The ABC's of Career Management - Part Three

Here's Part Three:

• O Have you mastered on-line tools? Hot Jobs, Career Builder, Dice, Monster and local job boards are excellent tools to see who is hiring. Just posting your résumé may not deliver the result of landing your dream position. Building a circle of influence, which takes networking at the next level, may be just the boost your career needs. Keeping in touch with your contacts and managing your contact base may poise a challenge. If you have not gotten into social networking via the web, might I suggest that you spend a few minutes or hours learning about Facebook, LinkedIn and others? But a word of caution might be in order. Companies may get a window into your ethics, work style, character and personality traits by reviewing the pages of your contacts.

• P Would you agree that having a good plan is much like having a pattern for success? Agreeing with the importance of planning and taking the time to put together a plan are two entirely different matters. Do you have a career plan? If not, why not? Have you taken the time to write down seven things you want to accomplish in your career this Year? Quarter? Month? Week? Day? Why not try it and see if you can measure your success? One other note, there is a difference in a realistic plan and a fantasy plan. Dreams are important, but your strengths need to align with your goals. Through education and training new strong points emerge and dreams are realized.

• Q If you find yourself in an organization that is downsizing, you may need to develop a quick start plan to assess your strengths and quickly market your skills. What would you want to include in your quick start plan? Would you start by developing a list of contacts, polishing your resume, researching job boards, reading local newspapers or even perusing company websites - all to get an understanding of the type of positions available at this point in time.

• R Will your résumé make the cut in today’s tight job market? If you have researched résumés, are you confused? Do you need a chronological format or a functional style? How many pages should your résumé be? Does paper color or texture matter? Who will read a paper résumé? Aren’t all resumes on-line today? Is the conflicting information baffling? Résumés are customized work histories and overviews that address your ability to contribute to corporate goals. The skill sets required are fluid depending on swings in the economy as well as industry demands. A well-written résumé reflects not only what you have done, but what you CAN do. Recent studies indicate that a well-designed resume combined with job coaching can decrease the time between jobs by as much 30%.

• S As you review your life, what would you say is more important Success or Significance? Will you agree that to complete tasks and projects successfully allows you to build a solid foundation for future success? As you look through the rearview mirror of life, making a difference while finding significance in your life’s work can motivate you to accept new challenges and stretch your capacity for contribution to group goals.

• T Tempo, like pace, is an interesting word, isn’t it? What is the tempo of your work ? Does it match that of the team? Does it match the expectations of your team leader, customers or management team? Have you considered the importance of finding a career position that benefits from your work tempo? If you are methodical and pay attention to details, does your team value your contribution? If you set a fast pace, do others on the team struggle to keep up with your pace? Is the tempo of your work style fast like a Rock Band or slow like easy listening? Finding the job with the right tempo can go along way toward job satisfaction.

• U Do you have a sense of urgency when you approach tasks? As you review tasks, do you understand deadlines and have a record for meeting target completion dates? There is nothing more frustrating than being put in the position of having to become a firefighter when a little planning and efficient execution would minimize disruptions and facilitate the smooth completion of a task. Whether it is completing projects at work, evaluating your career options or managing a job search, you need to approach the project with a sense of urgency.

Next time, we'll wrap this up with the last few letters of the alphabet and some thoughts on how to make sure you are properly managing your career in 2009!

(c)2008 Resume Source, all rights reserved.
www.resume-source.com

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The Job Search Super Bowl

Featured Guest Blogger: Kristine Sexter, WorkWise Productions

The front door slams open and a thick shoulder enters your living room sideways, followed by a broad body that makes your big screen TV look like a pocket watch. A weather-beaten face, baseball cap perched on top, seems to hover unsupported over a vast red sweatshirt bearing the word COACH in white block letters. You would be afraid, but the man now towering over your couch bears a strong (and vitamin-fed) resemblance to your elementary school gym teacher, right down to the twinkle in his eyes.

"Sooo...," Coach booms, dropping a sympathetic paw on your shoulder, "they're saying your careers been side-lined, are they? That you've been benched by the economy, laid-off, downsized?"

