Archive for Job Search
What are you missing by not networking?
Posted by: | Comments I’m so excited! One of my clients in our coaching groups just got an awesome job that he loves! How did he, at 22, a new college grad in this economy succeed so well?
Here’s his story:
Before he graduated he joined one of our coaching groups. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with his career and he needed some direction. He understood the importance of not only finding a job after he graduated but spending time to find one that he would really enjoy. One that would bring him fulfillment and purpose. Once he narrowed down what he had in mind he started networking with everyone he knew.
He was discussing his career with a family member and they told him about a friend of theirs that might know of a job for him. After some back and forth, he found out about a career opportunity through that guy and his family member. And guess what he did next…he contacted the company directly, mentioning the guys name and simply asked if there was a position available. They said yes there was an opening. After the initial application and resume he was offered an interview…via Skype. He did great on the interview and was offered a second interview. A couple days later the job was his!
I wanted to share this story with you because I can’t stress to you how important networking is in your job search. It is much harder to find a job from online job directories. You can’t just sit behind your computer and expect to have your dream job land in your lap.
And even more important than networking is having the right attitude. Be positive and believe that you can do this. Get out there and network. Having the right attitude is key to finding your dream career.
Yes, unemployment is high. Yes, it isn’t as easy to get a job (in some industries). So are you going to walk around with a negative attitude and complain to anyone who will listen? OR, are you going to network and get moving like my client did? Are you going to take action?
Remember, successful people didn’t AVOID obstacles; they learned how to overcome them and learn from them.
Here’s to having a career you love!
Hallie Crawford
Career Counseling Coach
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Career Tips: Get Off Your Parents’ Couch and Out of Their House!
Posted by: | CommentsI want to give you career tips to get off your parents couch and out of their house! If you’re a recent college grad and want to get out of your parents house, be independent and find a job asap, follow these 5 tips to get you started on your job search.
Here’s to having a career you love!
Hallie Crawford
Career Counseling Coach
If you need help with you job search strategy check out our “Job Search Program for Professionals: Networking and Online Strategies for the 21st Century”
Job Hunting for Women
Posted by: | CommentsI have enjoyed articles Penelope Trunk has written in the past and I stumbled across this article recently: http://www.bnet.com/blog/penelope-trunk/forget-the-job-hunt-have-a-baby-instead/185 Titled: “Forget the Job Hunt. Have a Baby Instead.” As a woman and a mother I found this article intriguing and thought I’d share and comment on it for you.
In it, Penelope Trunk offers reasoning on why she suggests forgetting the job search and having a baby instead. I’m sure you can guess that she has had some heated responses to her article. That’s very bold advice. Her reasons were definitely interesting. However, I think as with any career advice, every individual has unique situations and that this solution would only make sense for certain individuals.
This would make sense for someone who was planning on having kids in the short-term. With the free time it might be the opening a woman needed in order to begin a family. But the truth of the matter is that not everyone can afford financially to have a child, especially without income and maternity leave. Some women don’t want to have children and some might still be searching for a partner. Other younger women are simply not ready to have a child. While this might make good sense to your neighbor, it might be bad advice for you.
This type of advice is situational and there really is no one answer that applies to everyone across the board. Just because you are a woman currently unemployed, you should of course think about the financial ramifications and the support from your partner and family, among other things.
As a certified Career Coach, I agree with Penelope’s point that women who want children need to manage their career choices differently than men because of their biological constraints. And they need to manage kids differently, career paths and unemployment differently than men.
Still, I want to reinforce that decisions you make about your career path and motherhood should be based on your own situation; now and long-range, with lots of other factors weighing in.
So, just because you might be an unemployed younger woman right now this doesn’t mean you should jump on board and take her advice: to forget the job hunt and have a baby instead. You need to consider all the factors in your life to make this decision.
What do you think of her article?
Hallie Crawford
Career Transition Coach
Are you stuck in your job search? Download my FREE REPORT: “Take Control of Your Career Transition: Uncover Hidden Opportunities”
Your Career Search: Take Action
Posted by: | CommentsIn this video, I will show you the fourth step in reinventing yourself to identify your ideal career-Take action. Armed with your new resume and cover letter it’s time to put the pedal to the metal and apply for jobs. In this video learn why it’s important to stand in the traffic in your job search, and how you can begin to do so right away.
Hallie Crawford
Career Transition Coach
Still feel stuck in your career search? Check out this powerful e-book: “Job Search Program for Professionals: Networking and Online Strategies for the 21st Century” http://www.halliecrawford.com/jobsearchprogram.html
Do You Need a College Degree for Your Career Path?
Posted by: | Commentshttp://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/0830/best-colleges-10-new-york-university-liberal-arts-higher-ed.html This is a VERY interesting article about the value of higher education. I understand their perspective. Going into debt you can’t get out of is NOT a good decision, and yes some jobs don’t require a degree. However, I think a college degree is a must. And choosing where/how to make this investment in higher education is just as important.
