Heidi writes:
Hoping you will answer a couple of questions about our 4 college students and summer employment.
My husband and I are at odds about our 4 college students 20, 22, 23, and 24 years old (none of whom have ever really been gainfully employed for long, we have made the mistake of paying for everything for them, college, books, cars, insurance, spending cash and on and on).
I believe they should have that resume compete now! They should be making at the very least, 2 contacts minimum per day via email or phone or in person and a minimum of 60 contacts per month until they have at least one job offer and then maybe look for a back up plan. Not to mention out on the street pounding the pavement, visiting their college career office and on and on.
My husband believes I am being an extremist and far too aggressive with my requests of them. I believe finding a job is a job, especially today.
First let me thank you for making me and many of the readers of this column feel better about our parenting and home situations — and financial situations! I can’t imagine having four kids in college at one time, let alone paying for everything for them.
I don’t want to start a war in your family, but you need to stand your ground. Finding a job — any job — is hard work — and a job-seeker must plan for putting in the hours and efforts to land a job. Do your kids plan on being professional students all their lives, or are they going to use those college educations to be productive citizens?
I absolutely love your job-search system. Setting goals — easily attainable job-search goals — are great motivators for job-seekers. And from what you say, your kids are going to need a system to succeed. Employers want college graduates who have work experience.
Have them march immediately to the career services office at their schools and get the help they need finalizing versions of their resumes, developing a strategy for tracking down job and internship leads, growing their network of contacts (including alums of their colleges), and learning critical job-hunting skills.
Please don’t let your children become like the two children of a friend of mine… those two are late in their years (50+) and still getting a monthly allowance from their mother.
Check out this article on Quintessential Careers: 10 Reality Checks of Job-Hunting: Overcoming Common Job-Search Mistakes.
Anonymous writes:
I have been in the information technology field for the last 13 years, because
of some weird circumstances I was sent to jail for the past 6 months and
now I’m out on parole. How do I get my career back on the right path?
How do I tell potential employers about my parole, but not hurt my
chances of landing the job.
The Career Doctor responds:
Probably the most important three elements to your success are realistic expectations, patience, and practice.
Be realistic. Unless your skills are in high demand, don’t expect employers to jump at giving you a second chance. The good news for you is that your incarceration was for such a short time that your skills and experience are current. It’s much harder for job-seekers who served much longer jail terms to regain the edge in their former careers.
Have patience. It doesn’t help that today’s job market is still so bad, and that information technology job-seekers without a record are facing long job searches. You may get lucky, but be prepared. And you might take a look at smaller companies, which are often more flexible than larger ones. But keep in mind that you may need to take a survival job, switch careers, or get additional training or certifications before you land another full-time professional job.
Practice your pitch. Remember that you never want to bring up your record, but you must be prepared to explain it when it does arise. Use mock interviews to practice explaining the facts behind your situation. Be honest — with yourself and the prospective employer — and be sure to focus on what you’ve learned and why it would never happen again .
I would also recommend reconnecting with your network of contacts, working with a career counselor (perhaps from your former college), and working or volunteering part-time to get new experience on your resume and dissolve that 6-month gap of prison time.
Anonymous writes:
I am bashful, but present a calm exterior to the world that is frequently misinterpreted as arrogance. I swear, if someone asks me one more time why I’m so quiet, I will hurt somebody. Anyway, because I tend toward reticence and am not “perky” (but by no means rude or unfriendly), I am consistently turned down for jobs. I cannot become a perky outgoing person over night nor am I an actress, but I certainly need to eat. What can I do to increase the likelihood of getting a job?
Job-hunting is always harder for introverts — from networking to interviewing, so much of job-hunting is focused on how well you can interact with people and make good impressions — skills much better suited for extroverts.
And you’re right, shy people can be easily seen as arrogant. In fact, when I first met my wife, I was sure I would never have anything to do with her socially because she appeared to me as someone who was arrogant and superior. Later, of course, I discovered that she was simply a shy person around people she didn’t know.
