Career Information Online

I entered college right after graduation from high school.  I was barely 18 at the time and really had no idea what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.  I began by selecting a major in business knowing I would have to pick an area in which to concentrate in a year.  After one semester of business courses I decided I hated it and wanted to pick another major.  So public relations here I came, and that’s where I got my degree.  However, I don’t think I’ve used that degree for very long in my life.  As I grew up my interests changed and that’s how I got to the place I am today.

If you’re not happy in the career you’ve chosen and you’re thinking about a career change, your not alone.  Experts have stated that the average person will have three to five major career changes in their lives.  In other words, you’ll have many careers as you move along in your professional life.

So if you are unhappy in your present career you might be looking for some career advice for your career change.  Here are a few things you can consider when deciding what kind of career is best for you at this point in your life:

• Do some self reflection and examination to see what really interests and motivates you.  If you are interested you can search for free career tests on the Internet to see what fields might be a good fit for you and your skills.
• Read as much information as you can about the field that interests you.  Get a good education on what you can do in that field, and what you might need to do (in terms of training or education) to be successful in this new career.
• Contact professionals currently working in the field for informational interviews.  You can ask these individuals what they like and dislike about the field, and in their opinion what you need to do to obtain a career in that industry.
• Join professional associations and trade groups related to your new career choice.  You’ll make some contacts that might be able to help you network and find a new job.

Thinking about changing your career can be scary, but you can do it.  Make an investment in yourself and take the time and effort needed to find out what you need to do to be successful and then go for it.

While you hear on the news that the US economy could be in trouble when it comes to the housing crisis, employers are still planning to add employees over the next few years.  According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2006-2007 estimates that more than 18 million jobs will be added by the year 2014.  The industries where you will see an increase in the number of jobs are as diverse as the people needed to fill the positions.  You can expect to see an increase in the number of computer jobs, healthcare jobs, engineering jobs, and leisure/hospitality jobs in this time frame, just to name a few industries.

You might get excited when you read news about new jobs being created and think “now is the time for me to make a change.”  However, if you are ready to change jobs you should make that decision independent of what you see or hear on the daily news, and if you are content where you are working you should stay put.  Your career is an important part of your life – it’s who you are, it’s what you do and it’s how you support your family.  Make the decision to change jobs based on factors that are independent of economic news – career path, opportunity for growth, or personal dissatisfaction are just a few reasons you might consider taking a new position.

We’ve written before in this blog about the use of third party recruiters (or headhunters).  Don’t discount the use of a recruiter when looking for a new opportunity.  A recruiter who specializes in your industry can be a great ally in your search for a new career opportunity.  However, it is crucial that you find a recruiter who specializes in the recruitment of professionals in your industry.  While someone might be good at recruiting nurses, they probably don’t have the industry knowledge to help you find a job in a transportation related industry (for example).

If you’re only complaint about your current job is money, you can consider asking for a raise before going through a job search.  If you’re dissatisfied with things that just can’t be changed (such as room for growth) then now might be the time for you to explore your career options.

I was reading an article in an industry newsletter that said the single most important factor when evaluating a job opportunity is the company’s culture and values.  In other words, “what will it be like to work for this company?”  I started to think about how you can truly determine a company’s culture, and outside of working for the company for a few months it is going to be difficult to know what the culture will be like.  There are a few questions that you can ask in the interview process that might help you get a handle on what kind of culture this company offers.

First, what kind of hours are employees expected to work?  Are you given the opportunity to telecommute or to utilize flex schedules?  Do the successful employees get to work early every day and stay late?  Are you expected to put in extra time on the job (whether or not you are compensated for it)?

Next, what kind of dress code does this employer have?  If you have always worked in a casual dress environment you might find a formal suit and tie environment stuffy and unbearable.

Does the company offer any training and development programs for the employees?  How often are these programs offered, or how often is an employee able to take part in them?  What kind of programs do the offer?

