Tag Archive for: career growth

How Do You Know When It’s Time to Quit Your Job?

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What drew you to the company you work for? Was it your education, circumstances, or your “career path?” Challenge, growth, values, environment, training, work/life balance, and over-all fit can be key factors in determining if you should get off at this stop, stay on a bit longer, or get on the next bus out of town. Leaving any occupation isn’t a small decision, but, like breakups, sometimes we don’t realize the magnitude of unhappiness until we are out of that situation. So how do you know when it’s time to leave the company where you are currently employed?

Make sure your nosy cube-mates and/or human resources managers aren’t near – if you are already having doubts, this ride could get bumpy. There is no one answer to knowing when you should leave your company or if you should leave at all, but here are a few of the more obvious signs that you aren’t happy with your professional life, or have outgrown where you are.

1. You genuinely dread going to work, not just on Monday’s, but every day, and the thought preoccupies your free time.

2. Your “situation” has changed. When you started your career you may have been single, and able to live on a certain salary, but right now you may be married with three children and have a car payment. If your essential needs as a person are not able to be met anymore, and there is no room for upward mobility in position or paycheck it may be time to let your current employer go.

3. Boredom. In the same way that a highly intelligent child may under perform in an unchallenging class, you too may be under performing because, well, you are unchallenged at work. If you are unable to move up, gain more responsibility or take on different projects in your current company, looking for an opportunity where advancement is an option may be in your best interest.

Here are a few of the less obvious identifiers:

1. Complacency. You are comfortable with where you are. You may love the company you work for, but your job is “fine” and vice versa. For some people this will work just “fine” for the rest of their professional lives, but realize that while the situation might not get worse, it also may never get any better.

2. The wheels are constantly spinning, but you aren’t actually driving anywhere. You are undervalued even if you come in at 7 and leave at 6. You find yourself thinking “If only I work a little harder, a little longer, get involved in EVERYTHING, someone will notice and reward me.” Some companies don’t necessarily have a culture that values hard workers like you, but there will always be one out there that does. Find it.

Whether you are deep-rooted into a company or just starting out, you have the right to be happy. As Joe Gibbs said, “People who enjoy what they are doing invariably do it well,” so look out for any warning signs and listen to yourself.

5 Ways to Learn New Skills

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Fake it til you make it? Please. No need for that. With online learning sites and videos, a lot of information and in depth educational materials are available for free. The flipside? If you have been looking for an eye catching way to display your skills, teaching your specialty to eager online learners can help establish you as a subject matter expert and enhance your personal brand.  The following sites provide a sea of knowledge, and a reputable platform for teaching to the masses for FREE!! If you have tried them out, please share your stories!

Skillshare.com
Skillshare is focused on learning and teaching anything from anyone, anywhere. They believe that not only is everyone capable of learning, but that every person is a teacher. If you are very good at what you do professionally or recreationally, you can teach it here and it only takes minutes to get started. What’s more is that you can also browse through classes to find one that is interesting to you.

YouTube.com
Another platform to share your skills other than Skillshare is YouTube. You can create your own channel, film and share the tutorials with your social network. You are able to learn to do almost anything, like how to curl your hair.

Khanacademy.org
Started in 2008, Khan Academy is on a mission to provide free, world class education to anyone, anywhere. You are able to explore Math, Science, IT and History from introductory to advanced lessons, perfect for learning a new topic. I have taken the French Revolution class as a nice little refresher. Great course, interesting teacher, and I always left wanting macarons.

Codecademy.org
Codecademy is made up of a group of self proclaimed “hackers” who want to teach the world to not only use technology, but create. This site teaches you how to code most of the popular languages that are out there. I myself am not a computer whiz, but I have started learning Python, and if I can do it anyone can. If you would like to see an incredible video as to why we should code and not just consume, please listen to Mr. Bill Gates.

Edx.org
Higher education heavy hitters, MIT and Harvard, have decided to use their powers for good. They have enlisted several high ranked colleges and universities to teach a few online courses for free. FREE. The classes range from Humanities, Global Issues, Engineering, IT, Healthcare, and Law. If are in, or are passed college education level, these introductory courses are in depth, interesting and fulfilling.

