Douglas writes:
I don’t think I’ve seen this issue in your blog before. I’ve been in the
same career — banking — for about 10 years now. I am looking for a
new job but find that the response I get from many of the employers is
either none or that I am overqualified. I love what I do, so why should I
change? What should I do?
The Career Doctor responds:
There’s a dirty little secret in job-hunting, and if you’re a job-seeker with
several years of experience — or worse, in middle management — you may
have been exposed to it as Douglas has. What is it? It’s the label hiring
managers put on mid-career job-seekers who appear to have one of
three flaws: too many years of experience, too much education, and/or
too highly paid in current or previous job. Yes, it’s the label many
job-seekers fear: being overqualified. Overqualified is code for “will not
fit the current position” — and be forewarned that it is a difficult label to
overcome.
What can you do to overcome this unfair label? Unlike other job-hunting
problems or negatives, if you feel you are going to be labeled as
overqualified, you must be proactive. You will probably need to develop
an entirely new job-search strategy- - changing the way you write your
resumes and cover letters as well as how you sell yourself in job interviews.
Here are just some of the tactics you’ll need to use in implementing this
strategy:
- Let your network speak for you. Nothing you could say about
yourself is stronger than a recommendation from someone who knows
you and can recommend you. The ideal scenario is for you to use your
network to find someone within the organization and let that person
make the first pitch for you.
- Focus more on skills and accomplishments than job titles. Use
the employer’s own words — from the job description — to show how your
skills match perfectly while at the same time downplaying skills not
required for this job.
- Take salary off the table. Make it clear from the beginning that you
are completely flexible about salary — and that your previous salary is
of no relevance to your current job search.
- Reveal financial advantages of hiring you. If salary looks to be
a concern, use specific examples from your past experiences to show
how you increased revenue generation and/or cut costs/realized
increased savings.
- Emphasize teamwork and personality. Demonstrate that you are
a team player — that the success of the team is more important than
any of the individual team members.
Read more — including five more tactics you can use — in my article,
Fighting
the Overqualified Label: 10 Tactics for a Successful Job-Search.
Gigi writes:
I am in a job that is unfulfilling and I see no growth or development opportunities for
me. For the last two years I have been searching for another position. I have had a
few interviews, but no job offers. I do not know why I am not getting any job offers.
I interview well and my qualifications are very good. I am so unhappy in my present
job that I am ready to resign! I have voiced my concerns to management only to
have them negated and ignored. More importantly, I am concerned that I am not
getting any offers, especially because my qualifications are very good. Can you
please give me some suggestions on what I can do to increase my likelihood of
getting a job offer?
The Career Doctor responds:
I hate to break this news to you, but I sense someone needs to do so. You have a
problem, and while I can’t say for certain without more information, I would point the
finger at your ego and your attitude.
It’s important for job-seekers to be confident, but I can tell you right now you most
likely do NOT have good interviewing skills if you are not getting to the next level.
Now, it is slightly possible that you work in an environment where everyone knows
everyone else and the gossip mills have branded you a trouble-maker or whiner,
but if that were the case you would not even be getting any interviews. It’s also
possible that you are not following-up each interview with a thank-you letter and
showing your ongoing interest in the employer.
So, I think your job-search strategies must be solid. You must write decent cover letters and resumes, so it’s time to take a hard look at your interviewing skills. Here are your
options:
- Ask a mentor to conduct a mock interview with you to critique your skills.
- Contact a career professional and work on developing/enhancing your interviewing skills.
- Contact one of the hiring managers that passed on you and ask (in a very non-confrontational manner) if s/he would be willing to give you some honest feedback.
Lindsey writes:
Hi. I am considering the idea of taking a second job on top of my regular full-time job.
I see it as a chance to pay off some debt and get back on my feet, while helping my
family. I have excellent skills, so I am not so worried about difficulty in finding a job,
but I am worried about the effects of so much work on me and on my family life.
Any thoughts?
The Career Doctor responds:
Somewhere between 7-8 million Americans hold a second or third job…
and most do so to simply earn a living or to help earn extra money.
Moonlighting is tough — it’s hardest on you (because you will
have no free time) and your family and friends (because they
will never see you).
Here are some strategies for finding and surviving a second job:
- Check your main employer’s policies. Before you even consider
looking for a second job, take the time to check your current employer’s
policies about holding outside employment.
- Understand your reasons for taking a second job. If it’s purely
monetary, you may be able to talk to your current employer to pick
up extra shifts rather than take a second job.
