William Bridges has written many books about transition. The first, Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Change, was an outgrown of transitions he was moving through in his own life and career. His most recent book, Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change, focuses organizational change, yet I see Bridges' message as very applicable to anyone going through the trauma of job loss. Bridges contends that corporations often move through transition from the wrong end. Companies announce a merger by sending up balloons and talking about a bright future, while for most of us impacted by a merger, there is anything but joy.
We sit with questions like...
Will I still have a job?
How will this change the way we operate?
Why do we have to make this change?
OR thoughts like...
Things were just fine the way they were.
All we deal with is change and more change.
The change itself is the merger or what may be dubbed a new beginning. The change is the action. The first phase of the transition process that springs from the change is generally about endings, not beginnings. Companies need to help employees grapple with transition by acknowledging the endings. Bridges' model moves from endings to a neutral phase, one that I envision as having a foot back in endings and a hand reaching out towards the ultimate phase of new beginnings. It's a time for letting go, exploring what's now in place and how you fit into it, and then moving forward. Transition may go pretty quickly, or may take a while, depending on whether or not it's acknowledged and how it's planned for and supported.
For me, the typical stages or reactions to job loss clearly relate to what Bridges writes about.
Typical stages often include...
Sadness
This is often accompanied by fear and confusion. You are losing your day to day structure and, for many of us, our work family, the people we often spend more time with than our actual family.
Anger
How could they do this to me? I've given everything to this company! Anger is a phase you may pass through more than once. I can still look back at my parting from one company and feel both angry and hurt by the way I was treated. THE ONLY PERSON YOU HURT WITH ANGER IS YOURSELF. If anger leaks into your actual job search, it will only serve to scare people away. I'm not saying don't feel it. I'm just cautioning not to let it seep out when you network or interview.
Rejection (or denial)
This is especially true when there's a 'notice' period. It's almost like you work harder at your job with an inner hope that they'll realize they can't function without you. Once you've left your job, rejection or denial may surface in delaying your job search until severance or unemployment runs out.
Acceptance
This is the part where you take control. While it may read like a cliche...
You don't have control over the decision to cut your job. You do have control over how you react to that decision.
And it is through taking control that I can add...
Hope
Again, just because you pass through a stage doesn't mean you won't revisit it. The key is to acknowledge your feelings and keep moving forward.
So, like the Bridges model, it's moving from endings, acknowledging what you'll miss about your work situation, through that neutral stage into a place of acceptance, hope and new beginnings.
The message I want to convey through this post is to be kind to yourself. This is a tough process to move through. Acknowledging what you're feeling is one step in successfully moving through this transition and charting the course towards your new beginning.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Back to Forgiveness
It's hard to avoid replaying any part of this process, especially when you don't perform as well as you know you can.
I was in an interview last week that went very well, until it didn't.
This was a second round interview. I felt really good about the position and confident in the value I would bring to the organization. The felt the chemistry between the interviewer and me was excellent. And at the very end of the meeting we moved from interview (very much share and tell) into a mock counseling session (very much ask and listen). I know how to counsel and stay in inquiry. I acted not as I normally would, but rather with a knee-jerk reaction to the 10 minutes I had to demonstrate what I know versus how I would behave in a counseling situation. I don't know yet whether I blew it completely, but I know I could have given a much better demonstration of my counseling skills. I left the interview annoyed at myself and kept replaying the situation in my mind, very clear on what I would do differently if given the chance.
Will it kill my chances for a call back? Hopefully the rest of what I presented during the 90 minutes of conversation prior to the 10 minute whirlwind mock session will outweigh my mistake. Hopefully the interviewer will give me the benefit of the doubt based on my background and experience. If not, I learned what to say or do differently next time.
In this process, as with most of life, one can only learn from mistakes and move forward. So, I have to forgive myself and let go. I have to remind myself about my many skills and talents and the value I know I will bring to the next organization that is lucky enough to hire me, and move on.
Based on what I recently wrote about assumptions, I won't know if I'm in or out until I hear from them. I'll let you know how this one plays out.
I was in an interview last week that went very well, until it didn't.
This was a second round interview. I felt really good about the position and confident in the value I would bring to the organization. The felt the chemistry between the interviewer and me was excellent. And at the very end of the meeting we moved from interview (very much share and tell) into a mock counseling session (very much ask and listen). I know how to counsel and stay in inquiry. I acted not as I normally would, but rather with a knee-jerk reaction to the 10 minutes I had to demonstrate what I know versus how I would behave in a counseling situation. I don't know yet whether I blew it completely, but I know I could have given a much better demonstration of my counseling skills. I left the interview annoyed at myself and kept replaying the situation in my mind, very clear on what I would do differently if given the chance.
