Rekindling1
- 1. LOCKE ALDERSON Recruiter Resource & Career Consultant 41 years in Recruiting & 11 years in Career Consulting Alderson & Associates formerly with Oracle, Siebel, Raytheon Systems, E-Systems LockeAlderson&gmail.com Crossroads Career Transition Workshop Sept. 8, 2012 ctw@crossroadsbible.org
- 2. RE-KINDLING YOUR JOB SEARCH Job Psychology • You have lost your job, now what? • Take a deep breath and try not to panic. • Talk to your family – give them a status of what’s happened – they are in it with you. • Reflect on how you’ve successfully handled serious situations in the past. • Don’t burn bridges behind you! • Develop a job search strategy & marketing plan • Who are you? • Don’t forget to ask for help. • Be able to answer “Why should we hire you?”
- 3. Just what is the current status of the American workforce • While unemployment is hovering at 8% nationally (1 of 12 Americans) and & 7.5% in Texas True unemployment percentages are actually higher • Today the average unemployment is over 36 weeks vs. 16.5 weeks 3 years ago • In 2007 there were generally 2 qualified candidates for most positions, today there 10-12 qualified candidates • Job openings have risen 26% since July 2009 • 54% of the large US businesses that had layoffs in the last 18 months plan to rehire to pre-recession levels • The US added 3,380,000 jobs last year • DFW’s top 25 private employers added almost 13,000 employees in the last 12 months & the 25 largest public employers added 2,000 employees
- 4. What do employers really want? • Candidates who’ve kept their skills current • Not to make a mistake and hire the wrong person – bad hires cost money. • Budgets are still tight, headcounts are still limited, and its often difficult to get additional headcount approved • Candidates with the right education, training, relevant experience & requisite skills, + flexibility, energy, and enthusiasm • Doers with leadership & communications skills • Choosing a winner – A players, High Achievers • Candidates who can hit the ground running & apply their experience toward the success of the company
- 5. Do an honest Reality Check • Have you accepted what’s happened to you? • Look at things as they are, not as they should be, or how you want them to be! • Remember: you are not alone, you are not an outcast and you are not a failure • How have you dealt with change? • Older workers – myths & reality • What about discrimination?
- 6. Keeping the Momentum Going. • Maintaining your focus – 1 day at a time • Taking care of yourself • Putting together your game plan • Calendar – Schedule of daily/weekly activities • Phone phobia • Achievements • Strengths & weaknesses • Building a support infrastructure
- 7. What’s the big deal about Achievements? • ACCOMPLISHMENTS - Situation, Task, Action taken, Results • Performance reviews. Linked-In Recommendations; In the last 6 months what activity are you proud of? Readers’ Digest article “The Greatest Accomplishment in My Career”, what would you write about? • Start with an active verb – 1 to 2 lines describing the results • Uses $s, numbers and %s where possible, to convey impact. • Use before & after comparisons - with competitors, the industry, your predecessor, others in your work group or the company • What were the results in terms of making or saving money? Of saving time, making work easier, or solving a problem? • How did the activity make the company more competitive or increase business? Or build relationships with internal or external customers? • How did the accomplishment expand the business, attract new customers or retain existing customers? • Ask yourself about the achievement: SO WHAT? WHAT’S the SIGNIFICANCE? WHAT’s the REST of the STORY? WHAT RESULTED FROM the ACTIVITY?
- 8. Networking • What is networking? When do you start? • Building a realistic networking plan • What are your objectives? • Where do you go to gather the information? • Primary & secondary contacts • How do you approach those contacts? • You are always networking, never stop!
- 9. Cover letters & email • Does anyone still use a cover letter? • Do recruiters/hiring managers read them? • Why they are useful? Are they important? • Components – The carrot, the validation and the close • Table letters – your requirements / my experience • Email – include your resume in the text and/ or as a word.doc (version 2007)
- 10. Interviewing – Informational and Face-to-Face Interviews • Practice interviewing – questions & answers • Be prepared – do your research • Be honest & positive • Exchange business cards & bring extra resumes • Be courteous, particularly to the gatekeepers • Informational interviews can turn into job interviews & job interviews to informational • Convince them you are not a risk – strengths & accomplishments
- 11. Recharging your batteries • Id what is not working for you & stop doing it!! • Refresh your resume on Linked-In & the job boards • Know your competition – optimize your Linked-In profile • Set goals for your daily & weekly activities • Keep in touch with your contacts • Participate weekly in networking activities • Give & you shall receive – pass on leads to others • Send thank you notes to those helping you in your job search, and to those you interview with • Include fun activities in your calendar • Add humor to your life - your search & your interviews • Volunteer – those who do get employed more quickly • Remember opportunities come in the strangest places
Editor's Notes
- #3: When you lose your job, you may experience a wide range of emotions. Your reaction may include sadness, anger, fear, numbness & shame. Experiencing this roller coaster is normal. Accept the fact that there will be both good & bad days. There may be times when you feel that you are making no progress. Resist the temptation to blame yourself or others. Job loss, like any loss means letting go of something valuable. Job loss is a major life event not unlike death of a loved one , divorce or serious injury. Its painful, shocking & depressing. Don’t be surprised if you go thru 5 stages of grief . Denial/shock (this isn’t happening to me!) Anger (why is this happening to me?) Depression (I don’t care anymore) Bargaining (I promise I’ll be a better person if …) Acceptance (I’m ready for whatever comes) Proverbs 16:9 in his heart a man plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps. Make a plan and Act NOW In order to find a job, people need to know you are looking. That means telling family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances - just about everyone you meet!
