The Problem

– Rachel felt like pulling her hair out after spending 45 minutes submitting her online resume and application for a job that looked perfect for her, the 3rd she’d completed that evening.

– Mark shrugged his shoulders and shook his head in exasperation because the most recent resume feedback his sister-in-law, a “talent acquisition specialist” at a local financial services firm, gave him was just the exact opposite of what a friend’s IT recruiter advised.

– Anna, stymied about how to write a resume that positioned herself for a career change, began to despair of ever finding a career that would be a better fit.

– Ricardo’s eyes burned and the text blurred as he tweaked the wording, fonts, and format for yet another version of his resume.

– Mallory was excited to give her resume to a contact she met at a networking event but then was at a loss about if, when, and how to follow up.

– Tom applied for 47 jobs in 6 months, and had yet to be called for an interview.

Like many of us, these job seekers believe that landing a good job requires looking for openings, online and through connections, and submitting their resumes for consideration.

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The Trouble

Relying on your resume as the primary tool in your search is, in fact, just as likely to stall, derail, or result in dead ends as it is to uncover opportunities. Why?

First, it’s impossible for a one- or two-page document to convey more than a skeletal view of you and your capabilities. At worst, it’s a lifeless list of job descriptions with your contact information at the top of the page. At best, it’s an organized presentation of accomplishments related to your job target(s).

Second, opinions abound about what makes a good resume. Ask 6 people for feedback and you’ll get 9 reactions, many diametrically opposed.

Third, most large employers now use application tracking software. No human will see your resume unless your application/resume contains the keywords, education, and experience levels specified. (See article “Your Resume vs. Oblivion” in the column to the right for what happens after that.)

Fourth, as soon as you hand over your resume to someone else, it positions you as a job supplicant. What happens next is out of your control. Readers begin to evaluate your resume in terms of a particular role, maybe even typecasting you based on your past experience, employers, or education.

+ + + + +

The Solution: Beyond the Resume

The real value in preparing a resume is that it forces you to identify and articulate the skills and experiences you can bring to your next employer. Yes, you can still submit it with online applications, but you won’t be lulled into thinking you’re conducting your search in the most effective way.

Instead of a resume, prepare a “Targeted Opportunity Profile”: a one-page document with three sections: Contact Information; relevant Selected Achievements, and Targeted Connections (companies and people you’d like to meet with informally–not to troll for “openings”).

Then, convert 80% of your job search time and effort to tapping into the unpublished, “hidden,” job market through your connections.

This does not mean “networking” in the uncomfortable, asking-for-favors sense. It does involve recognizing and cultivating natural connections in a professional, reciprocal, and thoughtful way. No cringing and humiliation required.

Then if asked for your resume for anything other than a formal job opening, provide your Targeted Opportunities profile. It’ll help others know what you’re looking for and save you from the job-beggar mindset.

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Unlike Rachel, you’ll still have your hair. Unlike Ricardo, your eyes won’t burn and your vision will be clear. And unlike Mallory, Tom, Anna, and Mark you’ll be equipped for a more productive!                                                                     

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THANKS FOR REFERRALS from:
Carol Dillon, Richard Cooper, Tadd Stone, Peggy Hoefel, Wendy Roth, and U.M.-St. Louis Career Services.

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What I’ve Been Reading

Consequential Strangers: The Power of People Who Don’t Seem to Matter…But Really Do, by Melinda Blau and Karen L. Fingerman.

The authors explore how the informal, loose connections we have affect our lives in mostly good, and sometimes challenging, ways.

Their discussion will help you broaden your recognition of connections, and it will be useful as you conduct your job search.

Featured Resource

“Your Resume vs. Oblivion” is an article in the Wall Street Journal‘s career section; it explains the inner workings of applicant tracking systems–what likely happens after you submit your online application and resume. Just in case you wondered…!

_______________________________

Consider a Career Action Planning (CAP) Session

If you:

 > Feel stuck or stalled in your career

 > Are worried about a layoff

> Wonder if it’s not just a new job but a new career you need

> Have been looking for work but not getting results

In this 90-120 minute meeting, we can get to the root of your career problem and come up with a plan to solve it.

For more information call me at 314-752-1373 or use the comment form on my website.

_______________________________________________________

Remember the school playground bullies who terrorized the smaller kids? Some of those bullies have climbed corporate ladders and continue terrorizing others, but on bigger playgrounds–workplaces.

