Hot Careers

For many years I’ve said that job search is like getting married, but I’ve never written about it.  Let’s say Joe found a girlfriend and his wife threw him out.  Compare that to Joe’s company discovering his inaccurate expense reports, coupled with fraternizing with the new programmer down the hall.  He cleaned out his desk and crawled into a cave.  Not the same?  Or is it?  Joe will ride a roller coaster, regardless of which happens.  The emotional impact and stages to the next step on his life ladder are similar.

Stage 1-Networking/Finding Leads

Today every dog in town is preaching “networking, networking, networking.”  But many misunderstand what is meant by networking, which is NOT just attending a meeting and collecting business cards.  If you look for a spouse via business cards or online, you may be single a long time.  The job seeker who thinks networking means showing up for the meeting and leaving immediately when it ends, will search much longer than others.  You must get to know people for the end results you want!  Leads often come from unexpected sources.  Neither beg for dates nor a job.  You earn respect and become acquainted before achieving success.

Stage 2-Dating/Research

When we are searching for the right partner, whether in business or marriage, we determine common interests and try out the friendship or possible temporary “opportunity.”  We see how the individual acts on a date.  Does the individual arrive on time?  Is he or she polite and caring?  Does the person work diligently to please?

In job search the process is not much different.  The employer checks people who might know you, in addition to references.  The hiring manager may invite you to interview multiple times, trying to decide if you have the right skills and experience for his or her business family.  You must discover whether you want to spend as much or more time with this corporate culture than your own family.  Will you fit the conservative or fun atmosphere?  Do you like the people you meet?  What about the guy who made rude remarks to you and grilled you until you wanted to cry.  Yes, you may need a job.  But pay attention.  This is a life decision!

Stage 3-Engagement/Interview

Engagements can be very short term.  The woman who meets a gorgeous man in the bar and marries him the following week rarely stays with the situation very long.  The hour long interview may be too short but, in our society, the process can be exceedingly brief.  Discernment is incredibly important when the engagement or interview is brief.

On the other hand, the company who interviews you, requiring five interviews and four months to make a decision may not be the fast paced atmosphere you want for thriving and surviving.  You don’t want to accept too many short term jobs, unless per chance, you are a professional contractor who never wants a full time, ongoing job.

Stage 4-Marriage/The Job

So you give each other rings and take a honeymoon.  You love him and he loves you.  It’s a marriage made in heaven.  Then the little bumpkins come along with essential adjustments, BIG adjustments, like sleepless nights, piano lessons and dental appointments.

Likewise in your new job, you soon realize who really wields the power and how you accomplish goals with simplicity, rather than angst.  You learn to cope.  As they say, “The honeymoon is over.”  No more romance but some drudgery and wonderful challenges in the new endeavor.

Stage 5-Divorce/Job Loss

Finding the actual divorce rate in the US is difficult, but articles claim that fewer people are getting married and fewer are getting divorced.   (Sounds like more contract jobs in the offing!) Trends over the years concur with what is currently happening, additionally predicting that although fewer are marrying, their marriages will last longer.

You may find yourself facing divorce from your mate when happiness in the relationship is completely gone.  You may find yourself on the job market when there is a reorganization.  The pain is often inevitable but it can be a healthy change.  Divorce and layoffs are rarely easy.

People seem to be afraid to commit to one another.  They look for perfection and find faults when they date and marry.  This happens all the time in job search.  The hiring manager needs to fire the last “yoyo” his boss encouraged him to bring on board.  He doesn’t want to make the same mistake again as training the new person incurs time and money.  So he puts off the decision to  fire the boss’ friend.   Progress is non-existent.  When the hiring manager refuses to take action, it affects the bottom line.  Finally, he must face the reality that this relationship must end and terminates the individual, the same as Joe had to find another place to live.  Waiting for the shoe to drop in marriage and an unstable job is painful for all concerned.  Knowing you are not appreciated at work can affect your relationships at home.

Whining and stewing about your marriage or job situation isn’t healthy.  Either improve the situation or move on.

Stage 6-Conclusion

Yes, finding a new job is like getting married.  There is no perfect mate and there is no perfect job.  You must separate the emotions and facts to determine whether you have a match made in heaven or one which can be hell.

