Sea Glass and the Job Search

Can you find the sea glass in the rocks?

As I was walking on the beach today I was thinking about other things and wasn’t concentrating on the reason I was there. I was thinking about work and my kids and if I left enough food out for the cat. My mind was so busy jumping from topic to topic that I walked by two pieces of glass. How did I know that? Because some part of my brain was still processing the reason for the walk even though I was thinking about something else. Somewhere in my brain I was getting a message that I just missed some glass. Sure enough, when I stopped and turned around, there they were.

Organizing yourself for the job search process can be like walking past those two pieces of glass. While your mind is telling you what you should do, your thoughts tend to become scattered, disorganized and leave you overwhelmed and frustrated. The key is to take it one step at a time. After getting over the initial shock and then visiting with the unemployment office to figure out your options, it’s time to develop a strategy. There are three steps to that process; Planning, Networking and Preparing and you should spend some concentrated time on each before jumping to the next.

I’ll write about those areas next time. In the meantime, remember that while finding a new job is a necessity, too much mind clutter can lead to unproductive activities. We’ll take it one step at a time and like the sea glass, focus on doing it right.

Interviewing Question: Why You?

Interviewers ask all types of questions; some that make sense and others that may leave you scratching your head. In the past we’ve talked about some of the more common ones such as “Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses” or “Tell me about yourself”. I wrote about some of the ways that you can respond to these questions here.

Another question that you may be asked is “Why are you the right person for this job?” or “Why should I select you?” With this question, the interviewer wants to know if you are the right fit for the position and the organization and it is the time to sell yourself. Preparing for this question by reviewing the job posting and researching the company website and other publications will allow you to understand the company’s needs and direction. Make sure that you click the tabs in the website that will allow you to read about the company mission, history and philosophy about employee growth. In addition, during the interview you will learn more about the organization’s specific needs and the job requirements. Your goal in answering this question is to align your past accomplishments with their key needs and general values.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Our local newspaper wrote an opinion piece about Martin Luther King, Jr. today. In it, the author wondered that if Dr. King had been alive today, what he would think of the progress made in civil rights. I think that he would be dismayed at not only the depressing statistics that still surround the black American community but at the lack of progress we as human beings have made as a whole.

I know that I can be naive and idealistic but I still wince at a segment of the population who through their words, language and general sense of entitlement feel that they can spout hurtful commentary about others. The problem is that now instead of hiding behind white robes, they hide behind their computer keyboards.

I do a great deal of research in my business and in doing so, read many on-line articles. I wish I didn’t but I often read the comments that follow the articles. Many of the comments are rude, bigoted, and paint a picture of a crude, dense section of humanity. I am thinking (hoping) that this is just a small portion of society that happens to have nothing better to do than respond to articles on the economy, our government, gay rights, movie actors, job search, murders…you name it. The comments tear apart race, appearance, language, religion, and are mean spirited and scary. Scary in that there are actually people who feel as if it is their Constitutional right to shout their steaming viciousness to the world.

The author of the opinion piece in the paper today said that if Martin Luther King were here today he would “urge us to confront these interconnections, and to recommit to social movements that change structures of power themselves so that justice, and not simply a “tolerant” attitude, is restored as our collective goal.” Well, I’m confronting it. As Dr. King said, “The time is right to do the right thing.”

Football and the Older Job Seeker

The TV happened to be tuned to the pre-game show of the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston game today. I was half listening as CBS commentator and Hall of Famer Michael Irvin interviewed Ray Lewis, a Linebacker with Baltimore. Ray is young at 36 but in football lives, he is starting to get the snide comments that he should hang up his shoulder pads. I started to listen as Ray was talking about proving himself as an older athlete. He said that he does a couple of things to dismiss the “older” stigma.

a. He tries to stay healthy with a good diet. From what I’ve read, he hasn’t touched junk food in years. A fish and veggie eater, his occasional treats are Gummy Bears and red Twizzlers.
b. He practices and focuses. Ray Lewis has kept a notebook of his practice and exercise routine for years and he sets goals to maintain his physical activity, strength and stamina.
c. He thinks positively. In an interview with CBS Sports’ Mike Freeman he said, “If people think I'm slow let me say this, “Sideline to sideline there still isn't a 'backer in this business that can beat me. Sideline to sideline. Not one. I challenge you to find one."

