Insider Secets Part II: What Your Career Coach Won’t Tell You

This is the second in a series of blogs on this topic as I thought this would be a fun way to start the New Year. I’ve reached out to a number of other career counselors as well as to former clients and other professionals in the field. By “insider secrets” I simply mean fresh, new ideas to help you reach your career goals in 2015. Here’s the second tip from Orville Pierson, Author of Team Up! Find a Better Job Faster with a Job Search Work Team. highlyeffectivejobsearch.com:

Job hunting is a team sport, and you should check the scoreboard regularly.

Most people don’t “keep score” when looking for a job. But with no way to tell how fast you’re moving toward that great new job, the search can seem like an endless, depressing series of rejections and difficulties.

Research shows us that the average job search includes conversations with 25 decision makers, people who could be your next boss. Most of these are informal talks, but five turn out to be actual job interviews. And one of those produces a job offer. So each conversation is a step closer to success, and counting them is one of several ways to keep score.

How do you manage to have those conversations? Ask your teammates, those smart and supportive job hunters that you meet with each week to figure out how to get better and better at job hunting – and to celebrate successes, small and large.

January 3, 2015 by Jean job search 0

Insider Secrets: What Your Career Coach Won’t Tell You

This is the first in a series of blogs on this topic as I thought this would be a fun way to start the New Year. I’ve reached out to a number of other career counselors as well as to former clients and other professionals in the field. By “insider secrets” I simply mean fresh, new ideas to help you reach your career goals in 2015. Here’s the first tip from Mary Glynn, AVP Quality and Training at Chubb:

Organize a Reunion to catch up with some of your favorite people as well as others who are in a position to help. I organized one after I was let go from a leading financial services firm and included others who had lost their jobs as well as current employees. People were happy to see each other and were grateful to me for putting it all together. So while you’re having a great time with colleagues and friends, you can also network for new opportunities. Let people know what you’re looking for. Share your list of companies of interest. And have a sign in book so that you get everyone’s updated contact information, or create the event invites through Evite or another online party site. Save the email list as a job search resource and follow up after the event to say how great it was to see them and then continue to stay in touch.

 

January 1, 2015 by Jean job search 1

How Can Something Little Have a Large Effect?

It’s odd, really the things that keep us going. And when you’re looking for work, this becomes even more important as it’s so easy to get discouraged. Why does learning a new skill lift our spirits? Because we feel productive, excited, unstuck. Here’s what happened to me. In the midst of recreating my work life after being let go a few years ago, I learned to knit. I started with really simple small projects, then tried harder things, and am now a master mitten knitter. I give them to family and friends. I knit while watching the news and find I’m relaxed. I take pictures of everything I make and love to think of my son wearing warm alpaca mittens or our grandkids out in the snow with their hands protected by the mittens I made them.

So add something fun to your job search. Something unexpected. Who knows where it may take you?

November 17, 2014 by Jean job search 0

Why You Need Other People to Help You Succeed

Whether you’re looking for work, running a business, launching a project, a key thing to remember is “don’t go it alone!” We all are limited by our own experience, education, preferences and so on, but by asking others their opinions–and staying open to feedback that may be surprising–we’re enriched, stimulated, and connected to resources that will help us succeed. Isolation is one of the worst problems job seekers face–maybe out of shame or hurt pride or any number of factors. Make a list of people whose opinions you value and then ask for advice. It could be very specific, such as “Can you help me think of industries that might use my skills?” or broader,  “I’ve been looking for a job in marketing and feel stuck. Could we talk for 10-15 minutes so I can pick your brain?”

And sometimes, by talking with other people, we learn things about ourselves that we didn’t know. I was just at a breakfast meeting of an association I belong to, and several people commented on how good I am at creating titles. I sort of knew this but never thought of it as something that I might add to my website as a service to others. So get out there, talk to people, keep a spreadsheet as follow up is critical, and be surprised by what happens. And don’t forget to add to your list reference librarians. They are fantastic at problem solving and know how to find resources that can help you.