Below are some URLs you might want to read about this same topic.

http://familylaw.typepad.com/stats/divorce_rates_us/

http://www.examiner.com/networking-in-national/plan-your-job-search-like-a-wedding

http://www.professionalpenwriters.com/2011/03/16/job-marriage/

http://www.city-data.com/forum/relationships/923147-why-dating-like-job-hunting.html

Ruth Glover is a technical recruiter who volunteers regularly to assist people in job transition.  She wrote the book MORE than a Paycheck: Inspiration and Tools for Career Change to provide role models for people who want to move their careers forward.  You may want to register to be notified when she posts.

Can your email address provide the wrong attention?  Do you realize your email address is part of your personal brand?  Your email needs to be on the right track to achieve the success you want.  A good email address can give you more power in managing your career.

Did you know recruiters and other professionals often do background checks and your email might tell when you were born?  I saw an email last week which had name56@hotmail.com for the sender.  When I checked, she was born in 1956 and is 56.  That’s not something you want to advertise on a resume!

Two addresses that can make you appear older than you want are AOL and MSN.  So you haven’t changed your email address since the 1990’s?  Are you cool or old fashioned?  Even if you have a common name, you can determine an address people can remember.  If you live in Texas you might be TXJohnName@gmail.com or maybe reverse your name and add a couple of numbers, like lastname.firstname 22@yahoo.com, but  NOT your birth year.

A complex email address is hard to recall.  I have a few contacts that I must research every time, as I cannot recall an address like fmz245tfwmm@yahoo.com.  Similarly, if your name is a difficult, why not make it easy on people, rather than use a difficult spelling. A friend of mine uses contact2firstname@gmail.com, rather than his first and last name.

Having your own URL works well.  Tim@name.com is easy to recall.  You want to be memorable, not bizarre, in job search.  Having a website with your name can be very useful, especially if you are a writer, trainer, contractor or technical guru.  Freelance work is very common these days.  Having your own website is an additional asset, especially to find contract work and show your talent in a different way.

You might enjoy reading What Does Your Email Say about You, as it mentions several mistakes I doubt you would make, but others are guilty.  Recently an error I thought particularly humorous was dr_name@yahoo.com when he did not have a PhD or medical degree.  But email addresses are not meant to amuse others in job search or at work.

In the past you may not have thought much about what your email conjures in another person’s mind.  You may not think your email address is terribly important but each factor creates a product which is YOU.  Take the time to assure that your email is professional and on the right track to success.

Ruth Glover owns CAREER CONSULTATIONS, a technical recruiting agency in the Dallas area, which places semiconductor and telecom engineers nationwide.  You can reach her at rglover@hotcareers.com or careers@hotcareers.com.  She may also be reached through www.ruthglover.com and www.morethanapaycheck.net.

By the way, please don’t try the email addresses in this article.  They might be real, although the author created them for your understanding!

As we watched Peyton Manning announce to the world that he lost his job, he may be the ultimate role model for job seekers.  What’s his game plan and yours?

You want a new job.  Your resume looks great.  You attended an excellent presentation concerning what recruiters want and expect.  Your resume demonstrates your experience and accomplishments with key words to attract attention.  Now what?

Between the resume and the interview, the “to do” list can be daunting, but with good organizational skills and time management, you will start interviewing more quickly by executing your personal game plan.

Game Plan or Target Marketing

Where does Peyton want to work?  Where do you want to work?  Just as Peyton is doing, create your list of friends, starting with your references.  Your references should be your “Board of Directors.”  They must know your work history and be willing to talk with potential employers at the right time.

You cannot control the job search completely but you can diligently approach “teams” where you want to play. After you establish the “Board of Directors,” you need to list 25 to 50 or more people whom you will contact for possible openings.  Peyton probably contacted his target list, long before the announcement. Don’t ask friends for a job but see if they will suggest companies which might be hiring someone with your skills.  Peyton wanted to stay with the Colts, the same as you may have planned to stay until retirement.

Peyton has an agent to help him.  Your “Board of Directors,” family, recruiters and former colleagues are your “agents.”  They may not help you with salary negotiations but they can make a huge difference by assisting you with “hitting” the right people

Your target list should contain competitors and vendors, small to medium or large companies, which fit your parameters.  If you live in a big city, this list will be easier to compile.  In a remote area, you may need to consider moving.  If your skills are very specialized, you may need to move to another part of the country or…you may have to change careers!  Some of us think maybe Peyton is ready for a career change.  Is he taking too much risk to continue in football?

