job-search-seem-like-its-getting-tougher-youre-not-imagining-things.html

It’s challenging trying to land a job right now – and getting more difficult. If you’ve been feeling the pinch and wondering if “it’s just you” rest assured…the phenomenon is real.

Two things are happening concurrently to create a perfect storm of sorts on the employment front.

First, the Labor Department reported last week that the number of available jobs has fallen by a staggering 50 percent-plus over the past two years; in July there were six unemployed people for every job opening. To put that into context, consider that at the beginning of the recession (December 2007) the ratio was 1.72 to 1.

For further comparison, during the height of the last recession’s lengthy jobless recovery the ratio was roughly 3 to 1. Because that was a much narrower downturn, you may not have felt the impact; ask the folks in the telecom industry, though – which was ravaged – and they will tell you the ratio seemed much worse than that.)

Then we have the fact that we’re in the midst of a buyer’s market, which only exacerbates the competition. Many employers with jobs to fill opt to bypass the unemployed and instead choose to set their sights on those who are still working.

This concept isn’t something new. There's almost always a preference on the part of hiring managers for passive candidates – people who are employed and not currently searching. Those folks are considered more desirable.

Various reports, however, indicate that the penchant for hiring companies to target only those who are employed elsewhere is on the rise. The belief is that if a person has made it through this extended downturn unscathed, there’s a good chance he or she could be a top-notch candidate. When you can afford to be choosey, candidates who've been laid off may not even get a first look. (This preference is extending across the board, from line workers to senior managers.)

This means unemployed job seekers are in waters that are only getting choppier.

I point this out not to discourage you – actually, just the opposite. Sometimes when the obstacles appear overwhelming, you can begin to doubt yourself. You might wonder what you’re doing wrong, or figure that surely you are contributing to the situation…when that may not be true at all.

Of course you should step back and objectively review your search strategy periodically to see what you can do differently or how you can be more effective. But the fact that you’re not making headway at the moment may not have anything to do with you. Sometimes circumstances simply are what they are, and the competition is extremely challenging.

Keep at it. Search smart, be creative, roll up your sleeves, understand it’s probably going to some time – but don’t give up.

The Interview Edge - required reading for people who are serious about their careers.

Presenting Again!

Will be presenting at Dallas ASTD's monthly meeting, either this month or next. Job hunting using social media is the topic, as was at ASQ.

If you are job hunting today, there are so many tools available for you to connect to others and research contacts and companies that it makes me wonder how I lived pre-Internet.

Although, as anyone who reads this regularly knows---NOTHING is a substitute for NETWORKING!

Presenting at Fort Worth American Society for Quality!

This Thursday, Sept 4, I will be presenting an overview of job hunting in 2009 called "Dynamic Job-Search Skills" and briefing ASQ members on "Social Networking Skills" for the Fort Worth Chapter of the American Society for Quality (http://www.asqfortworth.org/) . The sad part is that I only have 1.5 hours total to squeeze in 15 years' worth of experiences and knowledge.....but I love sharing with people about ways they can improve their job-search skills.

If you're in the neighborhood, drop in!

Tales of the Interviewer

So I go on an interview with a well-known company for a contract position, and my contact at the contract company tells me that the job is for 6+ months, and that it could be extended beyond 6 months.  Since this isn't my first rodeo, I take statements like that at zero value.  And man, do I hate being right about something not feeling right.

The interviewers were gracious, professional, and the company is clearly a leader in their field, but when I asked about the length of contract and what happens after the 6 months, and the main interviewer discloses that the contract is only for 4-5 months, backfilling her position while she is away on leave, with no apparent possible employment after the contract period.   I kept my composure and continued on, but homicidal thoughts about my contact at the contract company begin to run through my head.  He'd either lied, misrepresented, or was uninformed about the nature of the contract.   If the interviewer told me the conditions of the contract so easily, you have to wonder why the contracting company didn't ask about/clarify this.

Remember, contracting companies' business models are all about getting bodies into companies and making, say, 25% markup on each person they place at a company.  Many are caring people, I'm sure, but given their business model, you have to figure that they get giddy with excitement at the possibility of getting a contract placement.

My caution to readers is this:   make sure you ask plenty of questions when the contracting company calls (this one pulled my resume off of a large job board), especially regarding the length of the contract, the company where you'll be working and their history with contractors, the possibilities of the contract being extended or cancelled, and your being converted to a full-time employee.

I spent 3-4 hours with this exercise, which, even though the job was not what I was hoping for, provided me another "real-life" practice situation with which to get ready for more interviews.... and another "lesson learned."

Retooling Yourself for the Future

by Rebecca Metschke

Rebecca Metschke is the author of The Interview Edge, a comprehensive guide for those who are serious about their careers. Visit http://blog.TheInterviewEdge.com for free tips and strategies to gain a professional advantage.

How marketable are you right now? What will you need to do to make sure you’re still relevant five years from now? 

When the economy is in recession, workers focus on their marketability. They’re either trying to hang on to their jobs or attempting to land new ones. Nobody wants to be deemed redundant, or expendable, or a weak candidate. Those are labels no one can afford to be tagged with. People spend time thinking about how they can shore up weaknesses and increase perceived value.

Unfortunately, though, when the job market finally rights itself, a lot of those same people will just as suddenly put thoughts about how to stay relevant on the back burner. And that will be a mistake.