The best advice I have for you is to find a way to channel some degree of extroversion when you really need it, such as in networking and interviewing situations. So much of job-hunting deals with first impressions, and while you can overcome negative first impressions with a lot of effort, it makes more sense to try and manage that first impression. You don’t need to be “Ms. Perky,” but you do need to appear friendly and approachable.
You might consider working with a career coach or other professional who can work with you in developing some simple exercises and running through some mock interviews so that you become comfortable in these situations.
Finally, I think you need to overcome this issue about being an actress. The best job-hunters — the most successful job-hunters — know how to act in interviews. Acting is not lying; acting is adjusting your job-hunting to fit the current situation.
If you decide to consider a career coach, use the Quintessential Careers Directory of Life and Career Coaches.
Karen writes:
I was offered a job that requires a high school/GED for the job. I put on my application that I went to high school and graduated. I have A.A.S in computer science and a GED. I was told that the GED is equivalent to a high-school diploma, so I listed it that way. They want to see a high-school diploma. I also got the date wrong of it by a year. I thought it was ‘87 but it was ‘88. I don’t want them to think I lied on the application. What should I do?
I recommend making a copy of your GED certificate — along with your AAS degree — and submitting it to the employer. In a cover letter, make note that you consider, as do many, the GED equivalent to a high school diploma, and that you mistakingly listed the wrong date on the application. Don’t dwell on it. Make it matter-of-fact.
Also in the letter, you should again summarize/highlight the key characteristics that make you an ideal candidate for the job.
If the employer balks, you did not want to work there anyway. I still can’t figure out why they even want to see a copy of the diploma — especially from so long ago. Odd.
Footnote: Coincidentally, an article appeared today on ERE.net that notes that requiring a high-school diploma may be discriminatory.
Our colleague, Rita Ashley, has a terrific offer going for the holidays.
Purchase her Networking Debugged or Job Search Debugged, job-search books, and get the other one free. Once you purchase a book, contact her with your email address and it will be her pleasure to send you the other book.
We’ve read these terrific, downloadable ebooks, and trust us, they are well worth your investment.
Here’s an excerpt from our review of Job Search Debugged:
Among the strengths of the rich, comprehensive Job Search Debugged is the fact that author Rita Ashley was a recruiter for many years, so she thoroughly understands the hiring process from the employer’s side of the desk. The other distinctive feature is that the book is filled with stories of clients and other job-seekers. Nothing beats real-life examples and anecdotes to get points across. Ashley is opinionated, and sometimes her positions clash — refreshingly — with conventional career-expert wisdom. She disdains, for example, the typical advice to be coy and guarded about one’s salary request when negotiating salary.
And a testimonial from a user:
“I struggled for four months and got no interviews. Once I read Job Search Debugged and changed my resume and outreach, I was offered interviews over 50% of the time and finally had three offers. This was the best money I have ever spent on my career.”
Rahul writes:
I am a college sophomore with computer science as my major. I am really getting worried about the fact that there are absolutely no entry-level technology jobs for new graduates. Furthermore, I have been hearing about increasing numbers of technology jobs being offshored. I am 26 years old, and by the time I get my BS degree I would be 28. I shall be grateful to you if you may please answer to the following questions:
- Is it really worth to pursue a computer science degree? No jobs and also the prospect of offshoring — is this career doomed? (Interestingly the Department of Labor presents a rosy future for technology career.)
- Could my age be a hindrance to my career?
- If the offshoring does gain momentum what do you expect to happen to IT job outlook?
The Career Doctor responds:
It certainly does seem to be a contradiction that is worth investigating. Technology-related careers dominate the U.S Department of Labor’s list of the fastest (projected) growing jobs over the next five to 10 years. At the same time, a report from Forrester Research predicts that during the next 10-15 years, at least 3.3 million white-collar jobs — including IT jobs — will move out of the U.S. to countries such as India, China, and others, where labor is cheaper. Add to the mix the current job market — especially in the technology industry — and you get one confusing mess about what to expect.