Will it kill my chances for a call back? Hopefully the rest of what I presented during the 90 minutes of conversation prior to the 10 minute whirlwind mock session will outweigh my mistake. Hopefully the interviewer will give me the benefit of the doubt based on my background and experience. If not, I learned what to say or do differently next time.
In this process, as with most of life, one can only learn from mistakes and move forward. So, I have to forgive myself and let go. I have to remind myself about my many skills and talents and the value I know I will bring to the next organization that is lucky enough to hire me, and move on.
Based on what I recently wrote about assumptions, I won't know if I'm in or out until I hear from them. I'll let you know how this one plays out.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
You Can't Assume You're IN or OUT
I applied for a job on-line and also networked into the company.
I waited and waited and never heard from anyone.
After a month or two, I assumed they had probably filled the position.
Three months after I applied, I received a phone call inviting me in for an interview.
I went in and interviewed with three people.
I sent my thank you note, restating the many skills and talents I'd bring to the job.
I waited and waited and never heard from anyone.
I assumed the job had been filled and that my application and personal interview had fallen into the black hole of job search.
Two months later I met one of the people I'd interviewed with at a conference and she told me they were still 'in process' and hadn't yet filled the job.
While I don't think I am truly in the running (yet another assumption), the assumption that I would never heard back from them was simply not well founded.
In this job market, things are happening both very quickly and very slowly. Be prepared for the black hole of non-responsiveness. Also be prepared to be surprised.
I waited and waited and never heard from anyone.
After a month or two, I assumed they had probably filled the position.
Three months after I applied, I received a phone call inviting me in for an interview.
I went in and interviewed with three people.
I sent my thank you note, restating the many skills and talents I'd bring to the job.
I waited and waited and never heard from anyone.
I assumed the job had been filled and that my application and personal interview had fallen into the black hole of job search.
Two months later I met one of the people I'd interviewed with at a conference and she told me they were still 'in process' and hadn't yet filled the job.
While I don't think I am truly in the running (yet another assumption), the assumption that I would never heard back from them was simply not well founded.
In this job market, things are happening both very quickly and very slowly. Be prepared for the black hole of non-responsiveness. Also be prepared to be surprised.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Go Where The Action Is
I am not a joiner by nature. I have always known that there are associations I should join to advance my career, expand my network and keep current on new trends. And, I am not a joiner by nature. When people have asked whether I belong to this association or that, I generally say 'I know I should, but I don't.'
I'd like to say that this is OK when things are going smoothly and I'm humming along in a job, but it's not. Staying connected and current is critical not only to moving around between jobs but also to keeping up with what's happening in your field. It's also a great way to network.
A case in point...
Yesterday I attended a conference sponsored by NJACE - the New Jersey Association of Colleges and Employers, a group dedicated to building relationships between colleges and employers. The majority of those present were career counselors and directors of career centers from colleges and universities throughout the state. There were presentations and discussions on the green job market, opportunities in biotech, transportation and logistics, and a panel discussion on how to counsel and prepare students with Asperger's Syndrome to enter the world of work. Needless to say, I learned a lot.
In addition to learning, it was a great opportunity for networking. I reconnected with some people I'd met with during the past few months, I made contacts with people who were already on my network list who I hadn't yet reached out to, and I met a lot of new people. I had the chance to hand out some of my newly designed business cards and to collect a few from others. I now have a lot of work to do scheduling appointments with those who said they'd be happy to meet with me. It was a much more pleasant way of connecting with people than trying to do it through e-mail or phone calls.
It also gave me the opportunity to check out the field. Who are these other career counselors who work in colleges and universities? Do I fit in? Can I see myself working with these folks?
If you don't currently belong to any professional associations, select one or two to visit. What do I mean by visit? You can often attend a meeting or conference for a nominal fee as a guest before you jump in with full membership dues. You don't have to join 10 groups or associations. Select one or two that closely relate to either the field you're in or the field you're trying to get into and consider joining one of them.
I attended a workshop on LinkedIn, and while it was recommended that we join groups, it was also suggested that we be selective and only join those that we are ready to participate in through discussions and comments. This is also true here. Select groups or associations in which you want to participate. The goal is to get yourself out there, meet new people and become known.
So, go where the action is. Join a professional association and hang out with people who have the potential to become your future boss or colleague.
I'd like to say that this is OK when things are going smoothly and I'm humming along in a job, but it's not. Staying connected and current is critical not only to moving around between jobs but also to keeping up with what's happening in your field. It's also a great way to network.
A case in point...
