Job Search Advice, Resume Writing Tips from a Career Consultant

How to Accept Rejection with Grace and Dignity (That You Don't Have)

2009-06-29T07:50:00.003-05:00

(Note from Janice - Featuring the job seeker perspective enables us to realize that in the struggle, we are not alone.)

If you're anything like me at this point, you've sent in your resume to seemingly hundreds of thousands of employers across the world. You've submitted them electronically, in mail, in person, and even called a couple of toll-free numbers to try and get your message across. You've done everything that is reasonably expected of one man to do. Finally, one of those resumes works for you - and you get a call for an interview. Now imagine you do everything right: your best suit is dry cleaned and ready to go, you are 10 minutes early with resumes in hand, and you are confident in what you can offer to the company. You answer their questions professionally, establishing yourself as a leader in your field. That job is practically yours, and in your head you've already engraved your nameplate on the desk.

One week passes by, and you hear nothing from them. 10 days pass, and there's no word from your new employer. Only after two weeks pass do you get notice: "Thank you for your interest, but we have decided to go with a different candidate" (or something along those lines). After all that hard work and preparation, you've been reduced to another name in the circular file.

Believe it or not (as I have survived many of these before), there are healthy ways to deal with continual rejection. First off, breathe: you're not the only candidate that was turned down for this position - and you certainly won't be the last. For every one hire that company makes, several people will be thoroughly disappointed when they find out that, they too, are still without a job. The difference with you is that the company acknowledged your talents and skills, but you didn't fit what they needed. It's not that you're under- or over-qualified, or are not hirable in your industry - you just work differently than what they need. In the immortal words of George Castanza: "Its not you...it's (them)."

If this was your dream job, don't be afraid to pick up the phone and ask for feedback. If this is somewhere you really wanted to work, and make a living and career at, there is no shame in calling back and asking why it didn't work out. By finding out how your performance was (and how it can be improved for the next time), you will be better position yourself for the next dream job that comes your way...or even another opening at that company.

Finally, don't give up. It is going to hurt now - but if it didn't hurt, then it would mean nothing to you, and would have been a flippant job you wouldn't have wanted in the best of circumstances. Remember that you are completely qualified and competent in your field - and job seekers have encountered the perfect storm: a bad economy, combined with an abundance of job seekers in our respective fields. Remember: hard rain doesn't last, and the only way you will keep competitive is if you keep trying over and over again. Believe in yourself, and you will be surprised what you will be able to achieve.

Do you Twitter? Follow Joe @joecortez and Janice @execjobcoach

What Kinds of People Hiring Managers Like!

2009-06-22T07:46:00.002-05:00

Hiring managers are in quite a mood and I like it! Right now they are very predictable which makes my Job Search/Interview Coach role fun! If we put ourselves in their shoes, it's a no-brainer. Here goes!

- Hiring Managers like people about whom they won't have to worry. On an interview you can actually tell an employer that whatever else is happening in a department, you can always be counted upon. If morale is low you can uplift others! Give examples in your past employment.

- Hiring Managers like people who know something about and take interest in their industries. You won't get very far on the interview if you don't know what the company does anyway, but knowing about the business and the industry as a whole is a big advantage. Schmooze it!

- Hiring Managers like people who are seasoned, learned and experienced! Because of the economy they don't want to gamble on inexperience and they won't cut you a paycheck for it. Those of us who have been around a couple of decades have been led to believe that we are operating at a disadvantage. Not so! Show your stuff! Be proud of your station in life!

- Hiring Managers like leadership, even if you're not the boss! They trust sensible folks who rise to the occasion should the need occur. There are three kinds of people...those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who ask, "what happened?" You choose!

- Hiring Managers really like pleasant people. It's amazing how much an employer is willing to bend when he believes an individual will be good for morale. I've heard comments such as "we really didn't want to pay this much but we need this candidate," and "we really wanted someone who could, but we can teach him! Our clients will love him!"

- Hiring Managers like support. The feeling that someone will watch our backs is priceless. Enough said. But as job seekers you must transmit this quality. If you are supportive give examples the hiring manager will get the idea!

Notice what all these things have in common? They focus more on the humanity of employment and less on robotic qualifications! Sure we have to qualify for the job but if you received an invitation to interview someone saw something they liked on that resume! Now make sure you let them see not only what you've got but what you're like! Humans hire humans!

Webinar - The New Age of Interviewing

2009-06-16T08:37:00.002-05:00

The savvy job seeker knows that a successful interview requires more than just providing answers to questions. In today's competitive job market interviewees must clearly communicate the value they can bring to an organization's bottom line. You must develop and deliver your message! Learn the secrets to a successful interview.

Title: The New Age of Interviewing
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/845023776

10 Things You Never Want to Say on Interviews! (follow me @execjobcoach on Twitter!)

2009-06-08T07:30:00.006-05:00

- "I'm a 'Jack of all trades, master of none.'" They wanted an Operations Manager.

- "Whatever is available," didn't really qualify for you for anything!

