First, Let's Celebrate!I have great news! My job search has come to a successful close. As of this week, I have accepted a full-time position as an instructional design manager with a software company. I’m excited about this role and happy to get to change gears from being tastefully boastful about how good I am at working to having a job where I actually get to do some paid work. I’m way pumped up about this opportunity and the fun challenges it will bring. Hooray and woo hoo both!  Celebrate good times--come on! A Note About My ObservationsI’m including several numbers in this article. Keep in mind that while I pride myself in my ability to count and do basic math, I’m dealing with a very small sample size. (See the “Learn More” section for issues that can be caused by having a small sample size when it comes statistical information.) This article can only barely be called “research” and is more appropriately described as me sharing my personal experience. With that disclaimer, on to the numbers! Now, Let's Look at the NumbersAs a bona fide Excel nerd, and meticulous planner, I have kept detailed records on my job search journey from layoff through my exciting new job. Here are a few statistical highlights of what on earth I did with myself since my position was eliminated oh-so many months ago. How Long Will This Take: Job Search Length
 Every job search feels like it takes approximately 1 million years. Please, Please Look At My Resume: Job Applications Submitted
Now We're Talking: Interviews
I Know People: Referrals and Impact on Interview Likelihood
 Interviewing! I Will Never Work Again: Low Points During The Job Search
Everything Works Out: Lessons Learned During the Job Search
 Remember, you only need one job. What Do You Think?What are your job search insights? What worked well for you? Share your ideas in the comments. Learn MoreThe Networking ConundrumAs an adult human with (or searching for) a grown-up job, we often hear about the value of networking--but how does one “network?” And how does one do it in a such a way that we’re meeting people, building relationships and connecting with individuals in a meaningful way? How do we do all of that without being (or feeling like) the slimy person who talks with someone today in order to shamelessly use that person for selfish personal gain later on? Overall, networking includes meeting people, keeping track of them and nurturing those relationships in a mutually beneficial way. Let's break down each of those key components. Meet All The PeopleWe meet people all the time whether we’re working on a project, attending a conference or dressed in our least attractive ensemble attempting to sneak in and out of the grocery store. The trick with networking is to figure out how to meet people who share your professional interests. Here are three key places to meet the people that will become part of your network.  Look at all the people! Go forth and meet them all! Coworkers and VendorsI’ve worked for 10+ organizations, each of which had some turnover and many new employees. After I met someone initially, or sometimes after I worked with them on a project, I would connect with them on LinkedIn. I also connected with coworkers at other office locations as well as point people working for vendor organizations. Since I have worked directly with all of these people, they have direct experience with me as a coworker, manager or project team member. Professional OrganizationsIn the Twin Cities, I’ve been involved with the Financial Planning Association, Association of Talent Development, Professional Association of Computer Trainers, the League of Longfellow Artists and Fredrickson Roundtable for Learning Leaders. Each time I attend a meeting, I have conversations with people before, during and after each presentation. I make special effort to get their names and connect with them on LinkedIn afterwards by including a brief note on who I am and our conversation. These are people who have seen me in a professional environment and have had at least one personal interaction with me. Friends, Family and the CommunityThere are people that we interact with all the time—like the server at my favorite restaurant, my daughter's math teacher, the guy who works from the same coffee shop I visit, the woman who knocked me down last week at roller derby. This also includes friends from high school, classmates from college and the friend of my sister’s that I struck up a conversation with a month ago. After I’ve had a good interaction with people, I try to connect with them since our paths may cross again, and there will definitely be opportunities for us to help one another out. Now, reaching out to them to talk more about a specific topic will be easier since we have had casual contact on one or more occasions. Some could argue that these people shouldn't be a part of a "professional network" since I don't directly know them from work. I disagree. I'm a firm believer that there is generally zero benefit to being mean to people and only positives from being nice to people. Go forth and be nice to people--if only for the sheer pleasure that being nice to another fellow human being can give you. Keep Track of EveryoneLinkedIn is the core tool I use to keep track of my professional network. This is a collection of people I have worked with over the course of my career, colleagues from professional organizations and people who are both friends and possible business contacts. I use LinkedIn to post my professional profile, link to my other professional social media accounts and stay current on who of my connections currently work for what organizations. In addition to LinkedIn, I also keep email addresses and phone numbers for people who I worked with more closely, and connect people with who are family or friends as well as professional connections through Facebook.  