- #4: Myths: Employers only hire in good times Job hopping doesn’t occur in today’s economic times Replacement hiring doesn’t happen on economic time like those of today Today’s job market is tough & its easy to get frustrated & disappointed Don’t think that no response to your resume or call means you’ve done something wrong – it means the person you tried to contact did not get back to you and probably as overwhelmed as you . REMEMBER - there’s not much you can do about the past, but you have control over the future. Can’t change your – Sex, Age or Minority status, you experience. Factors you may control – Employment status, marital status, condition of your health (1 st impression), your education You as a job seeker offer a solution to a problem, more efficiencies for a department or vision of new opportunities. Where’s the beef? How can your experience translate into success for the company
- #5: Employers are picky for good reasons. Bad hires cost money, can cause lost productivity, harm morale, and sometimes result in lawsuits. Replacing someone can cost 2 to 3 times a their salary. And with budgets tight, there’s little money for training. Employers want plug & play people. A classic WIIFM case where you either make money or save money for the company. Any manager has a budget and they want a way to either increase sales or reduce costs. You being able to do one of these will be music to their ears. If you can demonstrate and project how much you will put on his or her bottom line, they will be very tempted to hire you. So your job will be to present your exact plan for doing this and how they can.
- #6: Losing your job only happens to the other guy. I’m too good, too valuable to be laid off. A lot of people have been laid off or fired at least once in their career. The American dream is having a good job, working hard, earning a good living and advancing up the career ladder. So if you are out of a job or in transition you need to accept the fact that you are unemployed and avoid sitting around the house feeling sorry for yourself. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Isaiah 40:29-31 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Psalm 55:22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
- #7: Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer & petition , with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ACCOMPLISHMENTS - Situation, Task, Action taken, Results WHERE to START - Performance reviews. Recommendations on Linked-In; In the last 6 moths what activity are you proud of? Why? If you were to write an article for the Readers’ Digest entitled “The Greatest Accomplishment in My Career”, What would you write about? “ Start with an active verb – 1to 2 lines Uses dollars $s and percentages %s where possible, to convey impact. Use before & after comparisons - with competitors, the industry, your predecessor What were the results in terms of making or saving money for the company? How did the result save time, make work easier, or solve a problem? How did the activity make the company more competitive or increase business? How did the activity build relationships with internal or external customers? How did the accomplishment expand the business, attract new customers or retain existing customers? Ask yourself about the achievement:: SO WHAT? WHAT’S the SIGNIFICANCE? WHAT’s the REST of the STORY? WHAT RESULTED FROM the ACTIVITY?
- #8: Eye catching words vs. Fluff – Avoid self-ascribed attributes – hard working, problem solver, motivated, outstanding, effective, seasoned, exceptional, energetic, team player, driven, dedicated – they mean nothing. Instead, give specific examples of your attributes & SUBSTANTIATE them. Applied, Analyzed, Evaluated, Created, Reduced, Won, Improved, Increased, Developed, Researched, Under Budget – key verbs from the job posting. Thinking outside the box Passion RULES - Focus on opportunity Small business has major advantage What build America? – pioneers
- #9: What is networking? An exchange of information or services among individuals, groups or institutions.. Using personal contacts to meet people. Networking is the key to piercing the hidden job market is networking 30-40 % of jobs are filled by networking - who do you know & who do they know In today’s environment, hiring managers simply don’t want to take a chance. With a stranger, it’s a crap shoot. Vs. taking a known commodity. They want a sure thing, so they tend to hire people they know or who are known and trust. Ecclesiastes 4:12 - One person can easily be overpowered, while two people can stand up for themselves. And a rope made out of three cords isn't easily broken.
- #11: Don’t monopolize the conversation 60 % to 70% Don’t talk too long Questions to be asked – What are the priorities that need to be addressed immediately? How long was the prior incumbent here? Why did they leave? Tell me about your management style. How do you bring out the best in your employees? What types of people excel here? How long have you bee with the company? Why do you stay? What do you know about our company Why would you like to join our company? What are you looking for in a new position? What are your 3 strongest qualities or greatest strengths? What are 3 areas for improvement ((your greatest weakness)? What did you like most (least) in your last job? Why have you been unemployed for so long?
- #12: You’ve lost your job, but you haven’t lost your skills, talent or expertise. Optimize your profile on Linked-In In order to find a job, people need to know you’re looking. That means telling family, friends, acquaintances – just about everyone that you meet. Share the wealth. The competitive advantage used to be about keeping a juicy nugget to yourself. But today knowledge is practically a commodity. Sharing raises your personal brand& connects you to others at a higher level. Volunteer – greater feeling of self-worth & it can be used on your resume. Laser focus – where are you going & what do you really want to do. Success – you HAVE been successful before, reflect on that. CareerDFW.org Let your network know when you have landed.