- "You get what you pay for" told to a retail recruiter for a district manager position when asked a candidate's salary requirement.

- "I can learn anything." Companies aren't paying for what you can learn just for what you know!

- "Your job!" will not impress anyone when they ask where you want to be in 5 years.

- "I'm a workaholic" is an archaic, trite answer to the greatest weakness question. Employers will roll their eyes.

- "I don't take well to being micro-managed," while understandable, may telegraph that you resent authority when you are asked about what you prefer in a boss.

- "I'm seeking opportunity for advancement," is an empty response when asked why you want to want to work for a company. Employers don't pay to fulfill your goals!

- "Better opportunity, more money, less travel" are all red flags if asked why you left your last jobs because the employers will believe you'll abandon them for the highest dollar.

- "Nothing special about my performance; I just did my job." Remember employers can find many qualified folks but he who excels is he who outperforms. This is no time for modesty.

Why Job Searching Drives You Crazy! (Follow me at ExecJobCoach on Twitter)

2009-06-01T07:53:00.005-05:00

Now Laid-Off? You Feel Rejected - And I don't blame you but I wouldn't take it personally. The millions of folks laid off weren't all under-performers. That is undeniable. You didn't leave empty-handed. No one can ever take the skills and experience you gained. Human nature is negative and we all need to work very hard not to allow outside circumstances define us.

The Waiting is a Killer - One of the toughest parts of job search is the endless waiting. We wait for response after sending out resumes then we wait for face-to-face interviews after performing on the phone. Once we land an interview and do our very best, we wait for those second and third interviews and finally we wait foe the decision. We feel helpless and think we should be doing something to move the process along. Well be careful! This is when we push too hard and can be perceived as a stalker. Never wait for anything. Keep hunting!

You didn't get the Job - Why? You're not qualified. You're overqualified. You're qualified but someone else was more qualified or a better fit. You wore too much cologne / perfume. You wore too much makeup. You were overdressed. You were underdressed. The job was filled internally. The job was put on hold. You look older than you are. You look younger than you are. You're not attractive enough. You acted too desperate. You acted uninterested. You didn't sell yourself. You oversold yourself.

The point of this list is not to overwhelm you with all of the things you might have done / will do "wrong." It is to demonstrate that interviewing is extremely subjective, and if you apply to jobs that you meet the qualifications for, are prepared for the interview, and use common sense, there is no reason to beat yourself up if you did not get the job.

The lesson here? Crank up the job search when faced with self-doubt, impatience and disappointment. Remember that you're not a machine but move on. The better you're able to handle the speed bumps the farther you'll get in the journey and the sooner someone will ask,
"When Can You Start?"

Contemporary Image-Builders Lead to Lucrative Job Offers

2009-05-27T07:30:00.003-05:00

What's all this talk about branding? If you're a job seeker this term can make the difference between who garners offers. Where did this business jargon originate and how do you keep informed? What ever happened to just getting educated, gaining experience and qualifying for a job and just plain getting hired?

Has hiring really become more complicated than before or have we just configured fancy terminology to define standard rules of engagement? Let there be no doubt about the increased competition to stay afloat in business, government and not-for profit these days, consequently Boards and senior-decision makers are far more selective. No one can afford to gamble with their executive decisions.

Nevertheless I maintain that while adorned with fancy verbiage, the demands of executive image have always required clarity in definition to predict future performance. And with three decades as a job search coach I stand witness to the difficulty executives, managers and professionals experience defining who they are, discerning what they've done and discussing what they have to offer. And so we apply new words to old concepts.

When I was in high school we had a delivery driver who wore a crazy red hat. Rain, snow, and on the hottest of days he was known as the guy in the red hat. Years later, there were many who never learned his name but all know which person we meant when we described him.

Your Brand - How do you want to be categorized and identified by employers? What do you want to be known as? Are you the acquisition king, the deal-maker, the turnaround solution? Despite stellar careers, few executives can define who they are when required to package their careers.

All who work are defined by the functions they perform, i.e., financial, operational, administrative, technology and the environments in which they are performed, i.e., manufacturing, financial service, retail, distribution and education. If you have graduated to leadership and you now run the company the definition still applies, but now under the identity of senior management. However when asking an executive who he is, he is more than likely to tell you what he's like. An exercise that will help initiate self-branding is to imagine a prospective Board willing to listen to only one illustration of your success. Your only chance to impress will be to tell a story of your biggest achievement. Your best approach will be to define what you are and then, by example, how well you've done. Companies who need heroes can relate to that! Perhaps you catch the ball before it drops! Without question, that's a brand. Adopt it and tell the world!

Laid Off? Consider the Following! (Follow us on Twitter as Exec JobCoach and JobSeach Coach)

2009-05-18T07:43:00.002-05:00

1. Consider a Bridge Job. Not immediately finding the career-directed opportunity for which you've been searching? There's nothing wrong with contract or temp-to-hire status in your field. Many turn into great permanent career moves. Don't worry if it's a lower position. Everybody understands the times and a bridge job beats losing the house.

