Blog entries November 2008
11/17/2008What Do They Mean Overqualified?
Are you frustrated at being called overqualified? If you're a mature worker this can be especially tough. Being labeled overqualified could mean that you are a threat, or that the employer believes you will leave at a moment's notice when you find a better job. It's your responsibility to calm the employer's nerves.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics claims that 55-64 year-old workers have a median of 9.3 years while 25 to 34 year-olds have a median tenure of only 2.9 years. Also, according to the National Association of Working Women, women over 45 are 88% less likely to leave voluntarily than younger counterparts. Use these statistics and the points below to let the employer know you will be stable.
Be prepared to show your commitment to your career in alignment with the opportunity at hand.
Know why you want this particular job and practice your business case for matching the job with your talents.
Don't ever become argumentative; it adds stress levels in both parties that, in turn, add to rejection. It's also an argument you can't win.
Resources:
Brad Taft
Janice Worthington
11/11/2008Speaking of Change! If You Change Nothing... Nothing Changes.
I want to make some changes in 2009. It's hard to change! We are creatures of habit because of the comfort we derive from repeating the same behavior and rituals. I eat the same thing for breakfast every day and tend to sit in the same section, row and even seat in the movie theater if available. A friend once made me sit on the other side of the theater, and I could barely concentrate on the movie. Everything seemed out of sync. I tend to stay in the same hotels on vacation and choose to park in the same section at the mall.
By now you are probably taking an inventory and realizing in what areas you, too, tend to be a creature of habit. What's the harm you may ask, and in the examples above there may well be none. But if we tend to find comfort in habitual behavior with life's trivialities, do we do the same thing when it comes to important decisions? You bet! I see it everyday and the results are often disastrous causing missed opportunities. Keep in mind that missed opportunities (my pet peeve) account for the greatest number tragedies that limit job search success and perhaps in life as a whole. Here's an example:
Are you a person who makes snap judgments? Did you neighbor's aunt discourage you from applying for a job at "XYZ Company" because she had a niece whose babysitter didn't like her boss and therefore decided that "XYZ Company" treated its employees badly? Do you often make decisions based on the opinions of others? Tough habit to change but I'd begin with this one because of its potential to sabotage your bright future.
Any position for which you qualify you should pursue as long as it's legal and moral. Heard questionable things about the company? Don't pre-judge anything. Go on the interview and see for yourself! Be willing to talk to anyone; just become highly selective when accepting a job offer.
Janice Worthington
11/03/2008Simple Resume Secrets That Will Open Doors
As a career manager I write compelling resumes for my clients. I distribute those resumes, and then I teach my clients how to outperform in interviews. The whole point in securing a job offer is to out compete everybody else because merely qualifying for the job guarantees nothing.
So knowing the job search "game" provides the only method of winning the job offer and that game is what I call the Job Search Triathlon because of the various events one must win to get the Gold. The first event is the resume. Here are some tips:
Qualified - Logical - Different - Better - Unique - This is a good rule to remember. Many clients’ first respond, "I've never seen resumes that look like these," when they first see what we do. That's the point. If they all looked alike (like so many do) why be motivated to select anyone other than by random? I'd want to be selected for reasons better than by random. Try these tips:
Hit Hard With A Headline Objective - Tell me what you are and what you offer me. Goals like "opportunity for advancement" give me no reason to purchase you at that sweet salary you are asking. Executive-Level Marketing Manager walks all over A career-directed position providing expertise in Marketing Management leading toward upward progression everytime.
Try a Tag Line - A tag line belongs under your headline objective and displays the fruits of all those years of hard work. "Expertise Developing Sound Strategies for Software-based Receivables Management." Now that's revealing and the employer has only just started reading!
Keyword Tables Draw the Eye - A hard skill describes what you do with no spin or subjectivity. Terms like "Operations Management," "Transportation & Logistics," and "Financial Management" positioned in a vertical table really draws the eye in a short period of time.
Borders & Shading Look Distinctive - Just as you wouldn't wear striped slacks with a checkerboard pattern shirt, you need to be careful that you don't go over-board with your graphics. Experiment and see what is compatible with your format and what your industry allows.
Have a Strong Presentation Logic - Be sure to define what the company does before you chime in with the specific do's of your job. Define the scope and responsibility of your job description so the reader understands more than "solve customer problems." Telling me in advance that you manage a $15 million profit center means far more and then I can better appreciate your customer service challenges. And remember to include performance-based achievements. A resume without achievements is like a report card without grades.
Janice Worthington