How is the work environment structured?  Are you working in cubicles or is it an open bullpen type of environment?  Is it a bright and cheerful office space, or is it dull and drab?

Does the company have any kinds of on-site perks (like a daycare facility or gym)?

There are no right or wrong answers to these questions.  The culture that is comfortable for one person might not be a good fit for you.  Try to ascertain the culture of the company in the interview process so you’ll be able to include it when making a decision about a new job.

Should you post your resume online?  Many people will say that you shouldn’t post your resume.  You put all your personal information out there for anyone with a subscription to that resume database to see.  If your current employer has a subscription to that job board they might stumble across your resume and figure out you are on the market. 

But there is a way to post your resume while maintaining your privacy, and that is to select the “confidential” option if the job board offers it.  Monster offers the option to post your resume while blocking out your personal contact information, name of current employer and names of references.  Interested companies will contact you via email through the job board to let you know they want to have a conversation with you.

If you’re looking to move to another city or state, posting your resume online will give you exposure to employers in that geography.  You can select your preferred job locations when posting your job.  I would also suggest including an objective statement that says you want to obtain a job as X in the new city or state.  With a few minutes at home you can give yourself exposure to many potential employers.  If you were to research employers in your desired city or state it could be a long and arduous task.

Don’t just dismiss the idea of posting your resume online.  There are some benefits to doing so.

Third party recruiters (AKA Headhunters) provide a valuable service for both employers and employees.  Headhunters sometimes have a bad reputation, but not all of them are unethical.  Many recruiters have been in business for years and have long standing, positive relationships with companies.

If you’re contacted by a recruiter, what do you do?  I’d suggest the following.

Find out as much as you can about the position.  Since most Headhunters work on a confidential basis (at least in the beginning) you’re not going to find out the name of the company.  You can find out about the size of the company – revenue, number of employees, number of offices, etc.  Also ask where the position is located.  While this might sound like a great opportunity it might be located in Iowa when you live in New Jersey.  Ask about the title, duties and responsibilities of the position as well.

Ask about the process.  If you decide you are interested in moving forward, find out about the process.  What is the recruiter’s role?  What is expected of you?

Are you responsible for any fees?  If the answer is yes hang up the phone.  Reputable third party recruiters do not charge the candidate for anything.  The company with the open position pays all the fees.

Control your resume.  Make sure you know where your resume has been sent.  Let the Headhunter know you want the option to say yes or no before your resume is sent to any company.

If you’re looking for a Headhunter to help in your job search, one great resource is www.mrinetwork.com, which is the web site for MRI Network.  From this site you can search for a recruiter based on industry and geographic location.

There are many successful and reputable third party recruiters who can provide you with assistance in finding a new position.  The key is to be kept informed throughout their process.

I was interviewing candidates for a secretarial position in my previous company a few years ago.  In the advertisement for employment I stated that attention to detail was a requirement for the successful person.  I can’t tell you how many resumes and cover letters I received that had blatant spelling errors or formatting mistakes on them.  No matter what the employment background of the candidate there was no way I would hire someone who made a spelling error on their resume, not in the age of spell check.

The argument can be made that while this might have been true in the case of a secretary, good spelling isn’t necessarily a requirement for a salesperson or a computer programmer.  I disagree.  Your resume and cover letter are the tools you need to get an interview.  They are the first impression that a potential employer is going to get of you.  You don’t want this person to think you are careless or sloppy.

Take the time and proofread your cover letter and resume before you send it anywhere.  Step away from it for an hour or so and look at it again with fresh eyes.  Print it out and ask a friend or family member to look at it for you.  If it helps, read your resume backwards so you’re looking at the actual words and not filling in the context.  No matter what use the spell check function in your email and word processing programs.  Finally, verify that you are sending the resume to the person named in the advertisement and if you use a template email for resume submissions that you change any information

We’ve all been there – either unemployed and looking for a position (any position), or employed and unhappy, looking for a better opportunity.  You send out resumes and cover letters and you might be lucky and land a few interviews, or maybe you haven’t had any positive response.  In this situation it’s easy to become discouraged or depressed.