Are you thinking about alternatives?  Maybe a friend suggests an opening which looks like it would be fascinating but you lack all the skills.  Perhaps a former colleague could “champion” your background if you apply.  You don’t have to be Peyton to try something a little different, especially if it’s simply moving your skills to use in a new way.

Networking Resources

Using LinkedIn can be a waste of time or very successful adventure.  Use it correctly to find your former colleagues and maybe a former college room-mate.

Networking comes through a zillion sources.  You may meet someone on the soccer field where you son’s team is getting killed.  Talk with people.  Join professional groups.  Attend conferences.  Get involved in the community.  Volunteer work can lead to jobs.  My bet is Peyton made great contacts through his doctors while off the field.

Exercise and Positive Attitude

You don’t need to be a football star to exercise.  Undoubtedly Peyton’s rehab was far more painful than you could ever imagine, so you can do it!  You may even meet someone with a job opening at the gym.   Exercise helps you maintain a positive attitude which is as important as the resume, the interview and the “game plan.”

Review each step in this process to locate the gaps.  If the plan isn’t working, change it! Assess the plan.  Revise and implement again!  You don’t have to be Peyton Manning to find a new job.  But you do need to follow a plan to get to the finish line!

Ruth Glover owns Career Consultations, a technical recruiting.  She is currently looking for Power Management and Analog Engineers.  If you are thinking about changing careers, her book MORE than a Paycheck: Inspiration and Tools for Career Change may be purchased by clicking on the book title.

According to a recent online article The Best Cities for Jobs 2011 by Joel Kotkin and Michael Shires:

“…no place displayed more vibrancy than Texas. The Lone Star State dominated the three size categories, with the No. 1 mid-sized city, El Paso (No. 3 overall, up 22 places from last year) and No.1 large metropolitan area Austin (No. 6 overall), joining Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood (the No. 1 small city) atop their respective lists.

Texas also produced three other of the top 10 smallest regions, including energy-dominated No. 4 Midland, which gained 41 places overall, and No. 10 Odessa, whose economy jumped a remarkable 57 places. It also added two other mid-size cities to its belt: No. 2 Corpus Christi and No. 4 McAllen-Edinburgh-Mission.”

More new jobs exist in Dallas than many other places, but the long term unemployed need their voices heard. Fortunately job seekers in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area can avail themselves of membership in a number of faith based groups which are free and non-denominational. The groups provide career resources at the various churches through excellent speakers, panels, networking, leads and emotional support. Jeff Morris, leader of the group at Christ United Methodist Church in Plano developed an amazing website for the entire area, listing the calendar of events, addresses of the groups, the leadership and other resources.

Watermark Church, a non-denominational Christ centered church in Dallas, is an example of one of the groups with large membership and many different activities to assist job seekers. Dewitte Ray is a facilitator with a cadre of 30 other volunteers. The Tuesday morning main meeting often attracts 70+ in attendance..

When I visited their group last week, I asked the participants if they would share how they would fix the economy, which, if Congress doesn’t stop squabbling soon, will ruin our economy, not just in Texas, but world wide. I promised not to share the names of those who responded to my question. Here are pertinent responses:

From Will Balanz

“I think that credit cards are the root to “most evils”. Therefore, I feel that credit cards should be restricted in that there should be a monthly spending limit imposed for each individual and that nobody should be allowed to carry a balance over from one month to the next – you have to pay your balance in full before you can use it the following month.

This would force people to spend only what they have instead of going beyond their means. I feel this was the beginning of the bank bailouts that occurred in recent years, too. I know many people think they can handle their own money, but statistics prove them wrong. This would also lead to many financial challenges and changes for individuals as well as the credit card companies. In the long run, though, it would provide for a stable economy where people can trust one another.”

From Ima Inarush

“I am in real estate and don’t know why banks are holding back on lending money right now. Something is keeping them overly conservative and ‘scared’ to lend out.

Donna Givhup

“I would encourage employers to keep their employees as long as possible. They could institute 15% pay cuts across the board, rather than lay off a percentage of their talent base.

In both the public and private sectors, there is a lot of waste, fraud and abuse. If there was a greater crackdown on wasteful spending, companies and governmental agencies would have larger amounts of funds to put to good use.

Consumers should continue to spend in accordance with their means, but not hold on to their money too tightly. It takes some spending in the economy to keep everything going.