2. Consider a 1099 status. Many of us are so used to being W2 employees that any other arrangement makes us uncomfortable. You can even leverage this late in the interview process. Does your spouse have great benefits? Then you're a great candidate for a 1099 relationship. You'll save the employer money.

3. Consider commuting to another geographical area but do it early in the job search! Don't do this out of desperation. Pursue all of your options simultaneously. We have many professionals who live in Chicago and come home on weekends. We have one who commutes to Florida; she leaves on Monday and comes home Thursday night. Not ideal but not necessarily forever!

4. Start your own business? We have a client who has started a grout cleaning business. Now he won't even go on interviews because he has no time! He also has no time to work on my house! The key here is that he's offering a service so his start-up required little capital investment. And he knows how to promote!

5. Consider approaching companies uninvited! We are doing some real experimentation with companies claiming hiring freezes, and low and behold they are getting excited about bringing two of our candidates on board in July when new fiscal year begins. The key here is to establish communication with folks who work there! Also please have some verifiable experience that immediately established value.

6. Consider and understand why this might not be the time to seek your fantasy career change. Companies are in survival mode and won't take risks! Get back to work and don't give up on your dreams. Economic downturns lead to economic recovery. This too shall pass!

The Job Seeker's Triathlon & Twitter Treat: The Day That Each One Reached One

2009-05-05T13:11:00.004-05:00

It was a risk worth taking! Candidates had always found difficulty "getting in the door." Recently job fairs had become ghosts of what they once had been and Human Resource Managers, Recruiters and Hiring Managers seemed elusive. It was as if part of job search had morphed into job chase and sometimes even job stalk just to get someone to speak with you.

Then last Saturday everything changed. With very little notice, 10 people who hire named Tina, Mindy, Chris, Jeff, Matt, George, Jennifer, Diane, and two Stephanies stepped out on a weekend to help a group of job seekers improve their skills. I was the job search expert and Jeremy was the social networking expert teaching in separate classrooms, while those who traditionally write "Dear John" letters with regret from Mondays through Fridays, mentored and encouraged job seekers last Saturday. Matt, one of our employers, invited Rebecca, a job seeker, to his firm for an interview this week!

As if this weren't magical enough, earlier in the month through our adventures on Twitter, we met a colleague and made a friend. Stephanie Lloyd from The Calibre Search Group, Atlanta, Georgia agreed to join our triathalon. With cell phone in hand, one-by-one each job seeker practiced phone interviewing with Stephanie and came away enlightened.

At a time when our job seekers feel forced into a herd mentality, we can't thank our experts enough for their support, especially Stephanie Lloyd. Here's her take on helping job seekers hold better phone interviews.

Will there be more Triathlon Saturdays? You bet! We're committed to Each One Reach One! I'll keep you in the loop!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-TVg40ExM

Do You Suffer from Job Search Paranoia?

2009-04-27T07:58:00.002-05:00

If you thought you were a "sure thing" and nothing happened, do not fall victim to Job Search Paranoia (JSP) because the following scenarios might explain what really happened:

The hiring authority may have assumed a different position or left the company completely and thus created a communication gap in the hiring process. I have always compared this phenomenon to a breakdown of a company's "hiring nervous system" because the left hand can no longer transmit a message to the right hand. What is unfortunate is that any sensitivity to the fact that you made such a great impression and toward a job offer has gone numb.

The company implemented a corporate-wide or position-specific hiring freeze. When companies such as Disney announce a hiring freeze headlines are made. But when smaller corporations or privately-held companies suddenly "freeze," their own employees may never be told, much less the candidate whose interview truly impressed toward an aborted job offer, a mere 24 hours before the announcement.

The CEO's nephew finally decided he wanted the job. This really does happen. While some companies have policies against hiring family members and relatives, just as many have open-door policies and are very likely to be faced with the potential inheritance of these folks due to their new availability from layoffs. There is nothing a good candidate can do to outperform that nephew.

The current employee decided not to leave. This is another interesting phenomenon that happens without our knowledge, and while this revelation places that particular employee's future on the list of what bosses call "diminishing returns," the brakes have been applied to all candidates previously under consideration.

Provided you are not a JSP casualty, like so many whose despair has totally paralyzed their job searches, you eventually will secure a job offer...maybe just not within your preferred time parameters. There is a whole litany of unrelated reasons that can slow down a hire. Perhaps the timeframe to hire actually complied with that particular company's norm all along...just not yours. When our priority is not the hiring authority's we lose patience, assume blame for the rejection and our immunity becomes compromised.

Things I Couldn't Tell You for 14 Years

2009-04-20T07:35:00.003-05:00

ExecJobCoach on Twitter! (Come follow me!)