Yesterday I attended a conference sponsored by NJACE - the New Jersey Association of Colleges and Employers, a group dedicated to building relationships between colleges and employers. The majority of those present were career counselors and directors of career centers from colleges and universities throughout the state. There were presentations and discussions on the green job market, opportunities in biotech, transportation and logistics, and a panel discussion on how to counsel and prepare students with Asperger's Syndrome to enter the world of work. Needless to say, I learned a lot.
In addition to learning, it was a great opportunity for networking. I reconnected with some people I'd met with during the past few months, I made contacts with people who were already on my network list who I hadn't yet reached out to, and I met a lot of new people. I had the chance to hand out some of my newly designed business cards and to collect a few from others. I now have a lot of work to do scheduling appointments with those who said they'd be happy to meet with me. It was a much more pleasant way of connecting with people than trying to do it through e-mail or phone calls.
It also gave me the opportunity to check out the field. Who are these other career counselors who work in colleges and universities? Do I fit in? Can I see myself working with these folks?
If you don't currently belong to any professional associations, select one or two to visit. What do I mean by visit? You can often attend a meeting or conference for a nominal fee as a guest before you jump in with full membership dues. You don't have to join 10 groups or associations. Select one or two that closely relate to either the field you're in or the field you're trying to get into and consider joining one of them.
I attended a workshop on LinkedIn, and while it was recommended that we join groups, it was also suggested that we be selective and only join those that we are ready to participate in through discussions and comments. This is also true here. Select groups or associations in which you want to participate. The goal is to get yourself out there, meet new people and become known.
So, go where the action is. Join a professional association and hang out with people who have the potential to become your future boss or colleague.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
How to Prepare for a Job Interview
In that I am in the process of preparing for a job interview, I'm using this post to think out loud to insure that I cover all of my bases. Following is a step-by-step guide to preparing for a job interview.
Start with research. Get as much information as you can about the company, the industry, and the person you'll be meeting with. Study the job listing and look at other similar listings to get a sense of what people are looking for in general and the language they use. This is especially important if you are transitioning to a new area, like me.
Next, either print up a copy of your resume, the job posting, and the cover letter you submitted or pull them up on your screen. I find it easier to work from hard copy as I can highlight text and make notes on paper more easily than moving back and forth on the screen.
You should have already gone through the exercise of highlighting every strength mentioned on your resume and linking each with at least one accomplishment that substantiates that strength. This is something you need to do to present yourself in a network meeting, at a job fair or anytime someone asks about what you've done and where you're heading.
It is critical to note that interviewers respond to and remember your stories, not your job description. It is your accomplishment stories that differentiate you from other applicants and prove that you have those skills you claim on your resume.
In my case, I claim to have strong communication, facilitation and problem solving skills. While I can state that I have worked with clients both individually and in groups, that doesn't really prove that I have strong communication skills, it's more of a job description for a counselor. To prove I have those skills, I might talk about the time I made a presentation to a group of 1,000 educators and how I got them engaged rather than just talking at them. This story covers oral communication skills, presentation skills, planning, creativity and my ability to engage a large group. It is also memorable because most of us don't have the opportunity to speak before a group of 1,000 people and many of us wouldn't want to speak before a group of 1,000 people. Adding in that feedback after the talk was very positive is icing on the cake.
After you've gone through your first round of skill and story match on your resume, pull out the job description and highlight the skills and experience required for the position. Once again, for each skill or experience highlighted select an accomplishment or story from your resume that substantiates your expertise in this area. You may not be a line for line match for the job. Most of us match a lot of the requirements listed on a posting, but not all. Remember to emphasize what a great match you are for the position and leave out the things they've requested that you don't have. Many of us are our own worst enemy in an interview when we raise our weaknesses or experience we don't have before we're even asked. For instance, if the posting calls for knowledge of Word and Excel, you don't want to point out the fact that you are excellent using Word, but don't really know Excel. If they don't ask, don't bring it up. If they do ask, be prepared to reference a related skill or what you are doing about the one you're missing or weak at. In the case of Excel, you can say you've had some opportunity to use it on the job and are currently taking an on-line course to strengthen those skills. If it is something you know you'll need for your next job, that on-line course is something you should be doing anyway.
In my case, I have extensive experience working in the corporate sector, and not as much in higher education. In that I am targeting a move to higher education, I'm going to highlight my recent volunteer work in a career center at a local university and the management development programs I've designed and facilitated for staff on college campuses.
Review your cover letter and reinforce the key points you raised in the letter during the interview.
Plan out answers to typical interview questions. While they may never be asked, in addition to having the answers to any technical or function based questions, you need to have solid answers to questions like:
* Tell me something about yourself.