The tax rates should be adjusted so that small businesses, in particular, are comfortable with hiring additional staff.”

Ann Gree

I am a baby boomer. My group has had it particularly tough time finding work in this recession. Usually we get labeled over qualified. However, just a few short years ago employers were focusing on “top grading” or hiring only the best. Today most employers aren’t hiring the most qualified. Apparently hiring people who are safe and “fit” a certain mold by looking like the hiring manager are preferred over experience and credentials.

Of course, in theory companies should feel pressure from the EEOC not to discriminate based on age or anything else. However, it seems company culture and the need to fit that culture takes priority. Companies claim to want diversity but that doesn’t include seasoned professionals. Minority groups are fine as long as they are under forty.

Why can’t the EEOC enforce TRUE diversity which would include hiring a quota of older workers? And pressure companies to hire those individuals who have been out of work for the longest amount of time first?  This would be good for the economy including the housing market. After all, do companies hire people based on what they bring to the table or how they fit in?”

Bill Fold

“As one of the leaders for this group, I see the membership as more sophisticated in approach in looking for work than they were several years ago. But we need to find a way to fix the economy as it won’t improve unless employers start hiring the unemployed.”

Why can’t Congress compromise? The polls show the people and the President all agree that they want compromise but the our elected officials seem to have forgotten that they were elected by the people, FOR the people. And the people will certainly suffer more than ever, not just in the United States, but globally. Please urge your elected officials in Washington to show that they are  working for all of us, not just for their political parties. Let’s get people back to work, not create havoc!

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In Dallas with over 100 faith based groups for the unemployed, people often attend meeting after meeting, searching for the “right” way to find new jobs.  They listen as if what they are hearing  Jesus’ sermon on the mount and struggle when one speaker says, “Your resume must be only one page.”  Then in the next meeting, the speaker says, “SEO is the way to grab attention.”  Or maybe, “Your resume should never be over two pages.”  Quoting Ken Sharp, a Career Counselor at UT-D, “Your resume should certainly be limited to 1000 critical words, no more!”

This is not an article about resumes, but for job seekers.  This is a plea for common sense.  There is no one right way from my vantage.  As a semiconductor recruiter, I see people find jobs with horrible resumes, if they have the right skills or right connections and enthusiasm in selling themselves once they connect with the correct person.

But how do you find that connection?  When I first started recruiting, I had a wonderful mentor.  I wanted to find the “right way” to place people.  His answer still resonates with me, “All of the above, Ruth.  All of the above!” Just as you find new friends, they come various ways.  People are finding mates online.  People do find jobs online, but the majority of us find new friends through neighborhood functions, school events, volunteer activities, professional associations, relatives and work.  Think about it.  That’s how most jobs (and friends) are found…by connecting with the right people. And by asking many questions.

Yesterday a neighbor rang my doorbell rang.  We are having a garage sale in our neighborhood Saturday and she is loaning me a rack for hanging “shabby chic” clothing for sale.  We visited briefly.  I learned she’s been a stay-at-home mom for nine years and wants to return to the job market.  I never knew about her MBA and Six Sigma background.  And we’ve been neighbors for six or seven years.  We discussed some excellent resources to encourage and motivate her.  And she suggested I should sell MORE than a Paycheck, the book I published, at the garage sale.  Definitely the quick interchange was win-win for both of us.

The point is you will be surprised when and where the leads appear.  You can’t neglect the internet as it is your research tool which includes sites like the Monster, Careerbuilder, and niche sites for your target, such as financialjobs.com..  Linkedin.com is undoubtedly your best source for finding contacts within companies.

But where is the “hidden job market?”  It may simply be a job advertised on a company website you never knew exists.  Perhaps someone in your professional association knows a new position will be opening next week but the company could save the expense of advertising if you fit the job.  Someone you worked with at another company saw you at the super market may share an opening at his company.

Sometimes people seem totally overwhelmed with the amount of advice about job search.  Sift the information.  Develop a target date and plan, as you are the project manager.  Then act on the plan.  You are the manager of your job search, whether you want to be or not.  If the plan isn’t working, revise it.  Believe in yourself and visualize the setting.  Think creatively and look at alternatives.

Take action.  Be confident. Keep an open mind.  Connect with all kinds of people and use the internet resources for research.  You will be pleasantly surprised, rather than confused.