October 24, 2014 by Jean 0

Tips for Running a Smart Job Search

For anyone in Eastern CT or Western RI, please join me at the Waterford Public Library on June 3. I’ll be talking about how to look for work so that you get over obstacles and beat out the competition. We’ll look at how to sell your skills and attributes successfully, why you need structure, what’s in your tool kit, as well as a short section on interviewing. On the 17th, I’ll be back at the library focusing on how to interview effectively. Please see the Events tab of my website for details:  http://JeanBaur.com.

May 30, 2014 by Jean job search 0

Key Interview Tips

For those of you in Eastern Connecticut, I hope you’ll join me at The Groton Public Library on 3/26, 7PM for a free program on interviewing. (All the details are on my website under Events–http://JeanBaur.com). I’ll be covering how to prepare, why listening skills are so important, how to make your words come alive with gestures and most importantly, how to get the focus on them (the interviewers) and what they need.

We’ll also practice providing proof in our answers, using PAR statements (problem, action, result). So if you can’t come, here’s one tip:  build these accomplishments or PAR’s so that when you’re talking about your strengths, you can offer examples. Don’t just say “I’m well organized,” but rather, follow that good lead in with, “for example, at my last job we had a problem delivering our orders on time. I analyzed the situation, created a spreadsheet and ensured that all orders were shipped out in a timely manner.”  Now you’ve proved that you’re organized and these examples or stories are also memorable. They stick which is another reason to make them a critical part of your interview strategy. For more on this, please see my book, “The Essential Job Interview Handbook.”

March 21, 2014 by Jean 1

Dealing with Discouragement

Getting bogged down during job search is so common that it’s almost expected. You get all geared up to conquer the world with your new resume, you have a search plan, and you network like crazy. And then, lots of times, nothing happens. The phone doesn’t ring, there are no emails inviting you in for an interview, and that bleak silence can begin to make you feel really discouraged. What can you do?

Here are a few ideas that I’ve gathered from my years of coaching thousands of people in transition:

  • expect it (don’t go into a search thinking it’s going to be quick and easy)
  • plan for it (put commitments on your calendar that you know will make you feel good, whether it’s taking a class or having coffee with a friend)
  • try to turn these feelings into action, even one small action such as targeting a company where you’d really like to work
  • put some of your focus on helping others. You can do this with a search buddy or on a Job Search Work Team, or sign up to volunteer–but make sure that you’ll be doing something you enjoy
  • remember, things can change in an instant. It only takes one “yes” to get you to a wonderful job, but you’ve got to work your plan to get there.

Is this easy? No. Do most of us want to do it? No. But the stakes are too high to let discouragement stop us. And a last idea:  read a good book on getting through the search process so you know you’re not alone. My first book, “Eliminated! Now What?” is full of true stories about job seekers who made it through tough times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 8, 2014 by Jean 0

How Do You Network Effectively Without Giving Away Key Leads?

Confidentiality in job search is a tricky issue. When you’re asked why you’re looking for a new opportunity do you really have to say that you and your last boss didn’t get along? Of course not. In preparing this important answer be positive about you’ve learned at your last organization and show excitement about your goals. This usually gets you past this one. But when you’re networking, how much should you share? Should you tell other people who may have similar credentials about the great contact you just made? I suggest not as it’s hard enough as it is and you don’t need to increase the competition. So come up with a general statement such as, “I’m exploring some opportunities in health care and would be happy to tell you about them when things are a bit further along.” This shows you’re active but doesn’t hand that contact to another job seeker. As career coaches we’re always urging our clients to network–which is good advice–but just be careful to network in ways that don’t hurt your chances of landing a great job. And it’s wonderful to be generous–to pass on leads that you don’t want or to share information about associations, networking groups, and so on. Just remember, your number one job is to land a job so be careful how you network.

February 19, 2014 by Jean job search 1

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