Career planning is challenging. It can be very difficult to figure out what you want to do. There are so many choices, and a wrong turn can really set you back. Of course, it can also provide for a very valuable learning experience. When considering what you want to pursue conduct a self assessment to understand your skills, interests, and drivers. Speak to friends and family members to get some ideas. Knowledge is power; and a sure fire way to narrow things down is to engage in discussions with others to understand options. Attending career fairs is a good way to get information from a number of people that are situated in one place. Collect literature and do some research. If an internship is something that you can do, it is probably time well spent to understand the intricacies of an industry.
Consider the following:
1. What do you enjoy spending your time doing? Keep a list of these things to allow you to incorporate these interests in your career pursuits.
2. What motivates you? If you understand what your motivations are, you are more likely to remain happy and engaged.
3. What skills would you like to develop? Consider taking a class to improve in an area where you know you need some help.
4. Do you know yourself? If you recognize that you really enjoy working in a team environment, you will likely want to pursue an opportunity that will have a strong component of interaction with others.
5. What are your goals? You will need to make decisions that result in actions to meet short- and long-term objectives. Establishing your goals will allow you to understand and identify the training you will need for success.
Once you have determined a career path through exploring your options, and gaining awareness of industries and opportunities you will need to prepare for your job search.
Skills and tools for an effective job search are the following:
1. A compelling and results oriented résumé and cover letter to help you stand out from the crowd.
2. Leveraging social networking to gain exposure to people and situations where ongoing communication can help you.
3. Training in effective interviewing to ensure you deliver and maintain a positive personal brand throughout the job search process.
4. Conducting effective salary negotiations to ensure that you are properly compensated for your professional efforts.
The career planning process is one that continues through the entire career lifecycle. Exploring and understanding your options, communicating your value, and applying the tools and skills to navigate a successful career path will help you realize your goals. Explore your options, research industries and potential positions to facilitate a successful search and selection process.
Debra Wheatman, CPRW, CPCC is the founder and Chief Career Strategist of CareersDoneWrite, a premier career services provider focused on developing highly personalized career roadmaps for senior leaders and executives across all verticals and industries.
Debra can be reached at -
DWheatman@ResumesDoneWrite.com
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It is a well known fact that using job boards exclusively as you conduct a job search will leave you confounded and frustrated. Sure you might be qualified for the positions for which you are applying – but posting your résumé online is like trying to find a needle in a haystack – a really, really big haystack.
So what exactly is this thing called ‘the hidden job market’? The hidden job market consists of openings that are not directly advertised. More and more companies are relying on their employees and specialized, niche sites to identify qualified candidates. What is the reason for this? With the big job boards, there are a lot of unqualified candidates positing résumés and applying for positions for which they are not qualified. In an effort to cut to the chase, as it were, employers are trying to create a system whereby they can identify a pool of qualified and viable candidates more quickly. It’s very time consuming to sort through hundreds of résumés to find one or two candidates that might be suitable for an opening.
According to recent data from the Labor Department, there are approximately 14 million people unemployed with over five job seekers per available position. The result is people applying for things that they are over qualified for, under qualified for, or not qualified for at all.
Here are some tips to help you tap into the hidden job market:
Networking should be an integral part of any job search. Also consider searching smaller job boards, including those that might be specific to a city or region. Look at sites that are supported by networking groups or associations. As I have mentioned in previous posts, LinkedIn is a great resource that will enable you to identify relevant connections and facilitate your job search. There are also associations on Facebook that you can join that will give you additional access to people and positions.
Writing to the Right Person: I know it can be difficult to obtain the name of a person that is responsible for hiring. You can begin by calling the company and asking for the name of the head of a particular department or the head of human resources. At least when you send your letter, it won’t be to “To whom it may concern.” Once you send your written correspondence, you can then call and ask for the person by name. You will be more likely to reach someone before 9:00am or after 5:00pm when other staff who might answer the phone is gone.
Recruiters: Recruiters can be a great source of information – especially now. Do some research regarding recruiters that specialize in your field. Establish and nurture those relationships. Recruiters have their fingers on the pulse of what is going on within the hiring community. Let them help you uncover the right opportunities.
