Sunday, March 14, 2010

Get Out There and Volunteer!

There is an article in my local paper this morning about volunteering. It says that as the poor economy swells, more people are using their professional skills as a volunteer. The benefits of volunteering are numerous and include:

1. Transferable Job Skills - The skills you used as an employee can now "transfer" to a volunteer organization. They keep your resume fresh. For example, if you created PowerPoint presentations at work, you can create PowerPoint presentations for a volunteer group. This activity allows you to continue learning and using your skills.
2. New Skill Development – Let’s say that you never held a leadership position at your former place of employment but as a volunteer, you now find yourself responsible for accomplishing something though a group of people or making strategic decisions. Those skills can now be listed on your resume. As a volunteer you can gather a number of valuable, interesting skills and competencies. Think facilitation, project management, event planning, data analysis, team building and others.
3. Networking - The number one way to find a job! With a volunteer activity you will be interacting with a number of other people. Those people and their contacts can become your contacts. That is a first step towards networking.
4. Possible Career Change - You may realize that you enjoy the tasks and people associated with a particular volunteer opportunity and think about a career change.
5. Community Citizen- Many organizations value service to the community and may consider this when evaluating a resume or interviewing a candidate.
5. Giving Back - This wonderful opportunity helps not only you but many others.

Some people never consider the potential and value of volunteering. Not only are you getting out of the house and away from your immediate job concerns, but you are making a difference AND enhancing your marketability.

Monday, March 8, 2010

The Overqualified Job Seeker

I've been doing a number of trainings for the class, Job Search for the Mature Worker. One of the things we inevitably get to is the Overqualified Statement. Since it is illegal to infer that someone is too old for a position, many hiring managers wonder out loud if the candidate may be overqualified for a particular position. In other words, “Why would you want this job when you are clearly three levels above it?” Some class participant’s have asked if they should dumb their resumes down. It really is a sad mess in the job quest and needlessly makes a candidate and interviewer uncomfortable. It is bad enough knowing that you are getting up there in age but it hurts more when someone in a hiring position acknowledges it.
What are my responses to this?

1. Ask for clarification. What do you mean? How do you define overqualified? Once you get a response, you may be better able to respond.
2. Expect it and be prepared. What is it about this job that you like or can compensate for a lower salary? Is it closer to your home? Can you telecommute? Do you admire their corporate responsibility? Can you work an eight hour day rather than a ten hour day? How can you contribute your knowledge and background to this company in a lesser role? Can you be a mentor? Do you really mind having a lower role in the organization/how does this align with your work values?
3. Prepare a response based upon your reflection.
4. Match your skills and accomplishments to the position. Focus on how your past accomplishments can align with the department/organizational goals.
5. Sell yourself if you really want this position.

Most companies ask this because they think that you will leave after the economy improves or if you get a better offer with a higher paying position. Why would they invest in you if you are going to leave? You can’t blame them for wondering. Be prepared and don’t let them catch you off guard.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Upcoming Job Search Training Sessions

I present highly interactive training sessions on all aspects of the job search. Come by if you are in the area. The partipant's are wonderful and the sessions are jam-packed with useful tips,techniques and tools to help you stand out in the job search. Upcoming sessins include:

3/3/10 - Job Search for the Older Worker. Randolph Library. 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
3/5/10 - Resume Review. Rutgers University. 11:30 am - 2:00 pm.
3/6/10 - Job Search for the Older Worker. Franklin Lakes Library. 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm.
3/9/10 - Career Change for Moms Part One. Raritan Valley Community College. 10:00 am - 12:30 pm.
3/10/10 - Resume Preparation. Bound Brook Library. 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm.
3/12/10 - Resume Review. For Rutgers University at TCONJ. 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
3/13/10 - Job Search for the Older worker. Old Tappan Library. 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
3/16/10 - Career Change for Moms Part Two.- Raritan Valley Community College. 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
3/20/10 - Job Search for the Older Worker - Rockaway Public Library. 1;00 pm - 3:00 pm.
3/22/10 - Career Change. Bound Brook Public Library. 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm.
3/23/10 - Telephone Interviewing Part One. Raritan Valley Community College. 7:00 pm - 9:00pm.
3/24/10 - Career Change for Moms. Piscataway Public Library Kennedy Branch. 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
3/25/10 - Telephone Interviewing Part Two. Raritan Valley Community College. 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm.
4/7/10 - Interviewing Skills. Bound Brook Library. 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm.
4/12/10 - Career Change for Moms. North Plainfield Public Library. 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
5/1/10 - Job Search for the Older Worker. Kinnelon Library. 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm.
5/12/10 - Networking Skills. Bound Brook Library. 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm.
5/15/10 - Interviewing Skills. Waldwick Library. 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Please Visit a Dermatologist

Today I had surgery for a Stage 0 Melanoma. It was discovered about a month ago when I went to my dermatologist for my annual skin screening...