For 14 years I was an executive recruiter and I was good! Well maybe not good for you but my mind's eye could select a preferred candidate from a mile away. But alas, there were all the other hopefuls interviewing their little hearts out attempting to impress me. Corporate executives, Directors, Managers and those in the trenches all attempted to become the chosen and alas, though they performed their jobs with genius, most performed miserably when attempting to secure an offer.

As an individual representing corporations I was bound to protect them from liability so my true thoughts and what I communicated to you could have been two different things. Today I am a job search coach and prepared to tell you what I couldn't for so long. So here's why I didn't hire you!

- You were so busy trying to impress me that you neglected to refer to the company or the job! It was all about you!

- You were arrogant and tried to make me believe that you made no mistakes. No super humans work here!

- You lacked focus. You rambled when you responded to my inquiries and lost me somewhere between R&D and your college days.

- You acted defensive when I questioned you. Hey I didn't downsize you; of course I won't hire you either. You're too angry.

- You were too quiet and withdrawn. I shouldn't have to work so hard to get to know you. My customers wouldn't.

- You looked awful! Too much jewelry, tight-fitting clothes, worn-out shoes, bad perfume and un-kept hair. You don't need to be beautiful for me to hire you...just job search beautiful.

- You were fun! Told me jokes, shared pictures of your kids and went on about March Madness. Want a friend? Get a dog!

- You asked what I would pay you but gave me no reason to hire you. So I didn't.

What's the lesson here? If you wish me to pay you give me a reason. There are many job seekers who "get it" and now you do too!

Contemporary Image-Building Leads to Job Offers

2009-04-13T07:45:00.002-05:00

What's all this talk about branding, value propositions, unique selling propositions, gap analysis and signature statements? If you're a job seeker are these the magic words that make the difference between who garners offers? Where did this business jargon originate and how do you keep informed? What ever happened to just getting educated, gaining experience and qualifying for a job and just plain getting hired?

Has hiring really become more complicated than before or have we just configured fancy terminology to define standard rules of engagement? Let there be no doubt about the increased competition to stay afloat in business, government and not-for profit these days, consequently Boards and senior-decision makers are far more selective. No one can afford to gamble with their executive decisions.

Nevertheless I maintain that while adorned with fancy verbiage, the demands of executive image have always required clarity in definition to predict future performance. And with three decades as a job search coach I stand witness to the difficulty executives, managers and professionals experience defining who they are, discerning what they've done and discussing what they have to offer.

How do you want to be categorized and identified by employers? What do you want to be known as? Are you the acquisition king, the deal-maker, the turnaround solution? Despite stellar careers, few executives can define who they are when required to package their careers. All who work are defined by the functions they perform, i.e. financial, operational, administrative, technology and the environments in which they are performed, i.e. manufacturing, financial service, retail, distribution and education. If you have graduated to leadership and you now run the company the definition still applies, but now under the identity of senior management.

However when asking an executive who he is, he is more than likely to tell you what he's like. An exercise that will help initiate self-branding is to imagine a perspective Board willing to listen to only one illustration of your success. Your only chance to impress will be to tell a story of your biggest achievement. Your best approach will be to define what you are and then, by example, how well you've done!

Sentences That Speak to Me

2009-03-30T07:39:00.007-05:00

Note from Janice - No matter how "together" the next guy appears, when no one is looking he too falls apart! Thus, these words help me when I need help starting my motor!

You will never leave where you are until you decide where you want to be.
Stress is always caused by doing things you know you shouldn't do and not doing the things you know you should do!
You will never do anything well until you do it many times poorly.
The real measure of your character is what you would do if you knew you would never get caught.
You will always find the time to do the things you really want to do.
The reason people fail is not because of what they don't know, it is because they refuse to put into practice that which they do know.
Winners finish what they start!
Nothing matters until you make it matter!

Lakeland's Job Shop

2009-03-25T07:01:00.005-05:00

Last Monday I had the pleasure of speaking to the Job Shop participants at Lakeland Community College. I met some of the finest talent I'd seen in one auditorium. Engineers, Controllers, Manufacturing Managers, Marketing Managers, Account Executives, Advertising Managers, IT professionals and Technical Writers. Great signature statements!

But what made the day special was the presence of the Baby Boomer faction and I liked that! Sure lots are looking for work but those of us educated in the 1960s and 1970s know what we need to do. 90% of success is just showing up and we did!

On my way to Cleveland from Columbus I stopped at Cracker Barrel and purchased an authentic box of Cracker Jacks. We don't see them much anymore. They have gone the way of telephone booths and typewriters. But the Cracker Jacks served to remind me that we who remember them must remember to move beyond what we knew and reach for what we need to learn that will get us all hired! For instance:

1. Learn to Twitter! I didn't know what it was last year but I'm finding job openings for my clients in my network. There is no intimidating technology required; just go and explore. http://www.twitter.com/ I'm ExecJobCoach on Twitter. Follow me! It's free!

2. Use LinkedIn! If you want to go to work for Cleveland Clinic or Nationwide Insurance find out who works there and ask for help! Connect with colleagues, ask for endorsements and be willing to endorse others! Let people see you! It's free!

