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.

"Survivor" for the Class of 2010

The Wall St. Journal has an superb article on the reality of the job market today specifically directed at the new college graduates...more information below.

I can still remember "way back when" I was newly starting out, believing what I referred to as "the lie" --- "if you go to college, you'll get a good job."  Of course, when you graduate and encounter reality, you're incensed!  It isn't really a "lie" that you can get a good job with a college education, it's just that reality wasn't explained more clearly to you.  As my father explained to me once, education provides you with an OPPORTUNITY for success, not a guarantee.  I can guarantee that if you don't have a college education in 2010, your opportunities will be very limited.

An illustration of the harshness of reality may be helpful here.  I knew a young man who in 1990 who was about to graduate and confidently stated, "I think my degree will be worth about $30,000 a year."  I was listening to him along with another man who had worked hard to build his roofing company, and at this announcement, me and the roofer instinctively turned to look at each other and just started laughing out loud.  The soon-to-be college graduate was somewhat insulted.   I told him that, in effect, the world didn't care about his education and surely wouldn't pay him for having gone to school.   Now, I didn't want to hurt his confidence, but I did want to convey what I had learned (the hard way)---that most young college graduates have what Robert Ringer (Looking Out for Number One) calls "The World Owes Me a Living Disease."  No one owes anyone anything (Someone should let our current government leaders know this.).   The fact that you were disciplined enough to finish a college degree says a lot of positive things about you as a person, and in some fields, there is a body of knowledge with which you have become familiar in getting your degree, but in reality, rather than shake your hand, the world is more likely to kick you in the butt, punting you to the curb.   Now is the time for you to kick your parents in the butt if they ever told you life is fair.  They lied.

Another sad truth is that most young college graduates have no training in job searching in 2010, which is a full-body contact sport with a lot of veteran players on the field.   A relative recently graduated from college, and he seemed somewhat aware of the tough road ahead.  Of course, having spent his last 7 years in college (!), he has no real idea of the tsunami of reality about to hit him. 

Perhaps this Wall St. Journal article can be the kick in the pants for you or a young college grad you know.  It's part of life's body of knowledge that you most likely never learned in college, but is every bit as critical as the subjects you studied to earn your degree.  Your toughness and tenacity is what you will need to survive in the workforce....and I would add your faith, your patience, and your persistence.  "Wax on; wax off."


 ------------------------------EXCERPTS FROM THE ARTICLE:

"Over the next few weeks, hundreds of thousands of Millennials will graduate from institutions of higher learning. They will celebrate for several days, perhaps several weeks. Then they will enter a labor force that neither wants nor needs them. They will enter an economy where roughly 17% of people aged 20 through 24 do not have a job, and where two million college graduates are unemployed. They will enter a world where they will compete tooth and nail for jobs as waitresses, pizza delivery men, file clerks, bouncers, trainee busboys, assistant baristas, interns at bodegas."

"Young people can be forgiven for thinking that the portrayal of the working world in comedies like "The Office" and "Office Space" is completely over the top. Now they're going to find out otherwise. Reality is a mean trick that grown-ups play on the young."

"It's brutal out there, all right. Blogs and instant messaging and social networking systems don't help much because everyone is using the same cutting-edge tools to compete for the same low-tech jobs. The easiest way to get a job is still the oldest way: To know somebody who can get you a job or give you a job."


Read this article in it's entirety!  It'll be worth every minute.   The full article is at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704250104575238692439240552.html.  It's a must read for everyone, not just college students.

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/.

Could There Be Even a Slight Improvement in the Job Market?

I tend to believe that we haven't seen the worst of the economic debacle, but I will say that I am seeing more activity in my ongoing job search, as I have been contacted by 3 companies in the past few weeks.  I will also tell you that all 3 came through networking contacts, including one of a person I have only met once or twice while interviewing at a company she worked for!

Whether or not there is good news regarding the economy, I do not know.   I do know that in once instance, the advent of the new year (read new BUDGET year) has created the opportunity.   For those of you who may be getting discouraged in your job hunt as the holidays draw closer, please do not "quit" for the holidays!   Many companies are finalizing budgets for 2010 and are making plans to bring new people on to start in January.  As some companies have had a decent 3rd quarter, they may be optimistic and making plans to try to expand in January.

Press on even harder in your job search now, making contact with your connections, letting them know that you are still in search mode, providing them with a fresh resume and description of your key "selling points."   This may sound like a dumb suggestion, but rename your resume....from "SStein Sept09.doc" to "SStein Nov2009.doc."   You may have some updates you've made, and second, your document will look current to someone who hasn't heard from you lately.  Either way, it might just keep your contacts from overlooking you.

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.”

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 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. : )

When I was growing up, the only kind of rejection that seemed to really hurt was being turned down rudely for a date by the prettiest girl you'd ever seen.  But, eventually you got over it, because you knew there were "plenty of fish in the sea," and after all, you weren't worried about losing your house, car, 401K, etc. in the process.   When you experience job hunting rejection, the stakes are much higher than a bruised ego, and you sometimes feel as though you'll never land a new job.  The emotions can then take you into a death spiral of ever self-condemning emotions.