LinkedIn is my favorite tool for keeping track of my network. Foosball is also fun, ergo the picture. Interact in a Meaningful WayThe biggest mistake most people make with networking is staying silent until they need something. In order to network effectively, it needs to be a give and take relationship. This includes talking to people in passing when you see them, congratulating them on their successes, asking them how they are doing and offering help when you can. Is someone looking for someone to click through a webpage they are designing? Volunteer to help. Did they just publish a book that you read? Comment on how much you liked the book or share the book with other people who might find it interesting. Did someone just get a promotion at work? Send them a quick note of congratulations. Even sharing insightful articles on LinkedIn on a regular basis is one easy way to give to, rather than take from, your network. In order to be successful, networking should be about an ongoing relationship that is mutually beneficial—not your list of people that you ask to do you favors.  Give back to your network! Sharing useful information, like whatever-this-chart-is, is a good way to go. What Do You Think?How do you build and nurture your professional network? Share your thoughts in the comments. Learn MoreWelcome To The SuckThe process of being "in transition" is like no other. Not only do you have no outwardly dictated plans on any given weekday, but you don't really know how long your unstructured time off will last (another week, another month, a few months?) or what your day to day life will look like once the transition is over. There's also the issue of figuring out what to do with yourself when you're not job searching--in addition to feeling guilty because you're not doing more job searching, that is. As an extra added bonus, there are the occasional freak outs about money, nervousness about career prospects and the once in a great while "I will never be employed ever again!" full-on panic. Suffice it to say that job searching can be full of obstacles that make the process hard to manage. Knowing the possible issues is the first step towards figuring out how to mitigate each challenge and move forward. Here are five unfortunate truths I have discovered about dealing with an unexpected career transition and a few coping strategies for dealing with each.  The job interview process is riddled with challenges. Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash 1. You won't always get an interview for THE PERFECT JOB.Congratulations! You just found THE PERFECT JOB! You have all of the required and preferred qualifications! It's at the right level, with your dream company, and you even know someone who works there who will say great things about you! Surely your days of job searching are coming to a close because you are the purple squirrel for THE PERFECT JOB! Enter reality. I'm sorry to say that you may not even manage to get so much as an initial phone screen for this position. Even when you feel like the job was tailor made for you, someone in a decision making position may not agree. Why might that happen? For one, the position may not actually available. Some organizations post job openings to gauge interest in the position even though they have no plans to hire anytime soon. Conversely, the role may have been open for a while and the selection process may be well under way. There could also be an internal person who will take the job without additional people being considered. In some cases, companies may have a policy that they need to post positions externally for a given length of time even though they already have a candidate in mind. Still other organizations may decide part way through the hiring process to leave a position unfilled, but not remove it from their posted jobs. Assuming the job is really and for true accepting applicants, there may still be issues. For one, key stakeholders in an organization may have a lack of common agreement on what a job role will do and what constitutes being a well-qualified candidate. Decision makers may also each have their own non-negotiable requirements for the qualifications for the potential hire--which may or may not relate to the person's ability to do the job. Remember that, no matter what the issue is, it seldom has anything to do with you personally. It's just the life of recruiting for and trying to fill positions with the best candidates they can find--sometimes with people who are (unfortunately) not you. Coping Strategies