3. Pursue companies that have jobs compatible with your skills. Don't just wait for job openings! Go to them and let them know you're ready to do the job! I have two clients seriously interviewing with a company that has official openings for neither!

4. Dress up! If you look like you're ready to clean the garage I'll question your judgment. You never know who your going to see and there's nothing worse that a sloppily dressed Baby Boomer!

5. Don't be cynical, arrogant or bitter. Oh sure have at it for the first couple days after you get downsized but then leave the negativity for good! Companies need heroes and encouragers.

Try to remember the last time you survived challenging times. We survived wars, protests and assassinations in the 1960's and if we persevere and be there for employers to see us, there will be job offers. Remember people who don't get hired either don't know how or aren't willing to do what it takes! Thanks again, Lakeland Job Shop... see ya next year!

Meet Your Coach & Network!

2009-03-20T07:12:00.002-05:00

Monday, March 23, at 9:00 AM
Lakeland Community College's Job Shop
7700 Clocktower Drive - Kirtland, Ohio 44094-5198

My topic will focus on the Job Search Triathlon...
Preparing a Killer Resume
Networking into an Interview
Being Chosen! Getting The Offer

Lakeland Community College is located at I-90 and Rt. 306 in Kirtland (main entrance is just south of I-90, to the left). The presentation will take place in Room T-129. As you come up the main drive from Rt. 306, take a right at the stop sign. Continue counter-clockwise around the campus, making a right turn at Building E (before the second story pedestrian connecter bridge). Keep going counter-clockwise until you come to a small traffic circle. T-Building entrance will be to the left.

From a Strong Job Seeker!

2009-03-16T07:47:00.002-05:00

Last week I was downsized, again. This is not the first time I've been displaced; several years ago my previous company was acquired. After three weeks in an outplacement workshop I was on my own. I never believed this would happen the first time; now here I am again, a veteran job seeker.

To those who seek to offer comfort, please don't. I won't go gently into the realm of "everything happens for a reason" or "when a door closes a window opens." I'm mad as hell and now possess a power I never thought possible. To those I will soon be meeting in the interview marathon please know the following:

I give myself permission to be angry and sad for two weeks - Well maybe a month, but I'm not going to put on my game face just yet. Anger turned inward is depression and I can avoid emotional immobility by allowing a designated period of time to grieve. Those I can trust need to be willing to listen endlessly to my ritualistic ranting until I tire of such activity. Only then can I move on in a position of strength.

I refuse to be devalued because I'm not working - I am still worthy of the package I was paid when I was laid off. However I understand the crisis at-hand in some industries, and while I know I might have to be financially flexible, I will not allow you to negotiate my compensation toward a lower package because I presently have no paycheck.

I refuse to get lost in your database or human resources chasm - I will be compliant in submitting my resume to your web site but I will not allow you to reduce me to a file amidst thousands of others. I will learn enough about your company to be able to make contact with associates who work there; I will seek folks who might be willing to network me in or even hire me directly!

I refuse to allow you to invalidate me with rejection - I understand the competitive nature of the job market. If you choose another I will not be diverted from completing my mission. Who I am is based on how I am and what I've accomplished, not merely by your random selection. I will allow myself to be disappointed but not stalled. I know that no champion wins all matches. In job search it only takes one victory!

I'm not old or over-qualified - This rationale is merely a quick fix to avoid admitting to myself that I may have under-performed in an interview. The sooner I get real about my mistakes in this journey the sooner I will succeed. I can't blame decision makers for the message I failed to deliver. My performance under interview interrogation could well predict my performance on the job. If I weren't a potential fit you wouldn't have extended an invitation. It's easy to write-off mistakes with excuses, and it's wrong.

Your Layoff Is Unique - Just Like the Rest of Ours

2009-03-09T07:27:00.003-05:00

Joe Cortez is my guest blogger this week. A veteran of television news, Joe is also a victim of this economy's circumstance. He can be reached at josephlcortez49@yahoo.com.

It is happening left and right these days - after years upon years of service to a company or career, the great boss in the top-level corner office whom you've never even heard of has summoned you. Fearing the worst, the sum of your sleepless nights and stowing away money comes true. You are being laid off not because of poor performance, but because the company can't afford you anymore. It isn't personal - its just business.

As this is my third time being unemployed in the last 12 months alone, I feel qualified to give some advice on how to deal with things. While it is a blow to one's ego (three times to mine), there are healthy ways to approach this.