_____________________________________

Overcoming Job-Hunting Rejection

With each rejection, we lose a little more dignity. Here's how to turn things around.

This article from BusinessWeek discusses 21 actions you can take to bolster yourself and your job hunt.

http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/may2009/ca20090522_290737.htm?chan=careers_managing+index+page_top+stories

....and then there's this....

The Smart Way to Tap Social Media

Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn activity means nothing if it doesn't move the needle on your strategic business goals

http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/may2009/ca20090526_882141.htm?campaign_id=managing_related

Hey, Send Me Your Resume...

I am still shocked every time I ask someone to send me their resume, and they reply that they need to get it together/update it.   Bottom line of this blog entry---ALWAYS HAVE YOUR RESUME UP TO DATE AND "ON YOU!"   No job is ever totally secure.   I could quit here, but I'm on a roll....

It takes so little time to update your resume regularly.  You probably spend more time completing stupid Facebook surveys than keeping this essential document up to date.   It amazes my that especially in the current economic climate some people are not working on their resume.  

As I ask those who don't want to "work" on updating their resume, "would you at least keep a list of major accomplishments, with details, at home, in the event you find yourself suddenly out of work.  In so many cases today, you may be called to HR, terminated, and told, "don't bother going back to your desk to collect your personal belongings; we'll send them to you.  Security is waiting to escort you out of the building."  Ouch.   Shame on you if you aren't ready with all of your accomplishments listed and ready to put on your resume to begin the sales process that is job hunting!

I have talked to too many people who agree that they should update their resume, that it has been YEARS since they've done so.  In an attempt to teach them the importance of keep their resume up to date, I ask a few simple questions....."so, what kinds of things do you think you'd put on your resume from your current job?"   Usual response:  "Oh, I don't know, I'd really have to think about what I've done here"...as though we can all remember things months or years ago in detail.  I'm glad I have a name tag at work, otherwise I think I'd forget my name.

Once you are unemployed from a job and you are away from it any length of time, you will not remember important details that will be major selling points in your next job hunt.

P.S.  With smart phones, USB drives, etc., why wouldn't you have an electronic copy of your resume on you at all times?  Why wouldn't you have your "job hunting" business card on you with your LinkedIn profile URL listed on it?

This one just speaks to me right now....

Now, I'm not in a panic yet, but I'm starting to feel a little like a teenager without a date to the prom that is next week or the last kid to be picked for a team....I may not agree with every word below, but they are pretty dead on in this article.  I'd one a #12...Take it all to God in serious prayer.

12 ways to stave off job-hunting desperation

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/career/?p=669   April 1st, 2009   Author: Toni Bowers 

It´s not unrealistic to feel panicked and fearful when you´re unemployed in the present market, but panic and fear may be keeping you from landing another job. Here are tips on how to overcome those feelings and put your best foot forward.
------------ --------- --------- ---------
Mark Jaffe is an executive search firm president who was identified in 2008 as one of the "World´s 100 Most Influential Headhunters" by BusinessWeek.

According to Jaffe, "Nothing is more attractive to a potential employer than the heady aroma of desperation. Hardly a day goes by without employers asking me for candidates who are radiating pure terror." Of course, he´s being facetious, but he makes the point that if you want to land that next job, you have to lose the air of desperation.
Here are 12 tips from Jaffe on how to keep your calm in a tough job market:

1. Try to stay calm. Take a deep breath and relax. Hyperventilating is never pretty, particularly during an interview. Prospective employers want Jason Bourne - not Jason Alexander. Show them you´re capable, confident, and cool. No sobbing. 

2. It´s not you, it´s the economy.. Please, please remember that what´s happening is a reflection of the overall economy; it´s not a commentary on your specific qualifications. Sometimes stuff just happens, and we all get stuffed in the process. Don´t take it personally. 

3. Revitalize, don´t reinvent. Why is "reinvent" even a word? Companies need the experience and accomplishments you've earned over time. Leave the instant makeovers for people who have something to hide. Leverage what you already have instead of focusing on what you fear you may lack. 

4. Your money´s no good here. When times get tough, the tough get pitched a bunch of crap. If someone offers to craft you a "killer resume," put you in touch with the "hidden job market," or coach you to become a newer, more marketable you, keep your wallet in its holster. Whether they´re asking for $3,000 or $300, it´s overpriced. Don´t take candy from strangers, either. 

5. Seduction trumps selling. Your next boss wants to be enamored, not assaulted. In business as in love, infatuation rarely results from a hard sell or a soft shoe routine. By all means, explain but resist the urge to exclaim. Let people reach their own conclusions about just how "world class" an employee you are. 

6. Be realistic. Naked ambition is a great thing, especially on reality TV, but baby steps may be more effective in this business climate. Besides, starting at the top is overrated. Set your goals at achievable levels. 

7. Give yourself some time. Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Listening too closely to your inner "job clock" can get you wound way too tightly. Yes, time is of the essence - there´s not a moment to waste - but most people underestimate how long it will take to find the right gig. Pace yourself and spare the whip. 