Now they use more subtle psychological weapons; and unlike their days on the playground, they often have the support of the organizational hierarchy.

Carlos worked for years under an abusive boss–until the boss fired him. At first he felt devastated, and he struggled to find a new job. Now, four months later, he’s thankful to have found a position with a decent, respectful boss.

When Carlos recently encountered Michelle, a former co-worker, he had a flash of unpleasant memories. He felt bad to learn that Michelle was still under the boss’s thumb; he was shocked to see how gaunt and exhausted she looked.

This column is for Carlos, Michelle, and anyone else who has stuck with an unbearable situation for far too long. Here are five steps to get out of an abusive workplace.

1) RECOGNIZE AND ACCEPT THE SITUATION FOR WHAT IT IS
Because quitting immediately, without having another job lined up, is seldom an option, practice accepting your present situation.

Say to yourself, “This is the place where I am for now and for me to learn what I need to learn in life.” You can’t afford to waste your precious energy mired in hating your job.

Externally, you may still lobby for change, stand up for yourself, document abuse with your human resources contact, stop taking it personally, set boundaries with the boss, and/or restructure tasks so you’ll have less contact with him/her.

2) FIND THE LESSONS
Take time to assess what you have learned from this experience, and write down at least three lessons.

Could you have gotten promises in writing? Asked more detailed questions before taking the job? Researched the company’s reputation? Sought out former employees? Noting the lessons will help prevent you from repeating mistakes.

3) GET THE SUPPORT YOU NEED
Whether it comes from trusted friends, a career counselor, or both, you need to have someone standing with you. This is no time to be stubborn and face it alone.

With the office bully inflicting frequent blows to your self-esteem, you need to have some external validation of your abilities and self worth. As author Robin Sheerer says, “You need to have a ‘Hallelujah’ chorus rooting for you.”

This doesn’t mean having “ain’t it awful” gripe sessions. It means finding positive people who will encourage you to go for it, make plans, and risk change. This support is priceless–and crucial.

4) VISUALIZE THE IDEAL
Imagine your ideal work scenario. What kind of work would you do? What type of people would you work with? Describe your work environment. Allow your visualization to be as detailed as possible. Our thoughts have tremendous power to influence our decisions and actions.

5) TAKE ACTION
Plan your next steps, but don’t get bogged down in the planning stage. Then take action! This could include: Taking a stopgap job, even if it means a temporary pay cut; Updating skills to improve your competitive edge; Learning to interview more effectively; or Learning how to tap into the unpublished job market.

With the serenity of internal acceptance, the precautions of your “lessons learned,” support from your Hallelujah chorus, a strong image of your goal, and persistent action, you CAN leave your abusive workplace. You’ll be freed to achieve more, feel better, and advance your career.

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! ! ! ! ! !
CONGRATULATIONS
Jason Benson began his new job as a Territory Manager for Digital Doc on Feb. 14.
! ! ! ! ! !

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                                                  What I’ve Been Reading
The 6 Reasons You’ll Get the Job: What Employers Look for–Whether They Know It or Not, by Debra Angel MacDougall and Elisabeth Harney Sanders-Park.

Talent and experience are not enough to land a job.

Knowing how to present yourself so you stand out from the crowd depends on two things: navigating the unpublished job market and conveying the six unstated qualities that employers value.

The authors describe how to promote the six qualities (presentation, ability, dependability, motivation, attitude, and network) to your advantage. Their examples and advice are practical, and you’ll feel freed from the electronic fortress of online applications!

_________________________________________________________________

THANKS FOR REFERRALS FROM:

Debora Davidson, Dan Hummert, Becky McKenna, Nolan Brunnworth, John Moench, Laura Matlock, and Dan Montrey.
________________________________________________________________

Consider a Career Action Planning (CAP) Session

If you:
> Feel stuck or stalled in your career
> Are worried about a layoff
> Wonder if it’s not just a new job but a new career you need
> Have been looking for work but not getting results

In this 90-120 minute meeting, we can get to the root of your career problem and come up with a plan to solve it.

For more information call me at 314-752-1373 or use the comment form on my website.

*                         *                           *

Most of us want secure jobs we can count on. Unfortunately, many of us think we can find security by hanging onto what seems like a secure job–even when the job doesn’t fit us.

Despite the articles and books warning that there is no security in today’s job market, many people still think that hanging on is more stable than moving.

Trusting in a company or job is the wrong focus for career security. The key to security is your reputation: your skills, contributions, work style, attitude, integrity, and motivations. The old adage is true even now: it’s not so much what or who you know; it’s who knows and believes in you.