Regardless of the conflicting opinions about the future of IT jobs — or any career field for that matter — what I tell job-seekers is that if you love your job/career, are good at what you do, have the necessary education/training/certifications, and can master job-search skills, then you should be able to find a job. Finding a job might take longer than you expect, you might have to be open to relocating, you might need to readjust your expectations, and you might have to work a lot harder than you expected, but you’ll find a job.
So, should you continue your computer science degree? Well, in reality only you can answer that question…but the jobs will be there. They may be harder to find, but they will be there. Will your age be a problem? No. The currency of your skills and certifications will be more important.
And what will happen to the IT and all the other service professions as more jobs are relocated outside the U.S.? The expectation is that slowly — very slowly as the economy continues to recover and businesses start hiring again — that job creation in other companies will overtake the losses from jobs going overseas. But in all honesty, it’s really too soon to tell what will happen…thus you need to focus on making yourself the strongest job-seeker possible.
As a college student, one of the best things you can do besides getting your education is obtaining valuable experience. Consider internships and freelancing to get as much experience as you can. Go to this section of Quintessential Careers: Internship Resources for College Students.
Marlene writes:
I will be earning a master’s degree in mental health counseling in December. I have a disability that renders me unable to work full-time. I have sent out a couple of resumes but have not been contacted. How do I explain to the potential employers that just because I will be working part-time, does not mean I am not serious about the job. My first job I worked for 4 years. My second job I worked for 10 years. I am on my 3rd job now for almost 5 years. Thank you in advance for your help.
The Career Doctor responds:
I know the beginning of my answer is going to sound a little flip, but job-hunting is a full-time occupation — regardless of whether you are seeking full-time or part-time employment. In fact, it may be harder to find jobs that do not fit the normal 9-5 routine.
You say that because you can only work part-time that employers should not question your desire or interest in a job, but your actions say otherwise. I use two metaphors when describing job-hunting. First, you can think of it as you might dating; you need to continually pursue (and woo) prospective employers to get their attention and interest. Second, think of it as a marketing and selling experience, where you need to track down prospective employers and sell them on your unique mix of skills, experience, and accomplishments.
Whatever way you want to look at it, you are not doing your job. You cannot simply send off a few resumes and expect employers to be pounding down your door — especially in this job market! You need to be aggressively (but professionally) following up every resume, every job lead, with a phone call or email. You need to continue to show your interest, enthusiasm, and fit for the job until the employer either calls you for the interview or asks you to stop.
I would also recommend using your graduate school’s network of alumni, as well as the career professionals in its career services office. You should also check with your professional association (such as the American Mental Health Counselors Association) for networking and job possibilities. The more sources you have, the more job leads you can pursue.
You might also want to read this article published on Quintessential Careers: 10 Reality Checks of Job-Hunting: Overcoming Common Job-Search Mistakes.
Anonymous writes:
Here is the situation. I’m a former police officer who was recently (wrongly) convicted of a white collar crime. I have a two-year degree in business and have had about three years of previous restaurant management experience before becoming an officer and about 3 years in the radio industry. First question, how do I answer this question on an application? Secondly I really don’t know which way I can turn career wise from this point.
The Career Doctor responds:
Well, of course, you don’t need to broadcast that you have a record; however, if asked, you not only need to come clean, but you need to adjust your attitude. What’s the punch line to the joke — something like 80 percent of people incarcerated in prison are innocent (or so they say). Employers are often willing to work with someone who appears to have learned from a past mistake, but are very leery of job-seekers who seem to have learned nothing from the experience. And even if you are one of the few innocent people convicted unjustly, no employer wants to hear it.
Once you’re ready to face the issue, discover the lesson you learned so that you can have a positive spin on the conviction if and when it arises during the job application/interview process. Just remember to not raise the issue unless asked about it. But never lie about it, smooth it over, or argue the conviction.
As for your career and where you go…that’s the next thing you need to figure out. You obviously have a lot of valuable skills and experience, and should be able to package that nicely in a resume once you determine your career direction.