When was the last time you took a little time off? I'm not talking about going on vacation, or taking a trip away - I'm talking about taking a little time for you? Doing what you want to do? Now that you're unemployed, you have that luxury - and if you have a severance, you have that advantage a little easier. Take a week or so, and do what you want to do. Work on that lawn chair that has been squeaking, or take a drive in the country. It's your day off... all week!
Once your week-off ends, its time to get back to the job of job hunting. When was the last time you looked at your resume? If you're like me, it has been neglected while you've been employed. No time better than the present to look at it, and have it polished until it shines for your new employer!
Pound the pavement. I'm sending out at least ten resumes a day. Why? Because the wider I cast my net, the more fish I'm bound to get. As a former journalist, I've got many skills that I can apply to data entry, writing, office work, anything along those lines. But I'll never know how to get them if I don't at least apply. That way, I can say that I'm doing everything I can until that perfect career comes through.
Relax - I'm not the only one in this situation right now, and neither are you. This is a tough market all over right now, and sometimes doing everything you can is good enough. Remember -you are a smart, capable, and hard working person just caught in a bad situation. Don't get down on yourself because you've sent out 25 resumes and aren't hired yet. Keep trying until the right job hits. I've been forcing myself to eat at regular intervals, and have been playing The Sims 2 when things get too stressful. Find something that gets your head refreshed when things get too heavy, but remember to come back to your task before you get too carried away.

This is not the end of the world. Keep your head up, and keep moving forward - that next opportunity could be as close as turning the next bend! And remember: no matter who you are and what you were relieved from, you are never alone. Your individual situation and layoff is unique - just like the rest of ours.

Don't Wear a Tee Shirt to a Job Fair!

2009-03-02T08:22:00.003-05:00

Been to a job fair lately? You know those places where company representatives put up display booths to meet 'n greet prospective employees. Last week 4,755 job seekers attended a job fair at the Columbus Zoo. Times are competitive all right so job seekers need to make sure they are strong hunters and good competitors. Silly as it may seem here are solid rules for impressing at job fairs:

Don't Wear a Tee Shirt - Remember before employers hear you they see you, and if you dress in flip-flops and shorts what sort of judgment does it indicate you have? Be sure your clothes fit!Sometimes we don't want to admit to a size increase but as you walk up to me you don't want to look constricted. Wear comfortable shoes.

Don't Eat the Candy - Actually I wouldn't remove anything from the employer tables. No pens, no pads of paper and no squishy balls. You are there to communicate with people not objects! Eating can really be tempting. I love those caramel wraps but they ruin your image... not to mention your figure!

Bring Resumes and Business Cards - Bring a pad of paper and a decent writing instrument. Your pen won't really be scrutinized unless you're unaware and bring the ball point that the baby chews at home. Bad things are memorable. Be organized and be ready to store the materials you receive while passing out your information.

Don't Wear the Dolce Gabbana Perfume - Should you dab a bit too much and should the employer be allergic you might do yourself more harm than good. In fact don't wear anything that can be misconstrued as sexy. What worked at the club won't do the job anywhere else.

Have Your Signature Statement in Tact - You finally made it to the front of the line and you're shaking hands with the first contact to your next job. This is the time to discuss what you have done and what you have to offer a company. Learn the concept of 15 second communication; that may be all the time you have.

Buying Into the Message of No Jobs!

2009-02-20T14:32:00.002-05:00

I hate the media right now and I'm very conflicted because I AM THE MEDIA! In the 1980's when we were in another recession I tried to call the NBC Nightly News after the perfectly coiffed news anchor featured a story about an executive riding on a New York subway train for eight hours each day, reading the classified ads. Every day that poor man aimlessly rode on that subway while here I was, in Ohio, putting folks to work. Pepsi was producing soft drinks; Wonder was baking bread and I was putting folks to work! Business was still functioning even in a tougher world unless you watched that broadcast. That news anchor didn't take my call.

If you're vulnerable, turn off the news! It is imperative that we take responsibility for our own destinies and not allow the external messages of challenging times distract us from our goal. Employers are hiring! Yes there are jobs and the better you hunt the sooner the catch. YOU ONLY NEED TO FIND ONE JOB! So tomorrow evening throw a Twinkie at Brian Williams, smile at that unemployed negative neighbor who seeks an ally with whom to be miserable, grab your mitt and get back in the game! Good Luck!

Damage Control

2009-02-13T09:33:00.004-05:00

Let me make it perfectly clear (remember that line?) that in interviewing, damage control is not meant to be disingenuous. One of the most valuable offerings we job search coaches provide is teaching preventive damage control or response strategies to avoid bad impressions in wide variety of issues. Lying or misrepresenting is never an option.

Also be mindful of the fact that because of garden-variety negativity or what I call employment paranoia sometimes we perceive the need to go into damage control mode when there is none. That said, here are some common damage control scenarios:

Reference Issues - For reasons ranging from September 11 through all of the issues "good guys" have had with drugs and cooking the books, employer reference checks are more valued than ever. But ironically because of potential liability problems, most companies have been instructed to do nothing more in a phone reference check than verify the employment. If your employment has been eliminated for any reason, ask for a flattering letter of reference from someone in the company or even one of your customers who liked your work. Employers are not worried about the legal fallout from discussing the positive but keep in mind that this letter does not have to be from your direct superior. Have a sense of urgency (not desperation) in your request. People have short attention spans and if you wait too long, the glow of your performance cools and the chances of your receiving a really important letter decreases. If you present a strong letter of reference in advance of being confronted with what might be an indelicate issue you will have set the tone for acceptance and approval. When buffered by the positive the bad doesn't always seem so bad.