 ♦                 ♦                  ♦

Trisha worked in a small company her entire career. After being hired as a sales rep, her intelligence, buoyant personality, and zest for life helped her excel.

The first time the company was bought, her job was largely unchanged, and her success continued.

After the second buyout, however, new management cut sales support staff, and Trisha absorbed mounds of administrative tasks. It was supposed to be a short-term arrangement. Trisha quickly caught on to the accounting and administrative procedures, and she did a credible job. She didn’t like the change, but being an upbeat person, she smiled and continued to do good, though uninspired, work.

She was horribly bored and missed the client contact. Her friends and colleagues warned her against leaving. “You have a good, stable job. It’s secure! Don’t even consider looking somewhere else.”

So Trisha made the best of it, almost convincing herself that they were right.

Even corporate leaders  like Lehman Brothers, Borders, and Enron, collapse; and Fortune 500 companies are devoured in buyouts and mergers.

Trisha acted as if her company was the Rock of Gibraltar even though it had changed ownership twice in five years. She was oblivious to the fact that her company and job could disappear so quickly.

She finally scheduled a meeting with a career counselor. The counselor noticed the joy in Trisha’s face as she talked about sales; then weariness replaced the joy as she described her current situation. Excitement punctuated by doubt returned to her face as she recalled some career possibilities she’d considered back in her college days.

Trisha realized that her death grip on a job that didn’t fit her had costs beyond her boredom:
–She was also losing money. Her client skills would earn far more in unencumbered sales for another company or in any number of sales-related jobs.
–As important, Trisha’s soul was suffering. She derived no joy from the work because she’s not an administrator at heart. The deadening effect of doing an unsatisfying job spilled over into the rest of her life, including her friendships and her marriage.

♦                  ♦                   ♦

It’s not advisable that Trisha quit her job without a plan, especially in a tight economy, but here’s what she CAN do:
1.  Get active in associations related to her work.
2. Participate in professional blogs, connect with others on LinkedIn, and explore industry-related projects and people.
3. Try negotiating with her present employer to change the job and regain the client contact.
4. Set a goal for three to six “get acquainted” meetings with hiring decision makers in sales and related fields.

By increasing her visibility and credibility as a skilled and enthusiastic salesperson, Trisha will build on the only career security that counts: a solid reputation.

What will you do to shore up your career security.

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CONGRATULATIONS!

Sharon Gutowski began her new job as Marketing and Communications Specialist at the United States Junior Chamber–Jaycees–on Jan. 4.

Saint Louis University is Patty Murray‘s new work home. She began her Administrative Assistant  job in the Student Success Center on Dec. 15.

    ______________________

What I’ve Been Reading.

Carrots and Sticks: Unlock the Power of Incentives to Get Things Done, by Ian Ayers.

I  came across this book at the library. Hadn’t heard of it or the author, but I was intrigued enough by the title to read it.

If  you’re interested in changing your behavior or setting and reaching goals, this book is worth reading.

Ayers explores the rationale and methodology of “commitment contracts”–incentives and penalties alike. Applications include weight loss, career tasks,  and other real-life issues.

 _____________________

Featured Resource

www.stickK.com “The smartest way to set and achieve goals” claim the developers of this well-established site. It grew out of the work of Ian Ayers and a colleague (see “What I’ve Been Reading,” above.)

The site provides information and structure for setting and reaching goals, and there are real consequences for success and failure. Click on the link above to learn how “stickK” works.

 _____________________________

Consider a Career Action Planning (CAP) Session

    If you:

> Feel stuck or stalled in your career

> Are worried about a layoff

> Wonder if it’s not just a new job but a new career you need
> Have been looking for work but not getting results

In this 90-120 minute meeting, we can get to the root of your career problem and come up with a plan to solve it.

For more information call me at 314-752-1373 or use the comment form on my website.

A common belief about the job search is that keeping your “options open” gives you more opportunities; or conversely, that being very specific about what you want to do will limit you.

Believing that if we present ourselves as job chameleons who can fit in almost anywhere, we hope that employers will consider us for more jobs–maybe even jobs we have not thought of ourselves.

The “I’m-open-to-options” belief persists, especially when the job market is tough. This thinking goes beyond the resume and permeates the whole job search; and it can make finding a good job difficult. Here are four reasons why it is important to have a focused approach.