Don’t go there!

I did a search on Yahoo! and Google trying to see what research is out there about the length of time of the “average job search”.  The results I found were interesting.  A “typical” job search can last anywhere from three months to one year.  You’re not alone if you don’t get the perfect job after a few weeks of searching.

The reasons you might not get a job are varied, and sometimes have nothing to do with you.  While you might want to take this rejection personally, it’s important to remember that it’s not personal.  It’s business. 

Finding a job is often about luck and timing.  Don’t let rejection stop you from finding your next career opportunity.  Keep your attitude positive and your focus clear and soon you will find that new position.

On the bottom of almost every resume you seethe statement “references available upon request.”  You probably have it in the bottom of your resume.  But who should you use as a reference?  Unless you are a teenager trying to get your first job, the people you use should be known to you in a professional way.  (Unless, of course, the company requests a personal or character reference.)  If you’re currently employed you’ll probably want to refrain from using anyone at your current place of employment.  Here are a few suggestions of people you can use as a reference:

• A former co-worker at the same level as you.
• A former supervisor.
• An employee who you supervised.
• An employee of another firm with whom you worked on a joint project or venture.
• A former client who can attest to your skills and abilities.

Depending on the position, a potential employer might request a reference from a specific category.  Don’t be surprised if this happens. 

The easiest way to build a list of references is to continually ask people to be one.  Just as it’s a good idea to continually update your resume, it’s a good idea to have an updated list of references.  Ask people you’ve known professionally if they would mind serving as a reference.  Be sure to get all their contact information, including work phone, cell phone and email address.  Keep in touch with them from time to time to make sure their contact information is current and they are still willing to be a reference.

It might sound silly, but before you use a reference from your list ask them if you can do so.  Tell him/her the name of the company, position/title and name of the person who will be interviewing you.  If you have the opportunity to contact them after the interview you can tell your reference the specific duties and responsibilities that were explained to you so he/she can tailor their statements to the needs of the company.  You might think this sounds unethical, but think about this.  I’m not saying that anyone should lie about you and your background.  What I’m saying is this:  If expertise in a specific software program is an integral part of the position and your reference can comment on your abilities, if the reference knows this is important he/she can be sure to emphasize your experience in that area. 

References are an important part of the interview process.  Be sure to spend time in choosing the right references who can help you get the job.

When you’re searching for a job you have probably spent hours working to make your resume the best it can be.  Resumes are important.  A resume is probably the biggest factor in whether or not you get invited for an interview.  However, it is the person behind the resume who gets the job, not the piece of paper.

Don’t put all your time during a job search in resume preparation.  You need to spend time getting ready for each and every interview, whether it is researching the company, practicing common questions, or preparing a list of questions for the interview.  Relying too much on your resume is a common error job seekers make.  The interviewer has read it and knows what it contains.  They want to get to know the person behind the resume.  He/she needs to know you have the background listed and can actually do what you say you can do.

Don’t rely solely on your resume in an interview – put in some time in interview preparation as well.  Your resume isn’t going to do the talking during the interview – that’s going to be up to you.

There’s a financial cost associated with every job.  Many people don’t consider this fact when they accept a new position.  It’s important you know how much money you will need to make in order to bring home your desired salary in this new position.

So what kind of expenses do you have with a job?  The most obvious one is health care.  Depending on the plan and the size of the company there can be a significant difference in out of pocket expenses.  And don’t forget things like office visit and prescription copays – they play a role in the cost of health insurance.  Other factors to consider include:  commuting expenses, paid training, tuition reimbursement, and health club memberships.

Before accepting a new job, compare the costs that you will be required to pay out of pocket.  You might just find out that the salary offered to you is a raise on paper but in fact a step backwards in what you bring home every two weeks.