8. Work your network, but gently. Chances are you already know the person who will put you on the path to your next salary. Your network is a precious resource and should be treated as such. Now is the time to use it...but gently. Ask for a reference, not a job. When you don´t put your friends on the spot, they´re more inclined to think about ways to help you. 

9. Choose wisely. If Smokey Robinson was recording "Shop Around" today, he´d probably say: "Try to get yourself a bargain, son. Don´t be sold on the very first one. Pretty jobs come a dime a dozen. Try to find one that´s gonna give you true lovin´." Or something like that. Smokey knows about love and work. Whenever possible, be reluctant to jump into a temporary fix. As things improve, you´ll be defined - at least in part - by the compromises you made. 

10. This too shall pass. Despite what you see on the cable networks, we are not living in the End of Days. Yes, it´s miserable out there - worse than most of us have ever seen - but at some point it will just be a bad memory. Sooner than you or anyone at CNBC thinks. 

11. Don´t put your faith in recruiters. Seriously. We are not the answer to your prayers. Most of us never even answer our phones. 

12. Take another deep breath. Admit it, you´re all tensed up again. Deep breath, cleansing breath. And...exhale. Once more, and exhale. 

Toni Bowers is the Head Blogs Editor of TechRepublic (www.techrepublic.com). She has been in the publishing industry for 20 years, with concentration in IT-related topics. She has edited newsletters, books, and web sites pertaining to software, IT career, and IT management issues.

New Directions

I began a contract for a large company today that seems to be a very good fit for me (and I seem to be a good fit for the company's skill needs).  I am very optimistic and look forward to a good run at the company.    I'm new to contracting, so I am still holding my breath, as I figure that contracting is one way companies might "try before they buy," and given the state of the economy as reported by the news media, my contract might be shorter than we originally agreed on.    

I have had 3-4 year engagements in full-time employment with several companies over the past 10-15 years, and in each case, it almost seemed like my length of employment was project driven, as I was usually released after completing a major project(s).  I have heard of people working a contract position for as long as 3-4 years.

Since there is no employment that can be guaranteed---not from unions, a job in government,working for big corporations, etc.---why do we think of contracting as "temporary employment?"  All employment is, in effect, temporary.  Not many people are planning to retire from a single company and receive the gold watch (may the reader please forgive me if they are indeed planning this---you are in a dwindling minority).

Perhaps in days gone by, companies would develop young, raw talent into the employees they needed.  My experience has been to the contrary.  Talent is acquired/bought on the open market for specific functions and to secure workers with very specific experience.   Not that this offends me; labor/talent is a product in every way, and companies should be free to secure the most cost-effective solution for the business needs.

It is a major paradigm shift for most people to think of their talent and experiences as "products" that can be bought and sold.  If you consider than no employment is permanent (usually stated somewhere on the paperwork HR has you sign when hired), then the shift to a string of jobs/positions for hire won't upset you so much and will free you to take on short contract work (3, 6, 9 12 months or longer).  After all, you're signing on to give them your talent for a specific rate of pay, and you probably don't give them any guarantee that you'll be waiting for that gold watch at retirement.  Your "gold watch" may come in the form of a very portable 401k, which, managed correctly, is a much sweeter deal that even the best gold Rolex.

Don't Believe the Hype!

Is our economy challenged?  Yes.   Are we entering a second Great Depression?  Hardly.   If you listen to the local news media though, you'd think all hope is lost.

I just heard one of our local stations advertise tonight's installment of a series of stories they are running called "Survive in '09" (I have to wonder why they aren't encouraging to job seekers by calling their series "Thrive in '09").   Tonight's attention grabber was, "Let us show you who is actually hiring in North Texas."  The newswoman emphasized the "actually" as though there are few or no jobs to be had in a metropolitan area of 4 million people.

I have a friend from my previous job who was laid off a couple of weeks before I was, who recently told me that she was looking for work, but that there "just aren't any jobs out there."   Horse feathers.  I can't say for sure, but I think she may be listening to the local news hype. 

Several truths nullify the news stations' spin:  1) There are a lot of jobs being advertised (given that only 20-30% of jobs are actually ever advertised, there are many more than we even see), 2) our area is a major metropolitan area with several Fortune 500 companies headquartered here.  Are they challenged?  Sure.  Are they all shutting down?  Hardly.   But the #3 truth about job hunting is the most damaging to the news stations' dire soundings:  YOU ONLY NEED ONE JOB!   

My encouragement goes out to those who are out of work and haven't had much success in landing a new job.  I like to say that patience and persistence is what will pay off (along with a deep-seated faith in God in Christ).   A solid job-hunting strategy and marketing plan must be executed along with being patient and persistent.   My friend who said that there were no jobs also said that she was not spending at least 8 hours a day looking for a job.   This revelation makes me think that there are still plenty of people out there who aren't well-versed in modern job-hunting techniques.   (See Feb 23, 2009 post for more discussion on this.)

If all you do is hit the Internet looking for job openings, you may feel that there aren't many jobs (even though there really are quite a few).   If you deny that you are a product to be marketed, you will spend a long time unemployed.   If you continue to believe the hype of the news media, you will be allowing someone else to dictate the direction of your life and career.