You nod, hoping Coach will lift his hand before your lungs are compressed into pancakes.

Coach takes a step back, then hunkers down to put you eye to eye.

"Its an old story, rookie. But what I want to know is, what are you going to do about it?"

"Um, well, I...Ive updated my resume. And there are all those job search engines and the newspaper ads. But there are so many people applying for the same jobs..." you stumble to a halt as Coach jumps to his feet.

"Search engines? Newspapers? Come on, now, rookie, wheres your competitive spirit? Don't you want to be a winner?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, yes! I need a job."

"And aren't you the kind of person who rises to the challenge?" he reminds you, using one thumb to point to the plaques on the wall behind his shoulder. "Employee of the Year last year, remember? And Highest Producer the year before that, right? Or is that just locker room talk?"

"No! I earned those awards!"

"Darn right you did!" Coach bellows. "Earned em with hard work, sweat, and a winning attitude. Felt good, too, didn't it? Not just winning those awards, but doing your best, every single day, no matter what they threw at you! What a rush! Am I right?"

"Yes, sir!" you find yourself yelling back.

Coach looks you straight in the eye and challenges, "Then isn't it time you started feeling that way about your job search, kid? Stop thinking bush league, and start thinking majors! Ive got a playbook here that is guaranteed to put big points on the job-search score board! Just bring on some of that hard work and you can be a contender! What do you say, kid? Are you with me? "

Suddenly, you find yourself on your feet, your fists pumping, feeling the first glimmer of hope since you lost your job. "Yes! Yes! Bring it on, Coach!"

"The game of life is a lot like football. You have to tackle your problems, block your fears, and score your points when you get the opportunity." The unknown author of this statement may never know the profound impact these words have had upon the thousands of persons with whom I have shared it. If you or someone you know is looking for work, then "suit" up and hit the field and Ill coach you through one of the most important games of your life: The Job Search Super Bowl!

THE PLAYBOOK : according to the Department of Labor, 48% of all people report finding their jobs through referrals and networking ("It takes the whole team to win a Super Bowl!," says Coach). 24% found their job via direct contact with companies (Coach calls this breaking through the defense), 23% through employment agencies, staffing companies, college career services offices and executive search firms ("Where did you learn to play football anyway?") Only 5% of people find their position through the help wanted ads, the Internet job boards and other printed advertising ("That's called the Hail Mary play!).

THE RULES:

Rule 1: Attitude : Its the only thing you have 100% control of, 100% of the time. All the coaches cant be wrong!

Rule 2: You must hit the playing field everyday: Looking for a job IS your job. Do it 7 days a week.

Rule 3: Wear the right uniform and protective gear: Dress to win, know that falling on your face is still falling forward. If you get tackled/knocked down- Get UP!

Rule 4: Ethics: Play fair. Play clean. Its a small world...

Rule 5: Its a team effort Help each other to win. Share your knowledge

Rule 6: The Super Bowl takes a series of wins: One step at a time. Win one game, then the division, then the league. A good job today may be a great job tomorrow.

SCORING:

• Interview for an open position that is a good match: 6 points (Touchdown!)
• Called back from an interview for a 2nd interview : 1 point (the extra point)
• Called back for a 3 rd interview: 2 points (conversion)
• Networking with business cards and resumes ready: 3 points for each occurrence:
  
  
  • Contact entire contents of family/home telephone book (every relative, every neighbor, friend. These people truly care about you. Make sure they have a copy of your resume)
  • Attend a professional association meeting and really work it!
  • Attend a business/ industry specific forums.
  • Join/start a job club.
  • State Employment Job Search Workshops/Meetings (Click Here)
  • Obtain an Informational Interview
  • Get a Mentor. Meet regularly. Mentor others.
  • Alumni clubs (military, school, ex-employer, special interest)
  • Contact entire contents of family/home telephone book
  • Your personal ... professional services contacts (physicians, attorneys, accountants, etc.) made aware of your search and you send resume
  • Attend Career/Job Fairs
  • Met someone at a: football game (!), fitness centers, weddings, theme parks, airplanes, hair/nail salons, movie theatres, or shopping ... gave them a resume.
    