1. Passion Gets Noticed.
There is great power in knowing what you want and going for it. Unfocused people cannot convey passion. True, your pool of possible jobs is smaller when you’re focused, but you greatly improve your chances of being hired for the ones you genuinely want.

Imagine that you are the general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals. Would you find “Jones” or “Molina” more interesting?

Jones approaches you saying that he’s played basketball, baseball, soccer, football, and tennis. Jones is keeping his options open, hoping that he can find a job in one of those sports. Although Molina has played other sports, he’s focused his approach on his skills and passion for baseball.

Not surprisingly, you will find Molina more compelling. You may even wonder is baseball is Jones’ first choice. Maybe he really wants to play for the Rams and will bolt as soon as he gets a chance. You might  decide to sign Molina, even if he has a bit less experience than Jones, simply because of his (Molina’s) passion.

2. Don’t Make the Employer Your Career Counselor.
When you don’t have a focus, employers may believe that you are confused and unclear about your career future. They don’t like functioning as applicants’ career counselors.

Think about why employers hire. They have problems to solve. Perhaps the accounting system is a mess, the network is sluggish, sales are down, or customers aren’t happy with the company’s service. The boss’s–and company’s–future earnings and stability depend on how well these problems get solved.

Put yourself in the boss’s shoes. If your future were on the line, would you be interested in hiring someone who is unclear about what s/he wants to do? Not likely.

3. Communicating Your Strengths Gets the Job Done
The presentation of an unfocused job seeker cannot be strong. If you try to show ALL of the things you can do, you are likely to include information that isn’t relevant to the job.

For example, after years as an Air Force mechanic, Maria was transitioning to civilian life. She couldn’t resist filling her resume and conversation with a list of all of the kinds of combat jets she had worked on. In another case, Jeremy was fluent in Italian. Unless Maria applies to an aviation company or Jeremy to a business with an international component, this is non-essential information for an employer.

4. Focus on the Employer’s Problems.
On the surface, the chameleon stance makes sense. However, just the opposite is true. The key to getting hired is your ability to help employers solve problems. Be clear about the kind of problems (technical, social, financial, etc.) you can help solve. Emphasize your motivation. You’ll be far more persuasive–and successful–than “keeping your options open.”

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CONGRATULATIONS!

Martin Arteaga is now working as Lutheran Senior Services’s (IT) System Administrator.

Casse Ward recently began the Veterinary Technician program at Hickey College. This is a shift in direction for Casse so that she can pursue her goal of working in the equine industry.

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What I’ve Been Reading.

How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie.

This classic, originally published in the mid-1930′s–in the midst of the great depression, is worth (re-)reading.  Though some of the examples are dated,  the principles Carnegie advocates apply for professional and personal  relationships, even in this 21st century.

Whether you buy it, check it out of the library, or listen to the audio book, you’ll find it full of worthwhile advice.

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Featured Resource

StandOut: The Groundbreaking New Strengths Assessment from the Leader of the Strengths Revolution, by Marcus Buckingham.

“The StandOut assessment unveils your two key strength roles and shows you how to find your edge and win at work.

“Where other assessments stop at description, StandOut takes the next step and provides practical advice on what to do to make the most of the strengths you have. Each of the nine possible strength roles is fully delineated in the book, with a wealth of detail, including:

–Where you will be at your most powerful,
–How you can make an immediate impact
–How you can win as a leader, manager, salesperson, or individual contributor.”

It’s well worth a look!

- – - – -

Consider a Career Action Planning (CAP) Session

   If you:

> Feel stuck or stalled in your career

> Are worried about a layoff

> Wonder if it’s not just a new job but a new career you need
> Have been looking for work but not getting results

In this 90-120 minute meeting, we can get to the root of your career problem and come up with a plan to solve it.

For more information call me at 314-752-1373 or use the comment form on my website.

1. Develop and Use Your Network

♦   ♦   ♦

It’s tough out there, but you can beat the odds if you are persistent, educate employers about the value of your experience, and play your cards honestly and intelligently.

The Seven Levels of Communication: Go from Relationships to Referrals, by Michael J. Maher.

Although the target audience for this book is people in real estate, the principles that Maher recommends seem applicable to the job search, professional development, and career advancement.

Maher discusses levels of communication and the principles of service, creativity, and generosity. They are worth considering and adapting for people in many situations, including career management.

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Thanks for Referrals From: Carolyn Widman, Brad Angelos, Carol Dillon, Bronwen DiAntonio,  and Jim Russell.

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