I was talking to one of my younger, coaching group clients this week, Brittany. She’s looking at colleges and feels that going to school will provide her the training and expertise required to get into her chosen field. In Brittany’s case, I believe a college degree is a must.
No, you do not want to go into debt you can’t get out of, but for many jobs, the degree and technical training is a requirement.
Certainly, there’s more to the college experience than purely an investment decision for future income flow. Part of the college experience is learning to live more independently, transitioning into an adult. You meet people through the college experience that can become your professional network. School is very much a gateway to many professions.
Yes, many successful people have not gone to college or finished (including Bill Gates). However, if you are able to do so, you should. I still think: No I know, a college education gives you an important leg up personally and professionally.
Tell me, what do you think?
Need help identify your ideal career path and/or if a college degree is right for you? Try this, my free Ideal Career Quiz:
Career Search: Adjust Your Resume and Cover Letter to Reflect Your New Career Path
Posted by: | CommentsI want to share with you ways to adjust your resume and cover letter to reflect your new career path. This message is the third of 5 steps to reinventing yourself for your job search or career transition. Listen to this one to help you figure out how to have an effective resume and cover letter.
Hallie Crawford
Career Transition Coach
Improve your job search with a part-time job
Posted by: | CommentsI really want to highlight this article written by Sabine Francois because it has positive points for recent college graduates and other job seekers: http://blogs.wsj.com/hire-education/2010/08/19/whew-a-part-time-job/
Sabine shares that although she has not found her dream job, she was able to get a part-time job. She now is able to relax a little because of having some money coming in and is hoping to be able to do an internship in a field she is interested in part-time.
Like Sabine, you may not have landed your dream job yet. But, her story is very encouraging as she points out the positives of even getting a part-time job in your local area while you search.
Having a part time job allows you to gain work experience and building your resume. Even if this part-time position has nothing to do with your chosen field; you have the opportunity to be interacting and networking with clients, co-workers and supervisors. You also do not have a huge gap of no work experience in your resume.
A part-time position can also give you a confidence boost (like it has with Sabine), especially if your job search has been going on for awhile and you’re feeling frustrated. Most certainly, even a part-time job brings financial help and support.
With a part-time job, you have many options. You will still have some free time and a schedule that allows you to continue the search for your ideal career. In Sabine’s case, her part-time job will enable her to take on an unpaid internship in her chosen field when she’s not working.
And last but, not least: When you do find that perfect position, you will be accustomed to being on a schedule, as opposed to having to go from full-on vacation mode to full-time work mode.
So even if you can’t find your dream job right now, look into some part-time jobs, while continuing your job search strategy.
Hallie Crawford
Certified Career Coach Atlanta
If you need help with you job search strategy check out our Job Search Program for Professionals: Networking and Online Strategies for the 21st Century.
Effective Job Search While Still Employed
Posted by: | CommentsIn one of our coaching groups last week, a participant was concerned with being active in his job search while currently employed. He joined the group to help him get clear on his ideal career because he was not in a career he enjoyed. However, he still needed the dollars from his current job until he could land a new one. His company has a policy where they generally fire someone on the spot if they find out that person is searching for a new career. He wasn’t sure, but he thought some of the higher-ups even checked social networking sites, every now and then.
The sensitivity of job-hunting while employed–and keeping the process under wraps–varies from industry to industry and from employer to employer. So, if you’re looking for a new job while you’re still employed (like the gentleman in ours): I’m going to share some tips to avoid being caught by your employer.
I found this article, “Eight Tips for Stealth Job Hunters” in Forbes.com yesterday about this topic: http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/job-employment-career-forbes-woman-leadership-hiring.html . All the tips are really helpful in this article. I especially liked the “Eight Tips for Stealth Job Hunters” slideshow. Be sure to check it out: http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/job-employment-career-forbes-woman-leadership-hiring_slide.html
As a certified career coach, I frequently advise clients how to best seek out new opportunities while holding a full-time job. Here are some tips I want to highlight:
- Do your job searching on your own time as much as possible, not your company’s. Do it during lunch brakes or evenings.
- Never use a business phone number, email etc. Use your personal cell phone – if possible, use a smart phone with email and other job search applications will make job searching easier during the work week.
- Don’t work on your resume at work – save that for your home computer.
- Network, network, network. Networking is good whether employed or not. You should always be networking; particularly if you are trying to find job quietly. Spread the word that you are in job search mode among your friends, family, former co-workers — anyone that you know who could help with your job search. Dig up names from internships or summer jobs and reach out to those people.
Yes, job-hunting and interviewing for new positions while still employed full-time can be tricky. But, by following these helpful tips you can search for your ideal career and not get busted by your current employer.
Hallie Crawford
Career Transition Coach
