I Found a Job!: Career Advice from Job Hunters Who Landed on Their Feet PDF
Preview I Found a Job!: Career Advice from Job Hunters Who Landed on Their Feet
CAREERS I I Found a JOB! F o CAREER ADVICE FROM JOB HUNTERS u n WHO LANDED ON THEIR FEET d “What separates I Found a Job! from the myriad books on job search is that the reader a is able to see how real people actually applied the advice and strategies outlined in the book. It changes the reader’s mindset from ‘This can’t be done’ to ‘If this person was able J to fi nd a job, then I can fi nd a job.’ ” I Found O —John A. Challenger, chief executive offi cer, outplacement consulting fi rm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. B ! Get Inspired and Get to Work Whether you’re taking the next step in your career or the fi rst, know this: The job search C A techniques that worked a few years ago are now obsolete. To get your foot in the door R E with employers and win a job offer, you’re going to need bold, new strategies that will ER a JOB! set you apart from other candidates. In this book, workplace columnist Marcia Heroux A D Pounds weaves lessons about the job search with the actual experiences of successful job V IC seekers who overcame economic turbulence to get great jobs. E F Armed with the advice and inspiration in this book, you’ll be able to R O M • Rebound from career setbacks. • Position yourself as a top candidate. JO • Make the most of your network. • Turn interviews into offers. B H • Develop a productive job search plan. • Create your own opportunities. U N T E R S W CAREER ADVICE FROM JOB HUNTERS H About the Author O L Marcia Heroux Pounds has been writing about business, management, and career A WHO LANDED ON THEIR FEET N issues for more than two decades. As the workplace columnist for the Sun Sentinel, D E based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, she reports about unemployment and answers D readers’ questions about career issues on SunSentinel.com. She earned her MBA with a O N certifi cate in international studies in 2000. Follow her on Twitter at @MarciaBiz. T • Be inspired by the stories of job seekers who overcame H E the odds and landed great jobs in a tough job market. IR FE • Learn the techniques that really work in today’s economy. E T • Adjust your mindset and revitalize your career. P o u n d s Marcia Heroux Pounds 800-648-JIST | www.jist.com Workplace Columnist, South Florida Sun Sentinel $12.95 Higher in Canada ccoovveerr ffiinnaall..iinndddd 11 1100//88//1100 1122::3388::1166 PPMM I Found a JOB! Career Advice from Job Hunters Who Landed on Their Feet Marcia Heroux Pounds I Found a Job! © 2011 by Marcia Heroux Pounds Published by JIST Works, an imprint of JIST Publishing 7321 Shadeland Station, Suite 200 Indianapolis, IN 46256-3923 Phone: 800-648-JIST Fax: 877-454-7839 E-mail: [email protected] Visit our Web site at www.jist.com for information on JIST, free job search tips, tables of contents, sample pages, and ordering instructions for our many products! Quantity discounts are available for JIST books. Please call our Sales Department at 800-648-5478 for a free catalog and more information. Trade Product Manager: Lori Cates Hand Development Editor: Colleen Totz Diamond Production Editor: Heather Stith Cover Designer and Page Layout: Aleata Halbig Interior Designer: Toi Davis Proofreaders: Paula Lowell, Jeanne Clark Indexer: Printed in the United States of America 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Pounds, Marcia Heroux, 1957- I found a job! : career advice from job hunters who landed on their feet / Marcia Heroux Pounds. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 978-1-59357-814-5 (alk. paper) 1. Job hunting. 2. Vocational guidance. I. Title. HF5382.7.P686 2011 650.14--dc22 2010040779 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles or reviews. Making copies of any part of this book for any purpose other than your own personal use is a violation of United States copyright laws. For permission requests, please contact the Copyright Clearance Center at www.copyright.com or (978) 750-8400. We have been careful to provide accurate information in this book, but it is possible that errors and omissions have been introduced. Please consider this in making any career plans or other important decisions. Trust your own judgment above all else and in all things. Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, ser- vice marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective owners. ISBN 978-1-59357-814-5 A CKNOWLEDGMENTS I want to thank all the job seekers who participated in this project, passing on their experi- ences and valuable lessons to others looking for work. You are the heroes of America’s Great Recession: David Adamson Howard Goodman Sondra McFarlane Alvaro Ruiz Amy Babcock Renee Govig Bryan McMahon Marian Schembari Ruth Balsam Maria Harkins Angel Mercedes Jessica Schmidt- Bonifant Suzanne Beard Hal Howard Gordon Murray Nicole Sheets Jeanette Benway Andrea Hubbell Janet Nelson Nancy Sickles George Berkley Michael Hudak Scott Nemeth Greg Siegelman Kirsten FV Binder Ed Humble Michael Ni Natalie Silva Lauren Burchett Alan Hunt Grace Orejas Michael Simon Sophie Cardona Kenneth Jones Rodrigo Parra Kathy Stein Anthony Cortese IV Ollie Jones Mary Pastick Bob Struth Nancy Cranford Marina Konchak Jackie Penalver Layla Thomas Michael Crehan Robert Kostin Laura Perry Mistie Thompson Paola de Angeli Jim Kowalczyk Larry Petralia David Tow Mary Beth Dew David Kravetz Charles and Mindy Pheterson Angel Valentin Ashley DuFrene Will Kuchera W. Alejandro Lisa Viale Rob Ewanow Jenipher Lagana Polanco Alexa Von Staden Stephen Fox George Lambros Alex Popov Scott Walsh John Galea Eric Levy Kurt Porceng Terri Warren Diana Galvin Steve Liewer Adam Rees Mary White-Cornell Rosanna Garofalo Mitch Lipka Martha Restrepo Pauline Wilcox Rodrigo Garrido Dane Lyons Luis Riano Denise Williams Christina Gleason Patricia Martinez Darwin Rivera Don Winsett Lisa Godoski Robert McClure John Rives I’d also like to thank the many job search experts around the nation who have helped with contacts and insight for this book: Thomas Shea, Romayne Berry, Jim DeChant, and Alan Berger of Right Management in South Florida; Diane Crompton of Your Social Media Strategist; Ellen Sautter of Right Management, Atlanta; Mason