Even when the economy begins expanding again, we’re still going to be looking at a dynamic job market. Remember back just a few short years ago when the market was red hot? People were still facing layoffs. Companies were still merging – or outsourcing – or streamlining operations – resulting in head count reductions. Of course jobs weren’t being lost at the pace they are now, but the point is…you’d better make sure you’re marketable.  

If you don’t keep up with the pace of change, you will always be vulnerable. (Emphasis mine.)

Your skill set needs to be broad and relevant. You need to be sure you’re making a meaningful contribution to the organization. You need to identify future trends early and understand what you need to do to adapt and thrive. 

This will require initiative on your part. Nobody’s going to do this for you; it’s your responsibility to make sure you’re as marketable as possible.

Do You Take Time to Dream Anymore?

Free association time about what I want to do when I grow up....   Have you ever really asked yourself what you really like to do?   Richard Nelson Bolles (What Color is My Parachute?) leads job seekers through just such an exercise (as have numerous outplacement companies).  It's one way to do a career check and a gut check at the same time.   It also helps us maintain direction in our searches and helps us not to get pulled into the multitude of employment scams that hit the email box and other "get rich quick" jobs you see advertised.  BE AWARE!  Scam artists of every kind are trying to capitalize on the unemployed.  

Just a few of the things that run through my mind as possible career options (and yes, I do have a wide variety of interests/dreams, and no, this is not the ravings of mid-life male!):

....I could be a fisherman in New Orleans where I grew up....I could be a Master Gardener and tour Texas, teaching people to plant vegetable gardens.....I could be a woodworker, making small things to sell at craft fairs and online as well as learning how to make bigger things.....I could live in the Canadian wilderness (or Alaska), living off the land, planting a garden and fruit trees.....I could go back and finish my training in counseling and help people by actually working in the field.....I could become a (full-time, professional) career counselor.....I could run a job hunter group like many of the excellent local ones......I could be a professional fisherman/hunter.......I could study the stars, as I loved to do as a kid.......I could find a job as a performance consultant, helping companies grow profitable and people to do their jobs better......I could work in Quality consulting, teaching others about how right W. Edwards Deming is.......I could go to Europe (Germany or Austria) and be an ambassador of good will.......I could go raise bees on Pitcarin Island (if they'd let me on)......I could work as a Training Manager on a cruise ship (actually seen ads for this)......I could become a travel consultant/guide/reviewer and visit all the places in the world I enjoy and tell others about those places.....I could figure out what kind of writing I like the best and work at it to make a living......I could go back into the ministry as an Education Minister, using what I've learned in private industry to edify the church......I could open a business in Second Life and show the world that people really can make money there.....I could work in a think tank, coming up with future ideas for technology and its use.......I could get serious about my walk with Christ and see more clearly where He leads me in my working life........I could join the war on terrorism (too old and fat for infantry or navy) in cyber security or some other way to defeat the terrorists and rid the world of that mess.........I could actually stay in my field of learning and development, pushing forward in management and training new trainers.........I could go it alone as a training and development consultant.........I could become an outplacement counselor for one of the big firms........I could return to school, get a Master's degree in learning and development and pursue a performance consulting or Organizational Development position.....I could raise Bouviers as a breeder..........I could teach college English and Literature........

Bottom line:   Find out what you love to do/what gets you excited and motivated on a regular basis, seek God's guidance, and find a job doing what you love.   Chances are that you could make a living at something you never thought you could. : )

Just had to share some good job news from a fellow blogger!

Job Opportunities: Where are They?

Rebecca Metschke is the author of The Interview Edge, a comprehensive guide for those who are serious about their careers. Visit http://blog.TheInterviewEdge.com for free tips and strategies to gain a professional advantage.

Even in the midst of severe recession, there are always pockets of growth…some of which are substantial.   

First, a snapshot of two states (and one of these may be a surprise) – North Dakota and Texas:

North Dakota

Unemployment rate is 4.4% - 5 points lower than the national average and tied with Nebraska for the lowest in the nation. (That 4.4% is nearly 10 points lower than Michigan, which has the dubious distinction of leading all states in the numbers of unemployed.) 

Virtually all sectors are growing – from oil, mining and construction to health care and transportation. 

The state’s finances are in excellent shape; it’s one of the few posting a budget surplus. Property and income tax cuts (you read that correctly...tax CUTS) were approved this spring. 

Texas 

Boasts multiple metropolitan areas on the list of the nation’s top 20 for job growth (according to Forbes). 

Home to more Fortune 500 companies than any other state. 

Central Texas in particular is a good place to look. For example: Austin, home of the University of Texas, is adding jobs across multiple sectors, including (but not limited to) two that have stood up well generally throughout the recession: health services and education. Unemployment is creeping up, but education and tech companies are still in good shape. 

Now for the top three cities for job stability and growth (as compiled by Kiplinger):

Huntsville, AL – highlights include aerospace, life sciences, and businesses supporting the large military population at Redstone Arsenal.

Albuquerque, NM – highlights include high-tech, renewable energy, defense, and a burgeoning film industry.

Washington, DC – can you say public sector? Like it or not, Uncle Sam is growing at a seemingly uncontrollable rate – between the jobs themselves and the businesses supporting those government jobs, count on opportunities.