Vacation and the Speed of Job Search

Job search used to be a much slower process.  You'd find opportunities in papers or professional journals, send in a cover letter and resume, generally via snail mail - the good old U.S. Postal Service - and then wait, often several weeks, to hear if you made the first cut.  We'd advise clients on the strategy of holding off a few days before sending in their letter and resume so their material wouldn't arrive with a pile of other envelopes but rather as one of a few, thereby garnering more attention.

Today the game is totally different!  While there are jobs listed in newspapers and journals, all of those jobs are also posted on-line, so by the time you find an opening in a paper, you are probably a few days behind most other applicants and possibly too late to be considered in with other early bird front runners.

Case in point is a position I applied to a few weeks ago.  It was Saturday morning and I was about to head out for the weekend but decided to give a quick check on one of the sites that list positions in higher education.  Low and behold there was a terrific new job post.  I could have waited until after my weekend getaway to fill in the application and send off the resume and cover letter, but I decided to put off my mini-vacation for a few hours and apply for the position that day.  And, it was a good thing I did because I got a call two days later to set up a first round telephone screen.  While I have no guarantee that my application might not have drawn a response if I'd waited until after the weekend, my sense is that it might have been too late. 

Two weeks ago I was away for a week on a much needed vacation.  I took my laptop with me because I had signed up for a multi-session webinar and I'd committed to participating in all six classes.  While I told myself I was only going to use the laptop for the webinar and take a total break from work and job search, having it with me made it too tempting to avoid checking into e-mail, just to see what was happening out there.  Low and behold I got an e-mail from a network contact informing me of a terrific new job post.  So rather than sitting on the beach, I sat in my hotel room, drafted a new cover letter and completed the on-line application.  Would this have waited until I got home?  Who knows?  Will this be 'the one'?  The jury is still out.  Do I feel it was important to respond quickly?  You bet.

So, what do you think?  Should I have simply put things off for a week and disengaged or was I right to check e-mail and critical job post sites each day?  I must admit I'm really torn on this one.  In a wide open job market, I'd probably advise a client to take a rest, knowing there will be other opportunities when they reconnect.  In this job market it feels like staying connected, if at all possible, is critical.  

Reactions to Job Loss

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.