Happy New Year!

Job Search for the Displaced Manufacturing Employee

Last week I presented 24 hours of job search training to a number of displaced manufacturing employees. Their company plant was closing after 57 years in the same location in the community. While we were tucked in a tiny conference room, outside in the plant, teams of people in hard hats were pulling out the equipment meant to go back to the home office and destroying other, obsolete pieces. The smoke was in the air and our eyes were tearing as we plowed through the material. It was an odd scenario for me and judging by the heavy hearts in the room, it was painful for the group.

After ending that training on Thursday, I rushed back into the holiday mode; I still had shopping to do and baking to finish. Christmas came and went and through it all those 39 men and one woman remained with me. I thought about the uncertainty that they must have carried throughout the holiday.

Manufacturing is one of those industries that have become obsolete. A statistic from the Occupational Outlook handbook said that between now and 2018, manufacturing positions will decline 13%. It also said that as workers adapt to team-oriented production methods, those who can operate multiple machines will have the best opportunities for advancement and for gaining jobs with more long-term potential. In other words - the odds aren’t very good unless you sharpen your skill set. Gone are the days when someone with a limited education or a specialized skill can make a decent living running a machine or making a part.

Of the 40 people, I sensed that only a handful was seriously considering other career options. Maybe it was denial or anger or maybe it hadn’t hit them on the side of the head yet. It will though. I urged them to do the following:

1. Set up a game plan with goals and dates.
2. Assess their career values, motives, skills and transferable job skills.
3. Take advantage of the free career assessments offered.
4. Find and use grants or low cost training/retaining.
5. Network with one another and with other networking groups (such as the Professional Service Group via the Unemployment Office).

To quote Henry Ford, "It has been my observation that most people get ahead during the time that others waste." There is no time to waste; at least not in manufacturing.

Thank You for Following The Flap

Job Search and Stress

Next week I will be giving job search training to forty manufacturing employees in central NJ who are losing their jobs in early January. Most of these employees are over the age of forty and have spent their careers with this company. Not only are they starting the New Year by joining the unemployment line but on top of that they are going to be attending training in the days before the holidays. I am getting prepared for the inevitable anger and grief that are going to greet me on Monday morning but since I have been in their shoes, I am hoping to help them get through this very difficult time.

In her book, On Death and Dying, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross shares the five stages of grief and loss. While these stages were designed to explain the process that one goes through when facing death and dying, the same stages can be used for a number of other areas including divorce, financial problems and the loss of a job. The five stages are:

Denial – The refusal to accept facts, information or the reality of the situation.
Anger – Lashing out at ourselves, others, the illness, the person or the company that caused the loss.
Bargaining- Trying to negotiate with God or others. “I’ll do this…if you fix this.”
Depression- The feelings of sadness, regret, fear or uncertainty that come with the realization of the event.
Acceptance – Objectivity and acknowledgement of the reality of the event.

I came across an article by Melinda Smith, M.A. and Robert Segal, M.A. while preparing for this portion of the training. It states that when people lose their jobs, they go through these common feelings of loss:

Personal Identity
Self Esteem/Self Confidence
Daily Routine
Purposeful Activity
Loss of work based friends/network
Loss of security

For more information on handling these stages and some suggestions for moving forward, please refer to the article. It may be helpful if you or someone you know is going through the loss of a job.

Resume Preparation Worksheet

There is a heated argument going on over at LinkedIn about the different styles, uses and formats of resumes. I didn't get involved in that discussion other to express that many times the job seeker is bombarded with too many opinions about the "Right Way To Write a Resume" that it is no wonder why they are so confused and frustrated.

One of the tools that I use in training to prepare for constructing a resume is the Career Assessment Skills plan. This worksheet is divided into five columns and once completed will help create the proper wording for the resume. Please note that this is only one of the tools we use in training or coaching; there are others that further define skills, competencies, strengths and development needs. You can use this worksheet if you are looking for a job within your current field or for a new career interest. The worksheet asks you to define five areas:

Required Job Skills: This section asks you to list all of the skills associated with a particular job. For example, if you are applying for a position as an Administrative Assistant you would list the skills needed for this position. Some of those skills are scheduling, excellent written and oral communication skills, ability to work with a variety of document software packages, prepare reports and routine correspondence, etc. You can find them by reviewing the skills that you currently use in your position or research the skills in the Occupational Handbook from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, or in a reputable job board such as Indeed. You can also Google in the name of the job followed by the words, “job description”.

Tasks Performed: Here you will further define the skills that you listed in the previous column. Using the previous example for Administrative Assistant you would list areas such as the types of scheduling, reports, presentations, correspondence you prepared and performed. An example for scheduling is to list the type of scheduling software program you used as well as the number and positions of the staff you supported. You’d also list the types of reports or correspondence you prepared. This is the data gathering section of the worksheet.

Noteworthy Accomplishments: This is where you look at your specific accomplishments within the above areas and include measurements such as how much, how many, your audience, the results of your performance, number and the level of people you reported to, etc. This detailed information is the key to creating a specific resume.

Training Needed: Looking at the information that you have captured, this is where you would note any training or education that you might need to enhance your performance in this or another position.

Goals/Dates: Finally, it is important to state your performance goals. In this column you should list the steps and dates needed to schedule any training or create and submit your resume.

The information on this worksheet will give you a very good idea of the skills and competencies needed for any particular position and very importantly, your expertise and accomplishments in these areas.

Networking and the Holidays

Just because the holidays are quickly approaching doesn’t mean that it is a time to slack off on your job search; especially networking. The holidays bring in plenty of opportunities to meet with new and old friends and to let them know that you are actively searching for work. The key is to build relationships, keep your eyes open for opportunities but not let it consume you.

A couple of years ago (when Blackbird Learning Associates was new) my neighbors threw a Holiday Cookie Exchange. It was there that I tried out my new elevator speech. My neighbors didn't know that I had left my former company and were surprised to learn that I had ventured out on my own. At the end of the party I had three contacts to call at the start of the New Year. Networking really does work.

Here are a couple of hints:
1. Be Prepared with a short, casual elevator speech. Think of what you’ll say if people ask about you about yourself. Here is an example.
You: “Hi Joan, how have you been?”
Joan: “Great but so busy lately, how about you? How are things?”
You: “Me too, trying to get everything done with the few weeks that we have left to the year. I’m also in the middle of a job search. My company outsourced my department a few weeks ago and on top of the holiday rush, I’m also trying to find a new job.”
Joan: “It’s ridiculous – this is going on everywhere. What are you doing?”
You: “As you know, I’m technical writer and love it. I want to stay in the field and have started serious job hunting. If you happen to know anyone in your company or from your contacts, I would appreciate the help.”
Joan: “Let me think about who I might know. Let’s talk more after the holidays.”
You: “That would be great, thanks Joan. By the way, how is the college search going for Erin?”

2. Listen and be open to the person that you’re talking with. In other words, don’t make it all about you.

3. Be gracious with everyone.

4. Have fun, give yourself a break and enjoy yourself. Don’t be caught off guard but don’t feel as if you have to push yourself constantly.

Talking, listening, laughing and sharing are all parts of networking; all a part of life. It's important to be prepared for any holiday event but enjoy your friends and family first.