* What are your strengths?
* What are your weaknesses?
* What are your three greatest accomplishments?
* What was your greatest contribution to your department
or business?
* Tell me about a project that failed and what you learned from it
or what you'd do differently.
* How would your colleagues, staff, boss describe you?
* Why should I hire you?
Rehearse your answers. Practice in front of a friend or a mirror. Ask that friend to give you feedback on what interested them and what put them to sleep. Consider not only what you way, but how you say it. If you are too quiet or your voice is flat, you will come across with little energy, which could also be read as little interest or lack of confidence. If you wave your hands around when you talk, you risk having the interviewer focusing on your hands versus on what you're saying. Equally distracting can be 'you knows', 'umms' or 'like', any of those fillers we come out with when we're thinking about what to say. Try to keep them to a minimum. Don't expect to completely edit them out, but you can work on limiting them.
The more you practice your answers, complete with stories, the more relaxed and confident you'll be heading into that interview.
A word about nerves...
I once worked for a man who met with and presented to presidents and popes, literally. While he always seemed cool and confident, he admitted that he was often nervous at the beginning of these conversations or presentations. He viewed this upfront anxiety as proof that he cared about what he was doing. If anything, it gave him some extra energy. He also said that you need to know your talking points and take the time to rehearse them in order to move from nerves to a strong, confident presentation. So, expect to be nervous before you go in. It is not a bad thing. The key is that those nerves should dissipate as you move into territory you know and feel confident about - your stories and what you can bring to the party!
My interview will be via phone. For tips on interviewing via phone, check out my post from November 27, 2009. Rest assured, I'll be looking in a mirror, pacing, using my voice and working hard to listen for cues about what's hitting home and what isn't. I'll keep you posted!
Start with research. Get as much information as you can about the company, the industry, and the person you'll be meeting with. Study the job listing and look at other similar listings to get a sense of what people are looking for in general and the language they use. This is especially important if you are transitioning to a new area, like me.
Next, either print up a copy of your resume, the job posting, and the cover letter you submitted or pull them up on your screen. I find it easier to work from hard copy as I can highlight text and make notes on paper more easily than moving back and forth on the screen.
You should have already gone through the exercise of highlighting every strength mentioned on your resume and linking each with at least one accomplishment that substantiates that strength. This is something you need to do to present yourself in a network meeting, at a job fair or anytime someone asks about what you've done and where you're heading.
It is critical to note that interviewers respond to and remember your stories, not your job description. It is your accomplishment stories that differentiate you from other applicants and prove that you have those skills you claim on your resume.
In my case, I claim to have strong communication, facilitation and problem solving skills. While I can state that I have worked with clients both individually and in groups, that doesn't really prove that I have strong communication skills, it's more of a job description for a counselor. To prove I have those skills, I might talk about the time I made a presentation to a group of 1,000 educators and how I got them engaged rather than just talking at them. This story covers oral communication skills, presentation skills, planning, creativity and my ability to engage a large group. It is also memorable because most of us don't have the opportunity to speak before a group of 1,000 people and many of us wouldn't want to speak before a group of 1,000 people. Adding in that feedback after the talk was very positive is icing on the cake.
After you've gone through your first round of skill and story match on your resume, pull out the job description and highlight the skills and experience required for the position. Once again, for each skill or experience highlighted select an accomplishment or story from your resume that substantiates your expertise in this area. You may not be a line for line match for the job. Most of us match a lot of the requirements listed on a posting, but not all. Remember to emphasize what a great match you are for the position and leave out the things they've requested that you don't have. Many of us are our own worst enemy in an interview when we raise our weaknesses or experience we don't have before we're even asked. For instance, if the posting calls for knowledge of Word and Excel, you don't want to point out the fact that you are excellent using Word, but don't really know Excel. If they don't ask, don't bring it up. If they do ask, be prepared to reference a related skill or what you are doing about the one you're missing or weak at. In the case of Excel, you can say you've had some opportunity to use it on the job and are currently taking an on-line course to strengthen those skills. If it is something you know you'll need for your next job, that on-line course is something you should be doing anyway.
In my case, I have extensive experience working in the corporate sector, and not as much in higher education. In that I am targeting a move to higher education, I'm going to highlight my recent volunteer work in a career center at a local university and the management development programs I've designed and facilitated for staff on college campuses.
Review your cover letter and reinforce the key points you raised in the letter during the interview.
Plan out answers to typical interview questions. While they may never be asked, in addition to having the answers to any technical or function based questions, you need to have solid answers to questions like:
* Tell me something about yourself.
* What are your strengths?