I know my anecdote about eating macarons was thought provoking, but we would love to hear how you have, or do, use these sites! Pass the word along and remember the words of Oscar Wilde: “You can never be overdressed or overeducated.”

 

Pink Slip Party: Networking Event for Metro Detroit IT Industry Professionals & Job Seekers

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Wednesday, March 13th
5:00 p.m.
St Andrews Hall
431 E Congress St
Detroit MI 48226
Google Map

Brightwing is co-sponsoring a networking event for Metro Detroit IT professionals. The party is being hosted by Detroitnet.org, a non-profit group that provides an online and offline venue for professionals in and around the Information Technology industry to network with other IT folks in the most simplest of forums. The event is free and open to the public. You can pre-register for the event by sending an email to [email protected] with your resume as an attachment.

 

How to Network

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Business networking tips- Getting past hello

Have you ever found yourself standing in the corner of a crowded room, surrounded by strangers, with your palms sweating more and more with every passing moment? Did this nerve-wracking moment of your life happen to be at a networking event or career fair? Never fear! You are not alone, and this does not have to destroy your chances of success. You showed up, you know who you are and what you have done, so being prepared to talk about yourself is the next step. So how do you get past hello? Having a prepared ice breaker and well thought out elevator pitch is a sure way to get past any awkwardness and on to an actual conversation.

Fat Penguin

Think about how you are going to break the ice with a stranger friend you don’t know yet. It doesn’t have to be complicated or entertaining. Simply walk up to someone, introduce yourself instead of waiting to be approached, and start with any of the following:

  • Have you been to one of these events before?
  • Are you a member of the group/ organization/ an alumnus?
  • What brings you here today?
  • This is my first event with this group, what about you?

The list could go on and I am sure you get the idea, but ice breakers are helpful to think about before you go in case of crowd shock.  You’ll look like a pro!

Fake it ‘til you make it

This doesn’t mean faking your experience. It just means faking your confidence by crafting a mini commercial about yourself that is memorable. Having your 15 seconds written and practiced beforehand will save you panic and mumbling when you are asked about yourself.  So what do you say when someone asks, “What do you do?”  You need to state

  • Who you are: “I am an experienced and enthusiastic marketing professional.”
  • Skills that you have: “and use social media”
  • Something that you have achieved or worked on: “to drive my company’s candidate-facing marketing.”

This will help the person you are talking to have a base from which to ask additional questions. Since you are up to date on your skills, it will be easy to elaborate on your experience

Make a connection

Now that you both know a little about each other’s experience, see if you can help them with anything. Since I work at Brightwing I may say,

  • “Do you know anyone who is not happy with their current job, or anyone who is looking for a job? We would love to speak to them about their experience.”

or if they are unemployed or are looking for something new,

  • “Would you like to give me your card? My co-workers would love to connect with you and see if we can help you find something.”

If I were unemployed and looking to make a transition, I could also ask for help,

  • “Do you know of anyone needing my skill set?”

Even if the outcome isn’t a connection between you and this immediate person, they may refer you to someone or vice-versa.

 

How do you get past hello? If you have any other tips or smooth operator tricks, we would love to hear them!

 

Author: Elyse Lopez

How to Bounce Back from Failure

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Let’s talk about goals. When I ran cross country in high school, I dreamed of running in the state meet at the end of the season. The reality? While senior year I was co-captain of the team, performance wise, I was mediocre at best.  Did this make me give up? No way Jose! But assessing the reality of my physical abilities helped me come back from personal set back and succeed in my own way senior year. The same thought process can be applied to our work lives as well as personal. What we learn when we do not reach our goals is experience, and while it may not be the result we wanted, can help change the game next time. Here are some tips on how to bounce back from a perceived failure in your personal or professional lives:

Just because it didn’t work out, doesn’t mean you didn’t gain anything valuable.
“Failure” gives us experience; the trick is seeing what you achieved. For example: Let’s say you learn a professional skill during a layoff period and master it. When you interview you are confident and prepared, but do not get the position for one reason or another. You didn’t reach your goal, but you did learn something entirely new that will be useful in ways you may not know yet. As Steve Jobs put it,”You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”

Take an educated guess
Now that you are firmly back on your feet, eating well, and getting the proper amount of sleep, it’s time to move forward with an educated plan. Setting SMART goals (Specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely) allow you to asses where you were, and where you would like to go in an organized fashion. This way, you have benchmarks and check-ins with yourself, your friends, your team and your manager to make sure you are on track with what you need/want to accomplish. You will also be able to see for yourself mid-project what is working and what is not before you’re entirely finished with the task and are able to do the best with what you know. In the end that’s all that you can do, and how others react is completely out of your control. Do not forget this.