2. People who aren't good at their jobs will make your life harder.Remember a time at your last job when you had to deal with someone who was not good at what they did for a living? Like the salesperson who was rude, never did their paperwork right and missed deadlines? Or the recruiter who didn't keep good notes and forgot who they had phone screened? During your job search, you'll realize those people exist in other organizations, too, and they sometimes stand between you and the job you want. It could come in the form of an administrative assistant who is supposed to coordinate your travel for an in-person interview--who didn't make reservations then went on vacation leaving you scrambling to find someone else to help. It may be the recruiter who doesn't realize that a learning management system and a learning content management system are roughly the same thing and wrongly screens you out early on in the process. It may be the hiring manager that is overly concerned with your lack of knowledge of their industry and doesn't believe that anyone could just LEARN what they now know. It might be an insecure possible future coworker who doesn't want to hire someone who might outshine them. Just like in the rest of life, things are not always "fair" and you may not get a job, even if you are a strong candidate. Such is life.  Not everyone is great at their job. Try not to let it get you down. Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash Coping Strategies
3. Along the way, someone will dislike you.I don't know about you, but I am friggin' delightful. I'm also able to connect and get along well with most people. However, during the interview process, no matter who I am or am not, it's not going to match what someone else thinks the candidate for the position should be. Whether they thought I should have smiled more, made a different outfit choice or given more detailed examples, someone's negative reaction to who I am may take me out of the running for a job. People often have their own pet theories about what they'd like in a coworker, manager or direct report. They may be convinced that having the title "account manager" is pivotal for success, that all candidates must have a master's degree, or that people who ride horses are pretentious. You might also have the misfortune of reminding them of the mean girl in high school and BOOM--instant dislike. Again, life isn't necessarily "fair." Coping Strategies
4. The interview process may be extensive and/or disorganized.The job interview process can be anything from one interview to many, many, many interviews depending on the organization and the role. Typically, I expect to have a phone screen with an entry level HR person to confirm that I can speak in sentences, an in-person interview with the manager and potential coworkers and a final interview to either demonstrate skills and/or meet with my potential boss's boss. In addition, a given employer may want to have you do more to demonstrate that you have the skills necessary to do the job. You might be asked to pass written assessments, submit work samples, present to a group or complete a project. They may even have you come into the office for the day and "work" as if you are already in the position for which you are applying. Interviews could take place over the phone, via web conference, through email, in-person or (more likely) a combination of all of the above. Some companies will have a pre-defined, structured process for the pacing and format of interviews. Other organizations will appear to be making it up as they go along. You may inadvertently skip steps and realize near the end of the process that you missed talking about a basic topic like salary range or work location. You may have interviews one-on-one with many people who you might work with going forward including coworkers, people with whom you'd collaborate with and executives. Sometimes, it may seem that the interview process is never-ending because you have not yet talked with every single person in the organization. Coping Strategies
5. Time passes more slowly when you're waiting.I remember being a child, and how LONG the year seemed. It always took forever to get from my birthday at the end of August to Christmas. Enter adulthood. I find myself consistently marveling that it's already whatever day/month/season it is because it seems that it was just that other day/month/season. In this scenario, your employer is the adult, and you are the child. Some companies will be motivated to fill a position and move things pretty quickly, while others might have days, weeks or even months between your contacts with them--all because something that wasn't filling that position became a priority. What about that two days that the employer estimated it would take them to contact you? It may easily turn into a week, or two. Since they're busy addressing customer issues, traveling to client sites and doing their expense reports, they didn't even realize it took that long. Meanwhile, you're stocking your pantry awaiting the unemployment apocalypse because you will never get a job ever, ever again. (Except not really because, well, reality.) I have also had cases where I've had one or more interviews that went well, and then not heard from the company for a week or two. I'll send a follow up message, which sometimes gets the process going again, but at least makes me feel like I've taken the action I can take to let them know I'm still a potential candidate. Keep in mind that holidays, summer, natural disasters, other company events and a host of other valid reasons may keep people from following up with you. Or, as any job seeker really doesn't want to hear, you may not be getting the job. Responding to a candidate quickly usually shows that the potential employer is interested. In many cases, taking longer to respond may indicate lagging interest. Such is how the whole process works.  Like sands through the hourglass, so is how slow the passing of time feels when you're waiting for a possible employer to call. Coping Strategies