* What are your weaknesses?
* What are your three greatest accomplishments?
* What was your greatest contribution to your department
or business?
* Tell me about a project that failed and what you learned from it
or what you'd do differently.
* How would your colleagues, staff, boss describe you?
* Why should I hire you?
Rehearse your answers. Practice in front of a friend or a mirror. Ask that friend to give you feedback on what interested them and what put them to sleep. Consider not only what you way, but how you say it. If you are too quiet or your voice is flat, you will come across with little energy, which could also be read as little interest or lack of confidence. If you wave your hands around when you talk, you risk having the interviewer focusing on your hands versus on what you're saying. Equally distracting can be 'you knows', 'umms' or 'like', any of those fillers we come out with when we're thinking about what to say. Try to keep them to a minimum. Don't expect to completely edit them out, but you can work on limiting them.
The more you practice your answers, complete with stories, the more relaxed and confident you'll be heading into that interview.
A word about nerves...
I once worked for a man who met with and presented to presidents and popes, literally. While he always seemed cool and confident, he admitted that he was often nervous at the beginning of these conversations or presentations. He viewed this upfront anxiety as proof that he cared about what he was doing. If anything, it gave him some extra energy. He also said that you need to know your talking points and take the time to rehearse them in order to move from nerves to a strong, confident presentation. So, expect to be nervous before you go in. It is not a bad thing. The key is that those nerves should dissipate as you move into territory you know and feel confident about - your stories and what you can bring to the party!
My interview will be via phone. For tips on interviewing via phone, check out my post from November 27, 2009. Rest assured, I'll be looking in a mirror, pacing, using my voice and working hard to listen for cues about what's hitting home and what isn't. I'll keep you posted!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Elements of a Full-Scale Search
I've acknowledged in previous posts that I am out there networking. And, I am. Colleagues, friends and family compliment me on the hard work I'm putting into my search. And, I am. And, I am keenly aware of what I'm not doing. I am not truly engaged in a full-scale search.
What does it mean to be involved in a full-scale job search? It means you are working on your search everyday. Perhaps not all day, and you can take a day off, but when people say that looking for a job takes as much time and is often harder than being in a job, they mean it!
There is always something to be done to forward your search. Every network connection I make requires work - either outreach if I'm looking for a connection at a certain school or company, or follow-up and scheduling if I've got the contact connection in hand. Your target company websites should be checked daily as new openings are posted all the time. Websites like indeed, dice, monster, and careerbuilder get new listings each day. In this day of electronic applications, finding the perfect job a week after it's posted is probably a week too late. There is tons of research to do when you're engaged in a full-scale job search. You have to prepare before going into a network meeting and that means gathering information about the industry, the company and even the person you'll be meeting with. It goes without saying that you must be well prepared for an actual job interview which requires much the same research as for a network meeting plus you have to take the time to plan out answers to typical interview questions. You have to study the job description and identify which accomplishment stories you want to talk about to prove that you have the experience to do the job.
And on, and on and on.
So my commitment to my search and to myself is to back up all this networking with more research, more consistency in checking websites and job postings, and more active time on LinkedIn. I am also going to get out there in the public and join a few groups. I am an active participant in several LinkedIn groups so I've got the electronic networking somewhat covered, but there is nothing like meeting people in person to make connections and uncover that hidden job market.
What does it mean to be involved in a full-scale job search? It means you are working on your search everyday. Perhaps not all day, and you can take a day off, but when people say that looking for a job takes as much time and is often harder than being in a job, they mean it!
There is always something to be done to forward your search. Every network connection I make requires work - either outreach if I'm looking for a connection at a certain school or company, or follow-up and scheduling if I've got the contact connection in hand. Your target company websites should be checked daily as new openings are posted all the time. Websites like indeed, dice, monster, and careerbuilder get new listings each day. In this day of electronic applications, finding the perfect job a week after it's posted is probably a week too late. There is tons of research to do when you're engaged in a full-scale job search. You have to prepare before going into a network meeting and that means gathering information about the industry, the company and even the person you'll be meeting with. It goes without saying that you must be well prepared for an actual job interview which requires much the same research as for a network meeting plus you have to take the time to plan out answers to typical interview questions. You have to study the job description and identify which accomplishment stories you want to talk about to prove that you have the experience to do the job.
And on, and on and on.