Jackson and Susan Leventhal of Broward County’s Workforce One; Marilyn Durant of Durant Resources; Sam Hines and Sue Romanos of CareerXchange; Kristen Nevils of HR Broker; Jeannette Kraar of Performance Management International; Roy Lantz of American Recruiters; Kia-lee Bussey of Human Resource Association of Broward County; Marge Balcom and Janine Moon of ExecuNet; Erin Lamberti of Keystone Partners; Lisa Montagna of Robert Half International; Carlos Baldo of Asesores Balor; Ed Loucks of TMI Executive Resources; Luis Martinez of Gran Altura; Linda Van Valkenburgh of My Executive Career Coach; Kristen Bergevin of The Phelps Group; Phil Scruton of the Small Business Development Center, Palm Beach State College; Grace Totoro, career coach; and Juan Pujol, human resources executive. Special thanks to my many good friends and family members across the nation who reached out to their networks on my behalf. I couldn’t have written this book without you. C ONTENTS INTRODUCTION .................................................................................1 CHAPTER 1: LOSE THE BITTERNESS, BUT KEEP YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR ......3 Embrace Change .............................................................................................4 Move Past Anger ............................................................................................5 Lose the “Woe Is Me” ....................................................................................7 Take Time to Assess Your Life .......................................................................8 Ask Yourself These Questions .........................................................................9 Know Your Best Fit, but Don’t Limit Yourself .............................................11 Understand Your Strengths ...........................................................................12 Seek Help from the Experts ..........................................................................14 Understand That People Want to Help .........................................................14 Keep on a Schedule ......................................................................................15 Be Proactive to Keep Up Your Spirits ..........................................................16 Exude Confidence, but Be Honest ................................................................17 Stay Motivated ..............................................................................................19 Learn the Art of Cold Calling .......................................................................20 Gain New Perspective ...................................................................................21 Leave on Good Terms and with a Game Plan ...............................................22 CHAPTER 2: PUT ON YOUR BEST PROFESSIONAL FACE ............................25 Prepare for Career Transition ........................................................................25 Use Outplacement Services ...........................................................................28 Avoid Job Search Firms That Charge Upfront Fees .......................................29 Update Your Appearance and Make Over Your Attitude .............................30 Be Aware of the Undercover Interview ........................................................32 Present Yourself Professionally ......................................................................32 Upgrade Your Resume .................................................................................33 Looking for a Job Is a Job .............................................................................38 Brand Yourself for Your Job Hunt ................................................................39 New Grad? Get Experience in Your Field ....................................................39 Stay Active and Keep Your Skills Fresh.........................................................42 Be Part of the Community ............................................................................43 CHAPTER 3: EXPAND YOUR NETWORK: IN PERSON AND ONLINE ..............47 Put Your Pride Aside ....................................................................................47 Get Your Family Involved ............................................................................49 Find Jobs Before They’re Posted ...................................................................49 Get Involved in Networking Organizations ..................................................50 Use Your Alumni Network ..........................................................................51 Remember It’s a Small World .......................................................................53 Be Curious Wherever You Go .....................................................................54 Volunteer Your Expertise .............................................................................55 Develop Yourself and Make New Contacts ..................................................56 Open New Doors with Online Networks .....................................................58 Contents v Play the Numbers Game ...............................................................................60 Learn How to Set Up Informational Meetings ..............................................62 Be Proactive and Seize Opportunities ...........................................................64 Keep Doors Open .........................................................................................66 Reach Out to Former Colleagues .................................................................67 Find Insiders at Your Ideal Employer ............................................................67 Check In with Former Customers and Suppliers ...........................................68 Help Others and You’ll Help Yourself ..........................................................69 Treat Your Coworkers Well .........................................................................70 Hang Out at Starbucks ..................................................................................71 CHAPTER 4: DO YOUR HOMEWORK ON POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS ................73 Create Your Own Marketing Plan ................................................................74 