What do you think?What unfortunate truths about the job search process have you found? Share your thoughts in the comments. Learn MoreInterview Preparation 101When interviewing, whether it’s an initial phone screen, video conference or in-person meeting, there are a few questions you need to be ready to answer early on. Having good answers prepared will set the tone for the interview and increase your chances of continuing in the hiring process. When I’m in an interviewer role, I tend to start with “Tell me about yourself.” Here are examples of bad, good and even great ways to answer this question.  Help your potential employer get to know you beyond your resume. Why This Question: The Good ReasonsPersonally, I ask this question to give people a chance to talk and tell me whatever they want to tell me. As a hiring manager, I look for people who can present themselves well, summarize information and figure out what to do with minimal direction. This question gives the candidate a chance to summarize what they see as the important points of who they are and what they do in the way that makes the most sense to them. Remember, this question is your opportunity to shine. For a couple of minutes, you get to set the tone for the interview focusing on your best qualities, what a great fit you are for the job and why people will enjoy you as a coworker. A good candidate will use this time to tell me why they are a good fit for the job and why I might want to work with them. A bad candidate will freeze, not know where to start, ramble on endlessly or tell me their life story. Why This Question: The Not-So-Good ReasonsIn a job interview setting in the United States, there are several things that employers cannot legally ask a candidate. These include marital status, age, how many they have, how many children they plan to have, their religion and many more personal, non-job related details. When asked an open-ended question like “Tell me about yourself,” many candidates will volunteer much of the information that the employer can’t ask. This presents a couple of issues. For one, in a job interview setting, candidates should answer questions in a way that positions them in a good light for the job. Answering with personal, non-job related details makes the candidate sound unprofessional and not very focused on their professional life. In addition, volunteering personal information may cause interviewers to jump to conclusions about the candidates suitability for a role. Mentioning that you have small children may cause interviewers to think you won’t be able to travel for work, will want to leave early all of the time, or will miss work for family reasons. Minimize these issues by thinking through your answer before the interview. How to Prepare Prior to the interview, review information about the company, the open position and the person or people who will be interviewing you. Review the posted job description, review insights you’ve learned from current employees, refer to something you learned from viewing the interviewer’s LinkedIn profile and be ready to summarize your background to present yourselves as a strong candidate for the job. Practice telling your story before the interview, ideally getting feedback from a friend or family member and adjusting your presentation. Find that balance between knowing what you want to convey, and saying it in a way that doesn’t sound overly rehearsed. Bad Answer: All Personal“Hi. My name is Jenny. I’m 35, my husband and I have been married for 5 years and I have a 2 year old daughter named Elizabeth. My hobbies include crocheting, playing volleyball, visiting art museums and going to a weekly Bible study group at Holy Christ Almighty Non-Denominational Church.”  Don't volunteer answers for questions a potential employer can't legally ask. What's Missing: Why You're QualifiedIn an interview, you’re presenting yourself as a possible employee. In this example, there was absolutely no information on you as a job candidate aside from those that can be insinuated (possibly incorrectly) from the information that was provided. While it’s helpful to add a few personal details to show that you are an actual human being with interests that don’t involve spreadsheets and sales projections, professional information, including work experience and qualifications, takes priority over personal details. Okay answer: Qualifications Review “Hi. My name is Jenny. As you know from my resume, I have 10 plus years of experience as a project manager. Most recently, I worked at EFG Company managing software implementations. I also have a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and I’m pursuing my Project Manager Professional (PMP) certification.”  Stay professional, but remember to add to what's on your resume, not just relist key points. What’s Missing: Details Beyond Your Resume The interviewer already thinks you have the basic qualifications to do the job (ergo the interview). Now is the time to include details that didn’t make your resume. Tell them what you liked about your most recent position, your specific accomplishments or what you’ve learned. In addition to the focus on your job-related skills, tell them a little about you as a person. Good answer: I Am More Than My Resume, and an Actual Person “Hi. My name is Jenny. As you know from my resume, I have 10 plus years of experience as a project manager. Most recently, I worked at EFG Company where, in the last year, I successfully managed 50 software implementation projects for small to medium sized companies. In that role, I really enjoyed working with business analysts to help companies with both project management and change management. I learned a lot about working with vendors and customers to promote software adoption. When I’m not at work, my hobbies include crocheting, playing volleyball and visiting art museums.”  