Short on Qualifications - Recently a strong sales candidate's cover letter applying for a commercial product sales job began "although I come from an agricultural product environment..." basically offering up the best reason why not to make the cut. With one strategic turn of the paragraph statistically proving that this guy could sell anything, he was granted an interview and sold himself into a job offer in the midst of folks who had more product experience! Unless painfully obvious, you should never be the one to determine that you don't qualify and you certainly should never telegraph that fact. I have yet to see the appropriate place for apology in interviewing. Most of my clients walk in to my office apologizing for something they are lacking and we immediately begin to eliminate this self-defeating behavior.

Out of Work / Spotty Job History? Before the energy crisis and aerospace implosion of the 1970's, the acquisitions and mergers of the 1980's and 1990's, and the bursting of the technology bubble around Y2K, folks only became and remained unemployed because they had somehow become unemployable. They had under performed, angered the boss or been caught performing some sort of unforgivable act. Today the stigma has been diluted by universal conditions and the very numbers of people who have been struggling to get back to work. Obviously with some executives having been out of work for over a year for no other reason than an extremely tight job market, employers know to look beyond the obvious. It's not uncommon to have seen candidates with three different employers in three years! Being prepared to explain what happened in each instance is critical. While unacceptable in resumes, I have been known to lightly bring up several short term jobs in the cover letter but only as an experience demonstrating the opportunity to gain versatility and never apologetically.

A Pink Slip Party?

2009-02-06T14:13:00.002-05:00

Why not? That's exactly what our ancestors did during the Great Depression! At first glance we wonder what we who are laid off have to party about. Well in the 1930's neighbors had rent parties. Some brought food because others were hungry; all brought small amounts of money because the host needed assistance with the rent and thus the name.

Recently I heard of a church that, when calling for those unemployed folks to come to the front to receive prayer, others began to spontaneously walk to a table and submit a check or small amounts of cash. When the music stopped $50,000 had been donated.

I also witnessed a family forced to sell its furniture and clothes on EBay to feed their children. A woman in Texas purchased all apparel and household goods for $20,000. They got paid but once delivered, she sent everything all back to them as her gift. She begged them to allow her blessing and they did.

So what is a Pink Slip Party? Well central Ohio will host one and Worthington Career Services will be there to help candidates improve their resumes and interviewing. Our gift to the community. But the main event will be the job seekers, recruiters and employers who will be there to make a difference. There is an admission fee. See ya there!

When:March 4, 2009

Where: Confluence Park (formerly The River Club),

679 W. Spring St.,

Columbus, OH 43203

For details go to:

https://lahrgriffethevents.ticketleap.com/

How to Deal with Challenging Times

2009-01-30T08:46:00.002-05:00

- Accept the fact that these are unusual times and be prepared to do unusual things. Be willing to relocate, work odd hours and maybe take a second job. Don't be too proud! Be a survivor till the sun comes back out.

- Understand that this is not the time to change careers without years of advanced training and preparation. Today's competition will trump your inexperience. If you can, stay in your field...for now!

- Don't take anything personally. It hurts to get down-sized and terminated. No response from a weak resume hurts as does no offer from that interview you thought you nailed. These are performance factors upon which you can improve. You mojo's not gone; you just need to learn how to deliver.

- Have get-togethers with family, friends and other job seekers. The presence of people will make you feel better and may bring opportunity as your network increases. The most enjoyable entertainment involves people not stuff.

- Talk to someone who's been through the Great Depression (if you can find someone) and they'll tell you that this too shall pass. It always does. Perhaps it's time we realize that the things that bring the greatest joy in life are not for sale.

- Take a bridge job. That's a job that will bring in money while you wait until you can again, be a careerist. You won't be judged badly for feeding your family. Only a Martian won't understand why you took your fashion background and took a job at Home Depot.

- Don't skimp on your job search. It's self-defeating and there's too much competition to take chances. Hire a job search coach, have your resume professionally written and don't cut corners on your interview clothes. Getting eliminated from going back to work because the next guy's resume had more punch is tragic and unnecessary. If you get hired one week early you'll make your investment back!

Are You A Deer in the Headlights These Days?

2009-01-23T08:07:00.011-05:00

In my career coaching practice I never find myself preaching to the choir. These days there are no choir members in my office, only plenty of deer blinded by headlights, and oddly the longer my two-legged deer remain paralyzed by the unexpected, the more their vision declines. Except for an occasional morsel of counseling, the choir doesn't require my assistance at this time. The choir visits me every couple of years, and its members were last seen by me in the late the 1990's. Because they had the foresight and insight to continuously reevaluate their career paths, faithfully witness and study changing employment climates and stay abreast of hiring trends, they now know what to do. The following is a mere small sampling dedicated to those deer wishing to be in the choir:

Any entrepreneur or commissioned-only professional understands survival mode. It not only requires unexpected lifestyle decisions and changes upon demand but only succeeds in the presence of optimism. "We all lost money in the markets, but I didn't want to retire anyway." "Did I really need a larger house?" "Let's drive instead of flying the family this summer; we need to see more of our country." "Or better yet, let's enjoy our city." Get it?