The same three steps can apply to the older job seeker. While we all know that it is important to maintain our health and energy with diet and exercise, Ray’s take on positive thinking and practicing his skills (as well as learning new skills) is what stuck with me. Anyone in the job market needs to make sure that they stay up to date with the current skills relevant to their positions. If this means taking classes, practicing, discussing, networking and especially learning new skills, then so be it. This is especially important to burst the stereotype of the older job seeker.

Ray Lewis recently said, “I don't know when it will all be over for me. People want to use my age against me. They say I'm too old. People fear getting old. I don't fear that because now I have wisdom and a tough body to go with that wisdom." Nice words for all job seekers.

Happy Birthday to Us

Today Blackbird Learning Associates turned three years old. Just like a toddler, I am learning something new every day and in that same vein, making small steps to get my job search messages out. This whole, “running a business thing” has been an incredible journey for me and I want to thank all of you who follow this blog, Facebook or Twitter groups. At the beginning of every training session, I am humbled that you showed up on those freezing winter nights or scorching summer days. When you’ve called or emailed me you’re your thanks or to ask for help, I continue to count my blessings.
In the last year alone we have moved into Twitter, contributed to a number of job search articles, presented many classes all over the state, written resumes and provided job search coaching for hundreds of wonderful people. I mean that word “wonderful” as everyone I have met, trained and worked with had unique needs and motivations. One thing you discovered throughout every class or meeting is that you are a combination of the most astounding skills and strengths.
So thanks for your continued support and keep the faith. If you are aware of anyone needing job search help, please send them my way.

Step 1 - Set Goals

I don’t know about you but I’ve found that the older I get the more I need to write things down. If I don’t do this I find that my thoughts and activities are scattered. Every January when I worked in corporate America, I got used to writing formal annual goal statements. It was part of the culture and while I (and everyone else) was never in the mood to do it, we put aside the time to design a specific road map for the year ahead. I even taught a class about it.

Even now when no one is looking over my shoulder, I actually look forward to getting my 2012 goals down on paper and starting the year with a fresh direction. It’s not too difficult if you make your goals SMART. SMART is the acronym for specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely. Let's say that I want to clean out my hall closet; instead of saying that, I would make a SMART goal by writing:

Clean out and organize the hall coat closet by January 31, 2012. This includes:
1. Sort coats, gloves/mittens and hats by size by Friday January 1, 2012
2. Organize coats, gloves/mittens and hats to donate or throw away by January 17, 2012.
3. Donate usable coats, mittens or hats to church by January 20, 2012. Toss remaining items into receptacle in the Pep Boys parking lot on the same day.
4. Clean, sweep and paint closet by January 25, 2012.

Setting goals for your job search is important in that it will help you visualize your future, clarify your steps, and focus on dates. Within this context, your goals should be written in specific terms, they should have precise time frames, and they should be measurable. A specific goal tells you exactly what you want to accomplish. It's helpful to break each broad goal statement into manageable smaller statements. This step not only keeps you on track, but it allows you to feel a sense of accomplishment when each step is achieved. A time oriented goal statement should include specific target dates and the approximate time you will need to complete each of the steps. Here’s a sample that breaks down the steps needed to write a resume.

Prepare final version of resume by January 25, 2012.

1. Identify areas of expertise by January 9, 2012.
2. Choose resume template by January 10, 2012.
3. Identify job specific key words by January 10, 2012.
4. Create career history using key words by January 10, 2012.
5. Create summary statement using key words/phrases by January 11, 2012.
6. Type first draft using selected template by January 11, 2012.
7. Review and get objective feedback from contact A, B and C by January 20, 2012.
8. Type final version by January 23, 2012.

This example is for one step of the job search process - writing the resume. You might want to go through the same steps for career assessment, networking or planning for your interview.

If you have any questions on using goal setting for your job search, please let me know. Happy New Year!