Let interviewers know what you like and what you've learned. What’s Missing: Connections with the Company or Interviewers This is a pretty good answer. It’s complete, goes beyond resume bullet points and includes a few non-work details. What’s missing is the connection between you and the organization. How are you uniquely qualified for this position? What experiences will help you do the specific job at the organization? What beliefs do you hold that align with the company values? What do you have in common with the interviewers? Answer the unasked questions “why should we hire you instead of the other qualified candidates?” and “what are you like as a person?” Connect the dots for people so they can see how great of a fit you are for the position. Great Answer: I am a Good Fit and a Real Person“Hi. My name is Jenny. As you know from my resume, I have 10 plus years of experience as a project manager. Most recently, I worked at EFG Company where, in the last year, I successfully managed 50 software implementation projects for small to medium sized companies. In that role, I really enjoyed working with business analysts to help companies with both project management and change management. I learned a lot about working with vendors and customers to promote software adoption. Since XYZ Company works predominantly with small companies, and you’re focusing on customer retention, my experience on helping customers update their business processes to align with new software will help with that initiative. I’m excited about the kinds of customer retention projects I would get to work on in this role with XYZ company. When I’m not at work, my hobbies include crocheting, playing volleyball and visiting art museums. Alan—you’re a volleyball player too, aren’t you? I saw a picture of your company team on the website. Playing on a company team is always a lot of fun.”  Connect with the interviewer and the organization. What Do You ThinkWhat components do you think are critical when answering the “Tell me about yourself” question? Include details in the comments below. Learn MoreInterview Preparation 101When interviewing, whether it’s an initial phone screen, video conference or in-person meeting, there are a few questions you need to be ready to answer early on. Having a good answer prepared will set the tone for the interview and increase your chances of continuing in the hiring process. In two recent initial interviews with different companies, the first question asked was "What do you know about our company?" Here are bad, good and even great ways to answer this question. Why This Question?So why start here? At the most basic level, it is a great way for an organization to see if you are interested enough in the job that you did a little homework on your potential employer. Here in the information age, where the magical Google can tell you anything from when daylight saving time starts to who won the Worst Picture Razzie in 1995, there is just no excuse for not learning at least something about an organization before you interview. From a recruiter's point of view, a candidate who bothers to find out about the company is stronger than one who has a "which job is this again?" mindset. It comes down to showing that you have initiative--which is a great quality in any potential worker.  There's more to a company than a big shiny building. Why Do The Research?Aside from being able to answer this question, it's a good idea to learn more about a possible employer. Sometimes, when looking for work, people get so focused on trying to get hired somewhere, that we forget that we also need to figure out if we want to work for a given company. When doing a little research, you may learn that you actually don't want to work for a company that has an opening. Maybe they are known for having high turnover, legal troubles or are cutting staff. Knowing the marketing information as well as the day to day of a given organization can help you make a good decision about your next employer. Remember that you are also interviewing the company, and finding out more about them gives you a better background for the "What questions do you have for me?" portion of the interview.  A little company research will help you in the hiring process. Bad Answer: I know nothing."Not a thing." (An actual answer I received when I was a hiring manager interviewing a candidate for an instructor position.) Seriously? Ugh. Even if you know next to nothing, you know a little--the name of the company, that they are hiring the position for which you are applying, how to get to the building. Just try even a little bit. Okay Answer: I know a little bit.“I know that Super-Great Healthcare Company is a non-profit organization that runs 100 clinics and hospitals. I know that this organization was formed in 2010 because of a merger of Super Healthcare and Great Healthcare, which made it the largest clinic network in Illinois. I also know that you have just launched a new ‘phone a nurse’ program to help patients make better healthcare decisions.” Invest 5 minutes: Basic Company InformationYou almost have to try to not learn anything a company. First off, at the bottom of most job postings, companies list a little bit about their company, including a quick note on who they are and what they're about. From there, visit your good friend Google, do a quick Internet search, and get thee to the company’s website. Be able to list off at least a few basics on the organization including what the business does, their main products and services. On their home page, you should be able to glean what they do, and see at least a few key announcements.  