Keep swinging that bat
Even with benchmark checking, and attitude/ behavior adjustments, we may not always succeed after we change our plan, but that doesn’t mean that we aren’t on the right track. According to an article in Forbes.com, “The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that about two-thirds of all start-ups live to see their second birthdays, and just 45% make it to their fourth. What separates the best from the rest is the strength to get back up, again and again.” This strategy holds true in all areas of our lives. For example: at work we have daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly goals we set out to accomplish. On occasion, even with careful planning, benchmarks and realistic goal setting we don’t succeed because of unforeseen challenges or the timeline was shorter than expected. But keep going. As my dad would say, “Keep swinging that bat Elyse! You’re bound to hit something!”

What are your goals? How have you bounced back? Every situation is unique, and strategies may vary, but if you give your best effort and fail it is always much greater than not trying at all.

 

Why You Should Always Keep Your Resume Updated

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One of our esteemed recruiters, Sarah Quaiatto, recently staffed a senior level position for a client. What she found is that good, mid to senior level candidates typically did not have their resume readily updated and hadn’t thought about personal or professional priorities for a few years. After some research, we figured out why; according to the US Bureau of Labor and statistics, professionals in mid-to-senior level positions are an average age of 47.3 years old, average 6 to 10 years at their current company. They probably have a house, may be married, may have children, car payments, college tuition to pay for themselves and/or save for their children, and, in general, have deep roots (with some fun on the side!). Although you may have worked at your company for some time, being prepared for professional opportunities is always a positive.

Having an up to date resume is the easiest way for recruiters or potential employers to see your track record and pass along information; but a resume for a mid-to-senior level worker is a bit different than an entry level worker. Here are some tips on how you should prepare for and format your resume, just in case a recruiter gives you a call:

Personal Profile
Make a personal priorities list for yourself. Write out, in order, which aspects of your life are most important. Are your children in high school? Do you love your city? Then location may be on your “no budge” list. Are your children young? Are your children in college? The amount of travel you do in another position may be a make-or-break point.  Decide these factors first, and even talk to your family so you know what is in your family’s best interest.

Professional Profile
As you know, you have dependants and financial responsibilities to think about, so a stable move is very important, but professional priorities may come into play as well. Like making a dating profile, you need to write out what you would be looking for in a potential employer that are make-or-break qualities such as:

  • Will the new job challenge me?
  • What sort of position would make me happy?
  • Am I looking for continued growth?
  • 401k
  • Salary
  • Benefits
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Stock options

Highlight what actually matters.
Most hiring managers/recruiters only need 10-20 seconds to see if you are a fit for a job.  Are you currently a Senior Vice President? You do not need to highlight your stint as a stock boy at the local grocery store when you were in high school. To make your relevant skills stand out, we suggest the following:

1. Have a summary section at the top highlighting all relevant skills, even if some of the skills were learned at a position 15 years ago. If you have a specific job that you are submitting your resume to, then highlight skills that are directly related to the job description at the top. Write a few sentences about yourself, then bullet point skill sets.

2. Highlight the two or three most recent employers, as they are usually the most relevant. If that is not the case then list the employers and dates worked, but expand upon the specific employers where you gained the most relevant experience.

We wish you the best of luck whether or not you choose to switch jobs, as the decision is never easy. However, if you do decide to start pursuing new opportunities, stay tuned for next week’s blog about finding a new job for the first time in 15 years.

How to Say Thank You after an Interview

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thank you noteSimilar to a first date that went well, you need to follow up an interview with some sort of correspondence. But what do you say and how do you say it? Assuming that you did your research about the position and the company before your interview, the thank you note is easier than you think. Here are a few sample thank you letters for different interview scenarios:

The informational interview/ 30 minute phone interview

This thank you can be handwritten, but because it was more of a discovery meeting, sending an email on the same day as the interview is appropriate:

Hi Jane-

Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me today about ABC Company. From my research and information that you shared with me I think I would be a great fit for the position because of my track record in XY and Z. I am very excited about the possibility to work on your team and would love to come to the office and meet with everyone in person.