Last year I watched "Saving Private Ryan" and last weekend I finally saw "Windtalkers," a proud account of how our Navajo brothers saved the day during World War II. Later that evening I channel surfed into "The Patriot," Mel Gibson's reality reminder of the ultimate sacrifices required during the American Revolution.

We are not the first generation to experience challenging times. And like those before us we will adjust and survive. Our past and current American military stays prepared, sleeping with one eye open to what may happen. Soldiers sometimes sing when they practice marching into battle. Perhaps the American worker should adopt this spirited example and forge ahead!

Career Coach Takes A New Job!

2009-01-14T08:12:00.006-05:00

No that's not me! That's Adam Worthington, of the 137th Aviation Regiment, Ohio National Guard. He left for his Iraq mission in 11 days ago to return in January 2010. He has a wife, two teen-agers, two brothers, a sister, a mom (me) and dad. We all have new jobs.

My guess is that if you're reading this blog you also have a new job! If you're the one on a mission for a new place to land let your job search be conducted with optimism and courage. Know that you have access to career experts for leadership, encouragement and a never-ending stream of advice. Much like our troops you will perform better if you establish a network of like-minded job hunters. Going it alone depletes your spirit.

At his Call to Deployment ceremony our soldiers were reminded of how proud we were of their strength. Dignitaries and military commanders each stepped up to speak. We too, were reminded of our call to duty as families.

On Saturday, January 3rd we families were called to be supportive and to realize that without our soldiers for a year, each day would be less than perfect. Mollie will get her driver's license, Morgan will turn twenty, and I will text my soldier every night, not for his response, but to remind him each day that I'm onboard for the long haul.

So whether a spouse, neighbor or child of a job hunter you also have a call to duty. We will all have challenging journeys in 2009 but we also have the responsibility to fulfill our obligations as encouragers till we can truly say, "mission accomplished!"

Operation Landing- 2009

2009-01-08T07:53:00.008-05:00

Advice on Getting Hired from Employers

Stephanie Watson, Director of Human Resources, Heartland Bank--- "Never make assumptions. When you show less respect to someone you assume is a secretary, receptionist, or assistant you take two risks. One, the person you are talking to may be an officer in the organization who will be upset by your disrespect. Two, the person may have more influence in the decisions his boss makes than you have given him credit for."

"Be precise when you answer questions. Interviewers get distracted just like everyone else. When you give unnecessary details or take too long to get to the point of your answer, you may lose the interviewers attention and therefore his or her ability to appreciate what you have said."

Artie Isaac...Former President, Young Isaac, Inc.--- "Be yourself. Don't pretend to be someone else. We've hired people who were not genuine when they interviewed. In the end, usually after just a couple weeks, they were revealed. Suddenly, everyone recognized that our decision to hire (and their decision to accept) was a bad idea. Be yourself and (as my eighth grade grammar teacher often said), 'beat the rush, embarrass yourself early.' That way, you're more likely to get a job that matches your true self."

Liz Lane...Managing Editor, WCMH NBC-4 News--- "In TV newsrooms you must be aggressive. Show us you know who you are!"

"Believe it or not, READ THE MORNING NEWSPAPER!!!! (You have no idea how many don't!!!) Even if you have to read it online, get a sense of what is going on in the world today. Know your community. You are living in it...working in it....playing in it, so I shouldn't have to tell you who the Mayor of Columbus is!!!!"

How Baby Boomers Get Hired - 4 Tips

2008-12-31T08:04:00.002-05:00

- Have a state of the art resume reflecting your experience. Don't include information earlier than the very late 1980's unless it's phenomenal and then use a hybrid presentation as opposed to straight chronology. Have a sharp design and layout and you'll look contemporary.

- Get help with your interview clothes! Long before the handshake or the impressive tales of success, a pair of eyes will set upon you. What will they see? You don't need to be young or buff but you do have to be well put together. A sign of "old" is old-style clothes or those that no longer fit. Love at first sight applies to employers!

- Learn the tools! Learn to text, understand Facebook and read up on the I-Phone. And whatever you do be up on the appropriate computer technology to get the job and do the job. Probably the only real advantage Gen X and Gen Y have is the technology around which they grew up! Don't ever fear technology.

- Don't "do" old! Don't lack energy, don't discuss your cholesterol and don't resent Gen X and Gen Y believing they feel entitled to everything while you were forced to come up through the ranks. Enjoy the challenges of job search rather than complaining about the difficulties. Be the hero by demonstrating that you've overcome hardships before and they don't faze you.

- Be a leader! When we raised kids we were expected to lead and have answers. Today more than ever companies are looking to your leadership. Offer it!