So my commitment to my search and to myself is to back up all this networking with more research, more consistency in checking websites and job postings, and more active time on LinkedIn. I am also going to get out there in the public and join a few groups. I am an active participant in several LinkedIn groups so I've got the electronic networking somewhat covered, but there is nothing like meeting people in person to make connections and uncover that hidden job market.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Job Search Mistakes
You kno those e-mails you get that are wrtten with intentionl typos and yet you can read them? The truth is that our mind fills in the right information to make sense of these blips and, more often than not, they don't even register as typos. You might get away with this in a letter to a friend, but you can't get away with this when you're searching for a job. I have written a lot about checking your material more than once, not relying on spell check, and having someone else proof your material.
Why don't I follow my own advice more carefully?
I applied for a great job on Saturday and opened an old cover letter I'd written for a similar position to rev up the creative juices. The body of the letter was great. The content was clear, concise and included language used in the posting. A+ for me! And then I noticed the date - March 3, 2009. 2009! That was last year and this is this year and that's enough to get my whole package dumped in the electronic circular file.
Did I mention proofing your work? Did I mention reading each word out loud from the beginning to the end for content, grammar and spelling, and then reading the whole thing from the end to the beginning just for spelling? Did I mention that this includes every word and number on the resume and cover letter? If I didn't, I'm mentioning it now. I did read the letter over several times in each direction. I just missed that small thing - the date. I can almost guarantee that I proofed it but simply didn't see it. That's when having another set of human eyes scanning your material comes into play.
Take your time! Get it right! Proof everything several times before you push that send button. It is painful to look back at a brilliant cover letter and resume that will get me nowhere because of a silly and wholly avoidable mistake!
What's next? Pick myself up. Dust myself off. Forgive myself (because beating myself up will get me nowhere). And get back to the job of finding myself a job.
Why don't I follow my own advice more carefully?
I applied for a great job on Saturday and opened an old cover letter I'd written for a similar position to rev up the creative juices. The body of the letter was great. The content was clear, concise and included language used in the posting. A+ for me! And then I noticed the date - March 3, 2009. 2009! That was last year and this is this year and that's enough to get my whole package dumped in the electronic circular file.
Did I mention proofing your work? Did I mention reading each word out loud from the beginning to the end for content, grammar and spelling, and then reading the whole thing from the end to the beginning just for spelling? Did I mention that this includes every word and number on the resume and cover letter? If I didn't, I'm mentioning it now. I did read the letter over several times in each direction. I just missed that small thing - the date. I can almost guarantee that I proofed it but simply didn't see it. That's when having another set of human eyes scanning your material comes into play.
Take your time! Get it right! Proof everything several times before you push that send button. It is painful to look back at a brilliant cover letter and resume that will get me nowhere because of a silly and wholly avoidable mistake!
What's next? Pick myself up. Dust myself off. Forgive myself (because beating myself up will get me nowhere). And get back to the job of finding myself a job.
Friday, March 5, 2010
There Are Good Guys Out There
While this is a tough and often demoralizing job market, there are still many good guys out there.
I am a trustee on our local Adult School Board. Last year I designed and facilitated an offsite for this group to explore ways to improve communication between the board and staff and overall operation. As a result of this work, a number of ad hoc committees were established to further define recommended changes. I served on two of those committees and, at some point, must have referenced my job search.
Last Wednesday after our monthly board meeting, someone I'd served on an ad hoc committee with approached me to ask about my job search. I explained that I was still at it, out there networking, and optimistic that something will pop up at some point.
The next day I received an e-mail from my fellow board member with a job posting he thought might be a fit. Not only was it a fit, but it read as if it were written for me.
I filled out the application, fine-tuned my resume and cover letter and faxed it over to the hiring company this afternoon. Another iron in the fire is a good thing.
More important than the actual opening, is the fact that someone I know casually took the time to help me with my search. It is proof that there are still good guys out there.
I am a trustee on our local Adult School Board. Last year I designed and facilitated an offsite for this group to explore ways to improve communication between the board and staff and overall operation. As a result of this work, a number of ad hoc committees were established to further define recommended changes. I served on two of those committees and, at some point, must have referenced my job search.
Last Wednesday after our monthly board meeting, someone I'd served on an ad hoc committee with approached me to ask about my job search. I explained that I was still at it, out there networking, and optimistic that something will pop up at some point.
The next day I received an e-mail from my fellow board member with a job posting he thought might be a fit. Not only was it a fit, but it read as if it were written for me.
I filled out the application, fine-tuned my resume and cover letter and faxed it over to the hiring company this afternoon. Another iron in the fire is a good thing.