Again thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you!

Elyse

The formal face to face interview
This thank you note can be done either snail mail or email; I prefer hand written for face to face though. A sure way to make sure the letter will get to your recipient quickly is to have a note with you and have an intro already penned. That way when you are leaving, or sitting in your car you can finish the thank you note with details that would pertain to your interview. After you sign and seal the letter, run it back in to the reception desk. For my Brightwing thank you letter to Adam Conrad, I dropped it off at my friend Matt Glynn’s house to ensure next day delivery.

Jane-

It was so nice to meet you in person today and see who I have been emailing with the past few weeks! After meeting with you I definitely think I would be a great fit for XYZ position because of the 3 years experience I have in supporting EFG. I have also spearheaded ABC project where I managed a talented team of 5 people.

As I said today, I have been interested in working for ABC Company for several years and would be elated to work on your team! The culture seems to be one I would fit in and thrive.

 I look forward to hearing back from you!

 Elyse

The face to face interview with multiple people
If you are asking yourself, “Wait I need to write a thank you letter to everyone I met with?” Then you definitely needed to read this blog.  Absolutely you should send a thank you to everyone you met, not a group thank you note. That seems like you are either too cheap, lazy or ran out of stationary. The same timing applies with the multiple thank you letters as the single in person thank you letter. If you weren’t planning on seeing multiple people, it’s ok to wait until you get home to write and send the thank you notes.  The example above would be fitting, just adjust the note to match the kind of conversation you had with each interviewer.

The second round interview
If you have reached this point, and are looking to write your second round, etc, interview thank you letter then great job! You’re obviously on the right track.  With your second, third, etc round interview, the thank you note should continue to emphasize your enthusiasm for the position, the company and why you are the best fit for the position based on your experience.

Peter-

It was great to meet with you for a second interview today! My enthusiasm for the position and working for ABC Company is only growing. In my first interview, meeting with the team was great! I really feel that we would get along personally and professionally.

I still think that I would be a great fit for this position because of XYZ. I showed leadership through ABC and saw success through DEF.

As I have said, I have wanted to work for this company for some time now and am excited to have had the opportunity to interview for this position.

Thank you again for taking the time to meet with me, and I look forward to hearing back from you!

Elyse

 

SEE ALSO: 3 Ways to Say Thank You After Second Interview

We wish  you the best of luck in your interview process, and if you need any advice don’t hesitate to call Brightwing.

Elyse LopezAuthor: Elyse Lopez

From Teacher to Recruiter: How I Entirely Changed My Career

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One of our newer Sourcers/Recruiters, Rachel Harris, is a former school teacher who found herself making a switch from 12 years of teaching experience into entry level business positions. She had been a recruiter prior to starting with Brightwing, and has great advice for navigating an entire career change:

Maybe I’m a little dramatic, but I called them my “signs from God.” Over the last few years, a series of personal and professional events occurred, each providing, in my mind, more confirmation that it was time for me to seek a new career path. At that point, I’d been teaching for my entire adult life; so what does one do with a BA in English, other than teach? Honestly, I didn’t put a lot of thought into it: I just trusted that I’d find something. In hindsight, the leap-of-faith route, while it has worked out so far, probably wasn’t the best way to go. As luck would have it, though, I fell into recruiting – head first, baptism-by-fire style, at least with my first opportunity. After the company I originally recruited for closed its doors last summer, I found myself back in the job-seeker boat, but, this time, I went about the process of finding something new in a much more organized fashion.

I found that my organized job search involved asking myself a series of questions:  “What do I  want to be when I grow up?” I still don’t necessarily know the answer (and maybe I never will), “What do I like to do?” “ What am I good at?” and finally, “What would I be interested in learning more about?” When facing an entire career change, I had hoped that knowing myself would help me find a career that I would thoroughly enjoy. Feel free to apply these tactics when/ if you also decided to make such a change.

As for actually finding an opportunity in the career field you’ve chosen, that’s the big challenge.