- Consider a trial basis. Moonlighting in short doses — to accomplish
some short-term goals — usually works better than working multiple jobs
for long stretches of time.
- Find a job that interests you. Perhaps you have a boring office job
as your main job, so try something fun like being a tour guide or other
more unusual job for your second one.
- Consider second jobs that are less stressful. If your first job is a
pressure-cooker, find a second one that is relaxing to you, such as
pet-sitting or tutoring.
- Find jobs that are geographically close to each other- - or to your
home. Your time will be limited enough without adding a long commute
to your second job.
- Seek out new opportunities with new employers. If you are contemplating
a career change, but are not sure of your next career, use second jobs to test
out some of your career ideas.
- Reduce your load. If you are working multiple jobs, it’s probably time to
cut some of those extracurricular activities.
- Carve out time for significant others. You must find a way to schedule some
time with your family and friends or those relationships will suffer… and if you have
a partner, be sure s/he is okay with your plans.
- Know when it’s time to quit. Whether it’s when you reach your financial goal
or when you are beginning to mentally or physically breakdown, you must r
educe your load… though that does not necessarily mean quitting your
second job (if it has become your new career passion).
Read more in my latest article published on Quintessential Careers:
Moonlighting
in America: Strategies for Managing Working Multiple Jobs
See also this section of Quintessential Careers:
Jobs
for Consultants, Freelancers, and Gurus
Ron writes:
I have been floundering all my life but manage to get jobs that help pay rent/mortgage
which are not my passion. I graduated with a painting degree and ever since all the jobs
I have held have been dead-end positions. I have been receptionist, sales/customer
service and now a sales specialist selling catalog furniture over the phone. I am sick
of sales and phones but don’t know how to pursue my talents of art, painting, design,
color while still paying my mortgage. What do you advise?
The Career Doctor responds:
You should resolve, today, that you will
have a new job in the career field where your passions lie by the end of the
year — if not sooner!
You say you have been floundering all your life — but what have you done to help
position yourself for a career in the arts? You chose to apply for all these jobs —
and then you accepted them once offered. Using the tagline of an infamous infomercial
of a few years back, “stop the insanity!”
You control your fate. You can continue to be stuck in dead-end jobs that you hate,
or you can make a decision to follow your bliss. Are you ready to get started?
You need to develop a strategy for making the transition. Then, while continuing to
work in your sales job, begin laying the groundwork for that career change.
First, decide the types of jobs/careers in the arts that most interest you.
Second, find an arts organization that needs volunteers — and volunteer as much as
you can. Gain valuable experience and begin to make contacts.
Third, find arts groups (within your community or online), join them, and build
your network.
Fourth, determine if you need any further training or education to qualify for a
job in the arts.
Fifth, use your new network of contacts, volunteering experience, and degree to
track down job leads and position yourself as the ideal candidate.
Stick to the plan — and you WILL have success.
Learn more in this section of Quintessential Careers:
Job
and Career Resources for Career Changers.
Anonymous writes:
Network. Network. Network.
I followed all the networking and other advice you and every other career guru offers.
I’ve been out of work for more than two years now. Nobody in my network will return my phone
calls or emails anymore because, of course, they all have jobs so they can’t understand
why I don’t. They’re tired of hearing about me not having a job. They’ve asked me not to
give their names as references anymore because they’re tired of all the phone calls from
people who end up not hiring me anyway. Without references, I don’t have a chance of
finding work.
I have no job, and I’m so demoralized that I don’t even have it in me anymore to bother to
look for one. I have no friends left. I spend every moment of every day by myself. I have
nobody to talk to. And oh yeah, I have a truckload of skills, training, and experience
going to waste.
The Career Doctor responds:
First, let me state how sorry I am that you are in your current situation. I think
desperation and poor job-search techniques have had a hand in your stretch of unemployment.
There is a fine line between using your network and abusing your network. People
in your network aren’t the ones who will hire you; networking is based on
the premise that we live in a small world and our network serves as our ears for the
potential job openings. I’m not hiring, but I just heard that Company X is in need of
someone with your qualifications, so I give you a call and let you know about the
opening. Networking is, and probably always will be, the most powerful tool
of job-hunting — when used correctly.
There is no question you are desperate — and I feel for you. But you have to
understand that hiring managers do not hire people who are desperate for a job —
any job — hiring managers want job-seekers who are a good fit and have an interest
in the job and the company.
