Returning to Work- Taking the First Step

As a job search specialist I give a lot of training sessions on finding jobs. They range in content from career assessment to networking and include sessions on resume writing and interviewing. It is from these sessions that I decided to write the book, Job Search for Moms. When deciding whether to jump back into the workforce, many women think all that is needed is an updated resume. Unfortunately, they get to the heading and stop typing. They only know what they “used” to do and they don’t know how to articulate everything that has happened since them. I see this frustration in many of my sessions. What I say is this, “What is it that you really want to do?”

The first big step in any job search or career change is to put away the resume. That is the last thing to work on. You need to plan and dream and take a bit of time to think about you and all that you do. That’s the second step; Planning. There are a couple of things in the planning process and both deal with Focus.

1. Focus on You
2. Focus on the Job

Focus on You: Take some time to reflect and jot down your answers to these questions. Try to do this exercise yourself and then ask friends and family if they have anything to add.
a. What did I like about my last job(s)?
b. What activities did I enjoy?
c. What type of work energizes me?
d. What don’t I like to do?
e. If I could do anything, what could it be?
f. What are my interests?
g. What are my values?
h. What type of personality do I have?
i. What am I really good at?
j. What am I really bad at?
k. What skills do I have?
l. What skills have I developed over the years that I have been at home? (volunteer activities, work with the school, etc)

Focus on the Job: Once you have identified your skills and interests, think about the types of jobs that may interest you.
a. Take a free career assessment. There are many but try coachcompass.com or online.onetcenter.org)
b. Review the jobs defined in the Occupational Outlook Guide from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
c. Go to the familiar job search engines such as Indeed.com or Monster.com and look up the various positions that may interest you. Review the wording and match your skills and interests to these.

There are other steps along the way including evaluating your skills, identifying transferable job skills, networking and goal setting. Focusing on you and focusing on the job are two major accomplishments and once you get past these, you will be well on your way to creating a career plan.

For more information on the job search or for a career change, take a look at my book, Job Search for Moms.

Career Assessment

This article was posted in the Wall Street Journal.

Wall Street Journal
Reinvent
First, Know Yourself
By ALEXANDRA LEVIT
When it comes to career reinvention, too many people make a fundamental mistake: They don't know themselves.
So when I talk to people about making a career change, I always suggest first doing a few self-assessment exercises. Career self-assessment is the process of getting acquainted with what you like -- and don't like -- in a work environment.
You can do this by simply making a list of your skills and interests, and asking yourself questions such as "What type of work would make me sit in traffic for hours just for the privilege of showing up?" and "What energizes me at work?" Increasingly, though, career changers are drawing guidance from more sophisticated tests.
Entrepreneurial Bent
After getting laid off from an investment bank in New York, 25-year-old Alan Katz worked with career counselor Claudine Vainraub to determine his next steps. He completed a 360-degree survey, in which he collected feedback about himself from friends, co-workers, and family, as well as assessments about his work behaviors and career interests.
"The assessments helped me understand my skills, specific roles I play effectively and career interests," says Mr. Katz, who paid a total of $2,500 for the tests and professional consulting over a six-week period. "The results prompted me to investigate entrepreneurship, and I'm now developing a start-up company in manufacturing."
Many experts agree that assessments are best used in conjunction with an experienced career counselor who can hand-select tests for you -- and help you interpret the results. Ms. Vainraub, who is based in Miami, chose the 360-degree questionnaire for Mr. Katz to better define his work priorities. "We found that his personal vision of leading an enterprise forward was, in fact, quite different from his current career in finance," she says.
People described Mr. Katz as enjoying managing and motivating others, and driven when involved in a project. "Those are very much the qualities of an entrepreneur," Ms. Vainraub says.
Online Tests
If you can't afford or aren't sure you want to invest in a personalized assessment, start with free assessments online, including the Coach Compass Assessment (coachcompass.com) and the CareerLink Inventory (www.mpcfaculty.net/CL/cl.htm). Most take around 10 minutes to complete.
Ms. Vainraub recommends starting with free assessments from O*NET(online.onetcenter.org),a source of occupational information, and from Rutgers University (careerservices.rutgers.edu/OCAmain.html).
When completing these, make sure you keep your expectations in check. It's unlikely that one test will result in career fulfillment, so take several and see if you can detect patterns in the findings. Should you need something more precise, it may be in your best interest to contact a professional.
Mr. Katz says he would go through the self-assessment process again. "Self-assessment is great for people who are unsure of the correct career move to make," he says. "I now have a lot more confidence that I'm headed in the right direction."
Write to Alexandra Levit at reinvent@wsj.com

The End of the Performance Appraisal?

This is a recent Wall Street Journal article. It is an interesting take on the performance review and I think it makes a lot of sense. What do you think? By the way, if possible, keep your old performance reviews and use them to help write your resume. They contain reminders of your accomplishments.

http://online.wsj.com/home-page

The article is called "Yes,Everyone Does Hate Performance Reviews", written by Samuel Culbert.

Bartering

A way to maintain your skill set and enhance your networking skills is through bartering. Bartering is trading goods and services without using money. Today I bartered with a new friend. I am updating her resume and she is selling me a piece of jewelry from her collection at half price.
It is a win-win deal.
Think of your skill set and how you may be able to continue to refine and apply it by trading skills or products with someone. For example, if you have strong administrative skills, can you assist someone professionally format their resume and in turn receive something beneficial to you? It is something to consider. I have a friend who is a professional coach. After her training, to further develop and practice her new skill she approached me and asked if she could provide me with several weeks worth of professional coaching, if I would paint her a couple of decorative windows. We bartered and both received a valuable service or product.

Let's Get Some Discussion Going...

Do you have a question about anything related to the job search? Are you stuck on the type of resume template to use or the types of questions to expect on an interview? How about networking? What is holding you back? Let's help each other out!

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.

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.