Get on the Google to find out all about your prospective employer. Good Answer: I know a thing or two.“I know that Super-Great Healthcare Company is a non-profit organization that runs 100 clinics and hospitals. I also know that this organization was formed in 2010 because of a merger of Super Healthcare and Great Healthcare, which made it the largest clinic network in Illinois. I know you have just launched a new ‘phone a nurse’ program to help patients make better healthcare decisions. I know that Super-Great Healthcare Company was named one of the top 100 workplaces in Illinois for the second year in a row, that you recently hired a new VP of Operations and broke ground on a new corporate headquarters building.” Invest 15 Minutes: About Us and NewsGo beyond the homepage of the company's website and learn a little more. Visit the “About” page to find out more about their office locations, leadership team, company values and awards they may have won. Check out press releases to see what news the organization wants to publicize. Visit LinkedIn to see the company’s marketing summary. Check out Wikipedia for a once over on company information from their start up to present day. Do a Google search focused on news to find out any headlines involving the organization. Don't feel the need to list off every fact ever about the company, but sharing a few key details shows that you did more than the bare minimum. Great Answer: I know people.“I know that Super-Great Healthcare Company is a non-profit organization that runs 100 clinics and hospitals. I also know that this organization was formed in 2010 because of a merger of Super Healthcare and Great Healthcare, which made it the largest clinic network in Illinois. I know you have just launched a new ‘phone a nurse’ program to help patients make better healthcare decisions. I know that Super-Great Healthcare Company was named one of the top 100 workplaces in Illinois for the second year in a row, that you recently hired a new VP of Operations and broke ground on a new corporate headquarters building. I also talked with a former co-worker of mine, Alexander Nevermind, and he really enjoys working in Super-Great Healthcare’s IT department. He has nothing but good things to say about the new payment processing system implemented earlier this year. “  Talk to people. They know things. Invest 30 Minutes or More.This is where LinkedIn and your personal network come in handy. Search for the company on LinkedIn, and see if any of your connections have a tie with the company. This could be one of your direct connections, or someone one of them knows. When possible, it's beneficial to reach out to someone via LinkedIn messages, phone or to meet in person to talk. They may be able to share first-hand information that you can't find on a company website. Glass Door is also a great resource for finding out company specific information. Current and past employees share their reviews of the company--the good, bad and ugly. People who have recently interviewed with an organization also rate their experience and include questions that they were asked. Hearing from people who have direct experience with a company can help give you a fuller picture of what the organization is all about. What Do You Think?How do you learn about a potential employer? What details would you include in your answer to this question? Share your insights in the comments. Learn MoreInsights from an Unemployed Job SeekerAs someone who has been laid off 3 times, I have applied for about 3 bijillion jobs over the course of my career. This has made me a resume nerd. I’m always learning about the best format, writing a punchy introduction, tailoring my resume to each position and having the right level of detail on my LinkedIn profile. Which leads me to... Insights from a Hiring ManagerOn the other side, I’ve also been a manager searching for computer trainers, instructional designers, technical support specialists and more. As a hiring manager, believe it or not, I very much want you to be the perfect candidate for the position I have open. While searching for a new career opportunity is no picnic, being on the other side of hiring is also challenging. Unfortunately, many candidates who apply for a job are either not qualified or represent themselves poorly on a resume. Which brings me to my...  There's actually a job opening! Make the most of it! Top 5 Tips for a Strong Resume
A Secret About Hiring Managers I love "More stuff that makes me qualified." As a job candidate, it may often feel like we are at odds with hiring managers, and the companies trying to fill open positions. Want to know the truth? As a hiring manager, I’m really hoping that you are the right candidate for the opening I have. I’m trying like crazy to find just the right person who can do what I need done and who will enjoy working at my company. Each time I come across a resume that includes a great list of skills, but who makes one or more of the mistakes listed above, you're making it harder for me to sell your skills to my boss and get you the salary you want. Learn More |