What is it you want to do next? If you truly have no clue, take the time to conduct some self-assessment. First, spend some time reviewing all your experiences (work, hobby, etc.) and make two lists — one with activities you enjoy and one with activities you never want to do again. You could also consider taking one or more assessment tests, many of which you can find online.
Once you have a better picture of your likes and interests, the next step is researching careers that closely match your profile. Take the time to do this important career exploration. There are a lot of online and print resources that can help you in this process. My favorite is the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Once you’ve identified a career path (or paths), the next step is finding employers in that field — and developing a strategy for breaking into it. In any job market, but especially in this job market, your key to success is building a new network for your new career. Find and join professional organizations in your new career field, use alumni networks to find people in your new career field.
Use the Career Exploration Resources section of Quintessential Careers to help you.
And learn more about networking in the The Art of Networking section of Quintessential Careers.
And all sorts of great resume-writing tools can be found in the Resume Resources section of Quintessential Careers.
Layne writes:
I’m coming up to my 55th birthday and thinking about changing careers. What kinds of things should I do as an older job-seeker to increase my chances of success?
Well, the first thing you need to decide is your new career. Because baby boomers are expected to transform the image of older workers and retirement age, you also need to give some thought as to how long you see yourself in this new career — 10 years, 20 years?
So, assuming you have given some thought to your career change, you first need to transform your experience, skills, and accomplishments to fit your new career field. If you have absolutely no experience in your new career field, now is the time to freelance, volunteer, or temp — to gain valuable experience in your new career. It’s also time to transform your old resume and revamp it to best fit your new career. You may need to build your resume around key skills clusters that are in demand in your new career — what we refer to as transferable skills. You’ll also want to begin networking in your new career by joining one or more professional associations — and getting actively involved.
Once you’re ready to start interviewing for full-time jobs in your new career, the most important thing to remember — that many older workers are accused of doing — is not to sound rigid or unapproachable. Many older workers often portray a “this is how it’s always been done and I know more than you because I’m twice your age.” As you might guess, that kind of attitude doesn’t really go over well. Be positive — and showcase your creativity and flexibility.
You can find lots of other great tips, strategies, and advice for older workers in this section of Quintessential Careers: Job and Career Resources for Mature and Older Job-Seekers.
Anonymous writes: How can I get a job?
You know, you can’t get any more basic in a question to a career blog than this one, but I am going to expand my answer a bit. How long has it been since you spent any time reviewing your position and planning for a job or career change?
So, whether you are looking for your first job, or just taking a hard look at your career, here is my 10-step career tune-up.
Step 1: Examine your life/career. Are you where you want to be in your career? How well does your current job and career path meet your life goals? Do you feel as though your life and career are in or out of balance? Be completely honest with yourself in answering these questions.
Step 2: Set career/job-search goals. Create a vision of where you see yourself in six months, in six years. Research careers, jobs, and employers. Be sure all your goals are realistic.
Step 3: Reconnect with/expand your network. Your network of personal contacts is the most powerful job-search tool under your control. Expand, build, strengthen your network.
Step 4: Upgrade your knowledge/skills. Employers want employees that have a set of what’s termed “soft” skills, including communications (written and verbal), interpersonal, teamwork, problem-solving, analytical, and adaptability.
Step 5: Consider additional training/education. One of the best ways to improve your employability is to gain additional knowledge, training, or certification.
Step 6: Update/polish your resume. There are so many new rules of resume-writing, including different formats and versions, that you best spend a fair amount of time on this step.
Step 7: Learn/refresh job-search techniques. Do you know how to generate job leads? How to use your network? You must stay current with the latest job-search techniques.
Step 8: Practice interviewing. One of the most overlooked areas of job-hunting is preparing and practicing for job interviews. Research the employer; practice answering common interview questions.
Step 9: Test your marketability. Job-hunting is all about marketing yourself to employers. Determine what makes you unique among all other job-seekers.
Step 10: Consider advancing internally. Don’t always assume the best job opportunities are those waiting for you outside your current employer.
Get more details on each step in my article, 10-Step Career Tune Up, published on Quintessential Careers.
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