And I think you are still traumatized — on some level — by getting downsized. Just about
everyone gets fired or downsized at some point in their careers, and you need to find
a way to put that behind you and move forward. There is no stigma — unless you put
one on yourself.
At one point you WERE getting interviews, but I am guessing your desperation or
trauma over being fired was telegraphed to the interviewer — and that’s why you never
received a call back or a job offer.
My best advice? You need counseling. Call your alma mater and speak with a
career professional. If you don’t want to do that, see if there is a one-stop career center in your area. These publicly funded career centers can help you regain the
confidence you need and rebuild your skills so that you can get a new job and
begin rebuilding your life.
Use this URL to find a local government-sponsored career center:
Career One-Stop Center Service Locator.
For more advice on networking, go to this section of Quintessential Careers:
The Art of Networking.
Rich writes:
I am just so discouraged with the whole job-hunting experience. Why are there no jobs?
When will the jobs return? I guess I’m lucky because I currently have a job, but I dislike
it and my employer for their attitude toward us, and I want out. What should I be doing
to get a new job?
The Career Doctor responds:
The good news for many job-seekers — and possibly bad news for many
employers — is that we are seeing glimmers of a positive (read growing) job market returning.
So, why is the news bad for employers? Because many experts are
predicting the largest mass exodus of employees in recent memory
when the job market fully rebounds and people begin switching employers.
Numerous studies indicate that you are not alone in your views. Studies show that employees are growingly dissatisfied with their employers —
because of things such as working multiple jobs to compensate for laid-off coworkers,
working longer hours for the same pay, and seeing little movement in
overall compensation.
What can you do to prepare for the expected job growth? If you plan to
stay in your current field, continue to strengthen and build your network
of contacts. If you plan to switch careers, take the time now to get the
necessary training or experience (by volunteering, consulting, or part-time work) and begin establishing a network in your new career field.
Learn more about how best to use networking in your career development
and job-hunting by going to this section of Quintessential Careers:
The Art of Networking.
Rodney writes:
For nearly two months now, I have been vainly trying to acquire an entry-level clerical position, but to no avail. I’ve sent out 15+ resumes, complete with cover letter and all, to entry-level job postings and I’ve gotten NO
CALLBACKS WHATSOEVER (except for one form letter telling me that
“my skills are not the best match for their company”).
What am I doing wrong? I have plenty of relevant computer skills, and
a good starting amount of experience thanks to a temp service I’ve been
working with, and I’ve got references and all sorts of other wonderful
things to back me up, but I can’t even score an interview!
Please, I need some guidance and I don’t know where else to look. I’ve
been driven almost to tears because of this frustrating situation.
The Career Doctor responds:
I know that you — and the thousands of others following your same strategy —
think you are trying hard to find a new job, but you are simply not doing
enough, especially in today’s job market.
First, are you only applying to job postings? If you’re looking for a clerical
position, there is certainly no limit to the number and types of companies
that need that kind of help. So, your first step is to expand the number of
potential employers you are contacting. Do the proper research: find the
companies, call to get the hiring manager for clerical positions, and then
send a targeted cover letter and resume to each hiring manager.
But before you send out those cover letters and resumes, please make sure
that you are following the proper guidelines. Your cover letter should be
about 4-5 short paragraphs, with the first paragraph saying exactly why
you are writing — and why you are an ideal candidate for the position. End
the letter with a promise to call and follow-up. Your resume should be
1-2 pages depending on your experience, and it should focus on your key
accomplishments, skills, and education. Do not list duties on your resume.
On both your cover letter and resume avoid any kind of typos and misspellings.
Second — and this step is CRITICAL — you MUST follow-up ALL job leads.
You cannot expect an employer to contact you. I would even advise
getting on the phone right now and contacting all the employers you have
already sent applications to and ask about the positions. Calling an
employer to inquire about a position is never a bad thing — unless you are
unprofessional or unless you start calling every hour. Following-up with an
employer shows you have a strong interest in working for the company.
And, amazingly, many job-seekers think its best to wait by the phone for
the employer … so, get the edge over the others by calling each employer.
And while we’re on the subject of job-search strategies … once you do start
going on interviews, make sure you send each person you interview with
a thank-you note as quickly as possible — and then follow-up those
thank-you notes with another phone call.
Get more help in these sections of Quintessential Careers:
Cover Letter Resources
and Resume Resources.
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