Volunteer your Time: Volunteering can do a couple of things for you. Aside from making you feel good by giving back to a good cause, volunteering will allow you access to new people. Those people know people too! You can create an entirely new network for yourself. You never know what you might uncover.
It boils down to your continued diligence; contact people, establish relationships, and knock on as many doors as you can to generate interest in your background. You never know where a conversation (online or otherwise) might lead!
Comments and feedback are requested and desired; and you are welcome and encouraged to submit questions to thecareerdoctor.
Debra Wheatman, CPRW, CPCC is the founder and Chief Career Strategist of CareersDoneWrite, a premier career services provider focused on developing highly personalized career roadmaps for senior leaders and executives across all verticals and industries.
Debra can be reached at -
DWheatman@ResumesDoneWrite.com
ResumesDoneWrite.Blogspot.com
WWW.CareersDoneWrite.com
Connect to me on LinkedIn
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Negotiating is an art, no doubt. Done correctly it will lead to victory. Done poorly it could lead to failure. When it comes to negotiating salary and other benefits in the workplace, nothing makes people more uncomfortable. He who talks money first loses as they say. Why? Well, it’s because the minute you reference your previous salary, the other side has a distinct advantage. If you reference a desired salary, you may put yourself in a position where you downplay your worth; alternatively, if you present too high a number, you will not be considered for the opportunity.
Negotiating can be done in a way that basically bulldozes your way to get the answer you want, or in a way that focuses more on collaboration, cooperation, and communication. It is advisable to take a combined approach to ensure your negotiations are fruitful and effective for you.
Life in general is competitive. Professional life, much more so. You want to achieve results – tip the hand in your favor, so to speak. When handling matters of compensation there are a few key competencies that you need to understand:
Your desired salary – a salary that you need or want. This does not matter. What does matter is what the potential employer thinks is a fair salary for the position. Oftentimes a budget is already established – but you are not privy to that information. Prepare for this conversation by doing your homework. You need to understand the industry and what other companies are paying for positions with similar responsibilities. Once you are armed with some knowledge, you will be in a better position to represent yourself and obtain a salary that is in line with your expectations.
Consider intangible components – vacation time, external training / education, stock options, and bonuses are some things that you can negotiate to make up for compensation. These things have a tangible value. You should consider them when evaluating what you want. You might be willing / able to reduce compensation requirements for additions or guarantees in these areas.
Gear up for the tough questions – you will likely get the following question: “What is your current compensation?” Try to avoid answering this question. How you ask? Indicate that you would like to find out additional information about the role to ensure your competencies and the company’s goals are aligned. It is at this point that you can also respond by asking the salary range that the position fits into. Yes, this is a bit of a calculated risk. However, it is one that you should take. Be polite – you want to maintain the advantage here. Getting a salary range – or better a number will allow you to evaluate if the salary is something you would consider. I know it’s tempting to want to avoid that uncomfortable silence – but hold out. The potential employer will likely speak first.
There are options – If you find that the information presented by the potential hiring manager is not acceptable, you can simply express disappointment at the proposal indicating that with your experience and achievements, you think that a salary of (put in a range here) would be more acceptable. Expressing disappointment is non-confrontational and a demonstration of your feelings. Otherwise you can present an alternative whereby you would be considered for an increase after six months based on your meeting established performance benchmarks. If you produce results and meet the targets, it will fully demonstrate your value. A little flexibility and creativity will help you get what you want.
Present your case in a clear and compelling manner; remain calm and collected. This is business. Come prepared to explore and present ideas that will put you in a position of authority and give you the leading edge!
Comments and feedback are requested and desired; and you are welcome and encouraged to submit questions to thecareerdoctor.
Debra Wheatman, CPRW, CPCC is the founder and Chief Career Strategist of CareersDoneWrite, a premier career services provider focused on developing highly personalized career roadmaps for senior leaders and executives across all verticals and industries.
Debra can be reached at -
DWheatman@ResumesDoneWrite.com
ResumesDoneWrite.Blogspot.com
WWW.CareersDoneWrite.com
Connect to me on LinkedIn
Follow me on Twitter