Gather Intelligence on Target Employers ......................................................75 Be Proactive While Still Employed ...............................................................77 Find an Inside Advocate ................................................................................78 Research the People, Too .............................................................................79 Check the Employer’s Financial Stability .......................................................80 Work with a Recruiter Who Has Inside Knowledge ....................................82 Volunteer Your Services to Become Known .................................................83 Be Savvy with Online Job Boards .................................................................85 Consider a Temporary or Contract Job .........................................................86 Know When It’s Time to Go, and Plan ........................................................88 CHAPTER 5: KEEP YOUR PERSPECTIVE DURING FINANCIAL TURMOIL ..........91 File for Unemployment Benefits ...................................................................92 Plan Ahead ....................................................................................................93 Be Honest with the Kids ...............................................................................94 Learn Financial Survival Techniques .............................................................95 Prioritize When Living on Less .....................................................................99 Remember, It’s a Temporary Situation ........................................................100 Embrace Your New Lifestyle .......................................................................100 CHAPTER 6: ADJUST YOUR MINDSET AND EXPECTATIONS ......................103 Pursue Employers That Are Expanding Their Reach ...................................103 Take a Contract Job .....................................................................................104 Transfer Your Skills .....................................................................................106 Combine Your Skills with Your Passion ......................................................108 Show Your Versatility ..................................................................................109 Get Out of Your Comfort Zone ..................................................................110 Consider Your Entrepreneurial Side .............................................................112 Stretch Yourself to Think Differently ...........................................................113 Pitch Your Skills to Uncle Sam ....................................................................114 Think Out of the Country ...........................................................................116 Open a New Door: Shanghai Adventure .....................................................117 CHAPTER 7: SNAG THE INTERVIEW AND THE OFFER ..............................121 Get Noticed by Your Target Employer .......................................................121 Stress Your Social Media Know-How ..........................................................123 Prepare for Interviews like an Exam .............................................................124 Take a Plant or Office Tour .........................................................................125 vi I Found a Job! Demonstrate How Your Personality Is a Good Fit .......................................126 Look Local, Even If You’re from Out of Town ...........................................127 Watch Your Interview Etiquette ..................................................................128 Negotiate the Job Description ......................................................................130 Be Likeable: Master Small Talk ....................................................................131 Push Back a Little ........................................................................................133 Present Yourself as You Are .........................................................................133 Interview the Interviewer .............................................................................135 Understand What the Job Entails .................................................................136 Ask for the Job .............................................................................................137 Know What Not to Do on an Interview ......................................................138 Get a Little Help from Your Friends ............................................................139 CHAPTER 8: PICK YOURSELF UP, AGAIN AND AGAIN ............................143 Know the Job You Want .............................................................................143 Learn from Each Job Experience ..................................................................144 Find the Right Job for You .........................................................................146 Gain New Perspective ..................................................................................147 Go Back to Your Roots ...............................................................................148 Learn to Communicate What You Can Do .................................................150 Keep Your Faith in Better Times Ahead ......................................................152 CHAPTER 9: ACCEPT THE RIGHT OFFER .............................................155 Remember Your Values ..............................................................................156 Go with Your Gut .......................................................................................158 Take the Long View ....................................................................................159 Be Assertive About Your Value ...................................................................160 Check Your Attitude ...................................................................................161 Ask for Severance .........................................................................................162 Don’t Get Too Comfortable ........................................................................163 Do Your Compensation Homework ............................................................164 Negotiate What Matters ...............................................................................165 Consider Your Stage in Life .........................................................................166 Talk It Over with Family or Friends ............................................................166 Choose the Job That Will Make You Happy ...............................................167 CHAPTER 10: CREATE YOUR OWN JOB ..............................................171 Use Your Skills in Multiple Jobs ..................................................................171 Parlay Your Skills into Your Own Business .................................................172 Offer Your Consultant Services ....................................................................175 Follow Your Quest for Independence ..........................................................177 Buy a Business or Franchise..........................................................................179 Start a Business Doing What You Enjoy ......................................................183 Update from Traditional to Digital ...............................................................186 Move to Where You Want to Be ................................................................188 Seek a Partnership ........................................................................................190 Use Your Skills for Others ...........................................................................191 EPILOGUE: KEEP LOOKING, NEVER STOP ............................................195 INDEX .........................................................................................197 I NTRODUCTION I began writing this book in the fall of 2009, when America’s economy was still far from recovery. Millions of people were out of work, and many others, including myself, wondered how long they might keep their jobs. Workers faced unbelievable odds, especially those in industries or regions hurt by the housing and financial crises. As a journalist covering unemployment in Florida, one of the hardest- hit states in the nation, I interviewed people nearly every day who couldn’t seem to find work. They sent out hundreds of resumes and got few interviews. They told me, “I’ve never been out of work.” Suddenly, they couldn’t find a job. Yet despite the challenging environment, some people found jobs— perhaps because they had better networks or advice, or they were more assertive than their peers. I decided to find out what was behind some people finding work while so many others continued to struggle. I interviewed successful job hunters from across the nation, in many different professions, and I discovered that many people who found jobs share certain traits: persistence, the ability to ask for help, an open- minded and positive attitude, and a dogged will to succeed. They used every tool available for their job hunts, not just one. And when they were rejected, they learned from their mistakes and kept on going until they found a job. I Found a Job! is your opportunity to learn from those who have found jobs in the worst economic time since the Great Depression. Even as America’s economy improves, job hunting will remain highly com- petitive, and the pool of job seekers will become more widespread. Discouraged job hunters will re-enter the market. At the same time, employees who were afraid to leave their jobs during the recession will decide it’s time to look around. The personal stories in this book will inspire you to stay motivated in this competitive environment, which is the biggest challenge during a long job search. You will see that even in the most difficult of times and circumstances, people do find jobs. 2 I FOUND A JOB! As a job hunter, you need hope, but you also need a plan. This book also can help you develop your own blueprint for success, no matter where you live or what industry you work in. Find the elements of your plan in these stories. For quick reference, you’ll find a list of “streetwise strategies” for job hunting at the end of each chapter. If you’re a professional who hasn’t looked for a job in 10 or 20 years, this book is especially for you. There are new ways of networking, cre- ating and submitting resumes, and interviewing and strategizing to make you stand out from the crowd and land the job you want and deserve. In interviewing successful job seekers for this book, I’ve had the oppor- tunity to talk with some extraordinary Americans. Many have creden- tials that would be enviable in any time. In this recession, they’ve had to draw on their emotional resources and reach out to other people for help, which was uncomfortable for many. Despite obstacles and difficult times, these survivors maintained an upbeat attitude. That healthy mindset is critical to finding a job. And I Found a Job! is the book that keeps you in the right frame of mind. Adapt these strategies and tactics from these inspirational Americans who have landed jobs— and perhaps you can be one of them. C 1 HAPTER L B , OSE THE ITTERNESS K Y BUT EEP OUR S H ENSE OF UMOR W orkers who lose their jobs often are told, “It’s not personal, it’s business.” But a layoff feels personal. Still, it’s critical to get past the anger and hurt in order to move on and find a job. Software engineer Dane Lyons, 39, admits he was “freaked out” in late 2008 when his business clients were dwindling, the economy was tank- ing, and he needed to find a job. Lyons had been through job loss before. Last time, “I became psycho- logically down about it and let that take over. I let it cripple me. All I could think about was how bad things were, and how angry and upset I was,” he says. As a result, in 2001 it took Lyons about nine months to find a job. He eventually went into business for himself and did well—until the recession hit. In late 2008, he was down to one client who hadn’t paid him for three months. Finally, Lyons realized, “I’m unemployed.” “You can’t change being upset,” Lyons says. “I was scared.” Instead of panicking, he channeled his fear into an intense job search. “This time I said, ‘I’m going full guns ahead. This isn’t going to be the way I did it before.’ This time I didn’t let it control me.”
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