More important than the actual opening, is the fact that someone I know casually took the time to help me with my search. It is proof that there are still good guys out there.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Another Great Networking Story
I have to admit that I'm a pretty good networker. I don't love doing it, although I usually find I leave network meetings feeling more positive and hopeful than when I walked in. And, when I look at the list of people I've met with, even I'm impressed. I operate with the belief that you never know who someone knows until you ask. It's also proven true that when you follow up with network leads, they tend to lead you to other network leads and so your network grows. I'm not talking about telling everyone you know you're looking for a job. I am talking about getting out there when there's no apparent opening to meet new people and gather advice, suggestions and more network leads.
My connections have come through all sorts of people. My first line contacts were obviously already part of my network web. I don't mean the web you're surfing on, but rather think of what a spider's web looks like and how it's built. The spider starts in the middle and slowly works to add ring after ring, making the web larger and larger. You start in the middle and reach out to your first line or primary contacts, people you already know from a former job, your team at the bowling alley, a professional association, a friend or family member. You meet with that person and give them a sense of what you're looking for and they recommend you to others so you're adding the next ring or your second line contacts. The contact for my first job as an adult was my mother. It didn't feel very adult to work through my mother, but she was the one with the contact in the company I was interested in and so she became more than my mother. She became apart of my professional network.
One of my best network connections this time around came through my niece. She was in for the holidays and we got into a conversation about my job search. I mentioned that I wanted to talk to someone at a specific university and, to my great surprise and delight, that someone turned out to be her best friend's father. Another great connection came through a friend who had a friend who had worked at several different colleges. This mutual friend made her introduction through e-mail. I arranged to meet my new network connection for coffee and once she got to know me and understand my goals she connected me to colleagues at two major universities. It turned out one of them did have an opening for which I interviewed. The other helped me network into several other departments on campus where he thought I'd be a good fit. Again, they had no openings, but I'm now volunteering in one of those departments, which has allowed me to confirm that I'm on the right track in targeting a position as a career counselor in higher education. It has also expanded my network, because the head of the department has become an important part of my web. I truly mean it when I say that you simply don't know who someone knows until you ask and you have no clue where your network can take you.
I have found the network process a true reflection of the roller coaster I've written about so often. I come out of some network meetings feeling a bit frustrated or dejected and I come out of others just soaring! Yesterday, I was soaring.
The contact I'd made through my niece referred me to one of his colleagues. While I was upbeat about the meeting, I've admittedly been in a bit of a slump of late. After an hour-long conversation, it felt like I'd known this person for most of my career. I walked out totally energized! I also walked out with some suggestions about groups I should join, people I should contact, people she is going to contact on my behalf and leads about some possible openings.
Some network contacts will give you names of people to contact and suggest you use their name as the connection. Others will send an introductory e-mail that basically says 'this is a good person' who will be contacting you to schedule a meeting. Then there are those people who send out that e-mail and say, 'you must meet this person, they're terrific!' Or better yet, 'I think this person would be great for your open position.' These people are rare and yesterday I was lucky enough to meet with someone rare.
Most of my network meetings have been very fruitful. I've received valuable advice and, in almost every case, names of others I should contact either within their organization or at another university. I've had four network meetings after which my belief in myself was reinforced both through the words and actions of the person I'd networked into. Those meetings are truly gifts and help balance a process that can often knock the stuffing out of you.
So just keep at it! There will be those meetings where you try every way possible to get the name of someone else you might talk to and walk out empty handed. And there will be those meetings where the person truly gets networking and becomes a valuable contact and fan in your growing web.
My connections have come through all sorts of people. My first line contacts were obviously already part of my network web. I don't mean the web you're surfing on, but rather think of what a spider's web looks like and how it's built. The spider starts in the middle and slowly works to add ring after ring, making the web larger and larger. You start in the middle and reach out to your first line or primary contacts, people you already know from a former job, your team at the bowling alley, a professional association, a friend or family member. You meet with that person and give them a sense of what you're looking for and they recommend you to others so you're adding the next ring or your second line contacts. The contact for my first job as an adult was my mother. It didn't feel very adult to work through my mother, but she was the one with the contact in the company I was interested in and so she became more than my mother. She became apart of my professional network.
One of my best network connections this time around came through my niece. She was in for the holidays and we got into a conversation about my job search. I mentioned that I wanted to talk to someone at a specific university and, to my great surprise and delight, that someone turned out to be her best friend's father. Another great connection came through a friend who had a friend who had worked at several different colleges. This mutual friend made her introduction through e-mail. I arranged to meet my new network connection for coffee and once she got to know me and understand my goals she connected me to colleagues at two major universities. It turned out one of them did have an opening for which I interviewed. The other helped me network into several other departments on campus where he thought I'd be a good fit. Again, they had no openings, but I'm now volunteering in one of those departments, which has allowed me to confirm that I'm on the right track in targeting a position as a career counselor in higher education. It has also expanded my network, because the head of the department has become an important part of my web. I truly mean it when I say that you simply don't know who someone knows until you ask and you have no clue where your network can take you.