• Direct Contact and Agencies: 2 points for each occurrence

Warning: Do not PAY any agency for a job! (Penalty-Expulsion from the game) Research, then contact specific companies that match your skills. Contact department/division head (not human resources) for informational interview.

• Send Resume to Job Posted in Local Newspaper .5 points
• Send Resume to a Company-Specific Internet Job Posting .5 points
• Built your own website; post resume to it. 1 point
• Send 1 Resume via Internet Mega-Job Board PENALTY! subtract 1 point

Ultimate Goal= 200 POINTS Job obtained......Super Bowl is won!

Know stars and leaders who'd be interested in reading more articles like this? Subscribe to Kristine's Newsletter here!

Your Coach, Kristine Sexter, President of WorkWise Productions is a professional speaker, workshop trainer, columnist and author. She works with companies of all sizes from start-ups to Fortune 500, as well as trade ... professional associations across the country that want to reduce turnover and increase profitability by recruiting, developing and retaining star talent.

Article used by permission. (c) KristineSexter.com
Blog (c)2008 Resume Source, all rights reserved.
www.resume-source.com

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Is It Time To Update My Resume?

by: Robert Hidde, Managing Partner
Hidde Career Services

Sean was still in shock when he called my office. “I never saw it coming,” he told me. “I knew business was off, but I was blind sided when they eliminated my job.”

Anytime there is a downturn in the economy the number of calls and emails from people like Sean increase to recruiters, career counselors and résumé writers. And almost without exception, they all claim they didn’t see it coming.

Many employees seem to think that when times turn tough management simply begins indiscriminately cutting jobs. While such a scenario might be true of a very small minority of companies the truth is, companies in the twenty-first century view good performing employees as their greatest resource, not an expense.

Top managers know that innovation and ideas don’t come from business plans or computer generated projections. They come from people who possess the technical knowledge, customer skills and specialized expertise to breathe life into plans and projections. In other words, companies are cognizant of performance and decisions about job cuts are made after careful evaluation of performance. This on-going process of evaluation doesn’t just happen when business “turns south” rather has been going on for months prior to any cuts.

So, whether business and economic outlooks are great or grim, what are some of the signals an employee should pick up on that tell them it’s time to update their résumé and start exploring their options? Hidde Career Services research shows that the top signals employees need to watch for are:

• The company misses revenue targets in consecutive quarters. Regardless of the size of the business, its main product must be profits. Without profits companies can’t remain competitive, obtain needed financing, pay shareholders, upgrade technology, fund research, carry out effective marketing, and support payroll.
  
  
• An unexpected reduction in training budgets. If management anticipates having to eliminate positions they will be less likely to invest resources in on-going training for people who may be laid off. This may also be a red flag that new projects are slowing down, thus negating the need for upgrading employee skills.
  
  
• Budgeted new positions go unfilled. In most organizations facing potential cuts the first positions to be eliminated are those that were being created to handle projected new business. Not filling them or completely doing away with them is often a harbinger of potential job cuts in coming months.
  
  
• Failure to fill vacant positions and/or a hiring freeze in other departments. If openings resulting from employees retiring or those who quit are not being filled it can be an indication that management is anticipating staff reductions due to revenue shortfalls or lack of new orders.
  
  
• A reduction in responsibilities or a change in the type of projects being assigned. Being assigned lower level projects, having projects reassigned to other teams or finding that they’ve been left out of the loop is often an indication that an employee’s position is being evaluated for elimination.
  
  
• Changes in the attitude of managers. Many managers give subtle non-verbal signals to employees that their performance is below expected levels. Smart employees seek feed back on their performance when they become aware of them. These include no time for informal chats, slowness in responding to emails, not including them in meetings, becoming distant and not having time for impromptu meetings with the employee during the work day.

So, if you think it may be time to update YOUR resume', contact us today for a free consultation!

(c)2008 Resume Source, all rights reserved. www.resume-source.com

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