I have found the network process a true reflection of the roller coaster I've written about so often. I come out of some network meetings feeling a bit frustrated or dejected and I come out of others just soaring! Yesterday, I was soaring.
The contact I'd made through my niece referred me to one of his colleagues. While I was upbeat about the meeting, I've admittedly been in a bit of a slump of late. After an hour-long conversation, it felt like I'd known this person for most of my career. I walked out totally energized! I also walked out with some suggestions about groups I should join, people I should contact, people she is going to contact on my behalf and leads about some possible openings.
Some network contacts will give you names of people to contact and suggest you use their name as the connection. Others will send an introductory e-mail that basically says 'this is a good person' who will be contacting you to schedule a meeting. Then there are those people who send out that e-mail and say, 'you must meet this person, they're terrific!' Or better yet, 'I think this person would be great for your open position.' These people are rare and yesterday I was lucky enough to meet with someone rare.
Most of my network meetings have been very fruitful. I've received valuable advice and, in almost every case, names of others I should contact either within their organization or at another university. I've had four network meetings after which my belief in myself was reinforced both through the words and actions of the person I'd networked into. Those meetings are truly gifts and help balance a process that can often knock the stuffing out of you.
So just keep at it! There will be those meetings where you try every way possible to get the name of someone else you might talk to and walk out empty handed. And there will be those meetings where the person truly gets networking and becomes a valuable contact and fan in your growing web.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Stay Ahead of the Game
It's easy to slip behind when you're out 'pounding the pavement' looking for a job. When you're on the downhill side of the roller coaster you might not feel like checking those web sites or making that call to try to set up yet another 'informational' interview. You want a real interview.
OK. So I'm writing as if I'm not talking about myself, which is not the truth. Here's the story...
In December I was given the name of a contact at a major university. There was no open job on their web site that interested me or that I had the credentials for. And it was the holidays, and I wasn't in the mood, and I wasn't following my own advice. So I kept that contact info on my 'to do' list where it sat until two weeks ago.
What happened two weeks ago? I found the PERFECT job on the university's website.
I immediately filled in an on-line application, but the advantage of being able to pick up the phone to a network contact I had already met with and could count on as an 'inside' acquaintance was lost. Now I have to play catch up. Instead of getting in there ahead of the game so I'd be known before they had an opening, I'm scrambling to get my foot in the door now. It puts so much more pressure on the situation in that every day that passes until I get that network meeting scheduled is another day that someone else might be getting my job!
The goal of networking is to get in front of people and the easiest time to do that is when there is no published opening. It takes the pressure off both parties. You can go in to ask questions, sell yourself for the future and hopefully uncover one of those positions in the 'hidden job market'. They can simply sit back and give advice, offer up suggestions about others you might want to talk to and, if you're lucky, reveal a lead about a real job!
So whether you are on a downward slide or soaring to the top of that roller coaster, the truth is you have to be diligent and just keep at it. I am taking yet another oath to work on this everyday. I know there's a great position out there for me, and the only way they'll find me is if I find them first.
I'll keep you posted on my progress.
OK. So I'm writing as if I'm not talking about myself, which is not the truth. Here's the story...
In December I was given the name of a contact at a major university. There was no open job on their web site that interested me or that I had the credentials for. And it was the holidays, and I wasn't in the mood, and I wasn't following my own advice. So I kept that contact info on my 'to do' list where it sat until two weeks ago.
What happened two weeks ago? I found the PERFECT job on the university's website.
I immediately filled in an on-line application, but the advantage of being able to pick up the phone to a network contact I had already met with and could count on as an 'inside' acquaintance was lost. Now I have to play catch up. Instead of getting in there ahead of the game so I'd be known before they had an opening, I'm scrambling to get my foot in the door now. It puts so much more pressure on the situation in that every day that passes until I get that network meeting scheduled is another day that someone else might be getting my job!
The goal of networking is to get in front of people and the easiest time to do that is when there is no published opening. It takes the pressure off both parties. You can go in to ask questions, sell yourself for the future and hopefully uncover one of those positions in the 'hidden job market'. They can simply sit back and give advice, offer up suggestions about others you might want to talk to and, if you're lucky, reveal a lead about a real job!
So whether you are on a downward slide or soaring to the top of that roller coaster, the truth is you have to be diligent and just keep at it. I am taking yet another oath to work on this everyday. I know there's a great position out there for me, and the only way they'll find me is if I find them first.
I'll keep you posted on my progress.
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