Once you figure out what you want to be, at least for the time being, the next challenge is finding a job where you can actually do what you are setting out to do.  I had 12 years of professional experience under my belt, but no “practical” experience outside the classroom. In the eyes of hiring managers, I was entry-level all over again. It seemed like no one wanted to hear about my communication skills or presentation skills or clerical skills or… you get the idea. Applying on job boards, while it’s ultimately how I found my first post-teaching gig, doesn’t usually get you very far. I have no idea how many jobs I applied for, but I rarely got anything back. Frustrating! The key is getting your resume in front of people. The two ways that I found were the most effective were: Finding a reputable recruiter and also network like crazy.

When it’s time to actually explore job opportunities, determine what’s important to you. If job-satisfaction is your goal, be picky. Although it’s not always practical, don’t just take the first offer that’s thrown your way, just for the sake of having a J-O-B. One of my favorite questions to ask potential candidates is, “What factors will play into your decision whether to take a job or not? Do you have any must-haves or deal-breakers?” For some people it’s money; for some it’s the job itself; for some, benefits; for others, the company culture and environment. If you’ve thought these things through, it’ll help ensure a good match between yourself and your future employer.

I do miss some aspects of teaching – the students (maybe not all of them), my colleagues, my classroom, – but I’m much happier in my work than I have been in years. I’ve found a career that matches my skill set: I’m relatively organized; I like to talk a lot and listen well; I have years of experience asking and evaluating responses to questions. At the same time, it definitely pushes me out if my comfort zone.

Career Planning: Empowering New Employees

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What is Career Planning and when should it start? Career Planning in its most basic form is displaying an organizational chart and showing a new hire where they fit into the total picture. When the on-boarding program extends over a period of time (90 days to one year), Career Planning can be a well-thought out event that becomes part of your employer branding. Career Planning may include these key components:

On-boarding Program: New hire learns compliance rules and regulations, understands job clarification and expectations, learns organization culture norms, participates in socialization events to establish relationships and information networks, and develops knowledge and skills through training.

Performance Appraisal: Once the new hire’s performance is measured, he/she the supervisor discusses the development gaps with the new hire.

Individualized Development Plan (IDP): The supervisor and employee work together to determine a plan to close the performance gaps and develop the competencies expected to move up within the organization. This includes determining the support (coaching and mentoring) they will need. This is where “career planning” starts.

Career Development: The organization provides learning interventions to close the gaps and prepare the employee for the next career level. The employee may also attend learning interventions independent of the organization.

Career Management: This is the responsibility of the employee but can include the organization in some cases. The development plan should align the employee’s competencies with the job competencies required at each level for career advancement.

Helping your people shine.
Many companies believe that employees make their decision to stay or leave within the first 6 months of employment. Adding Career Planning as a component in your on-boarding program adds value, helps to engage the employee, ensures new hires that there is a long-term plan for them with the company, and may influence their decision to stay with the organization.

Integration of Career Planning in on-boarding is a good approach. However, for it to work effectively, an upfront and continual needs analysis is required, as well as, documented procedures of all functions and an effective training and development program.

Working through a Contract House: the Good, Bad & the Ugly

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I know that finding a job, whether through your own means or through a staffing company, can be very frustrating. I wanted to know what really makes for a pleasant experience from contractors who have been through it all with several different agencies. They described what they have experienced in the past, and what they look for in a company now. Here are a few things that you should think about before working with a staffing company:

The company reaches out to me
“It’s very important to me, and I have had the most positive experience when I am able to easily connect with my contract house. If I had to choose again, I would always choose an agency that focuses on the care and keeping of its contractors. There have been companies that I have worked for in the past that have not been reachable. If I had any issues with my paycheck, benefits or my actual contract, I would never be able to get a hold of them. The best experiences I have had are with companies who actually care about you. Not only are they available when I need them for issue resolution or for career counseling, but they reach out to me. I get taken out to lunch on occasion, the contractors at my company are treated to pizza parties and I actually know the company that I work through. I feel as though I am part of a team and not just temporary staff in a building that I sit in.”

“I worked at a company before my current position where I was in charge of employees in 5 states. Part of my performance review looked at how I cared for my employees. I needed to visit each employee twice a year and hold a gathering for them annually in addition to general career counseling or job questions. The reason I chose my current company is because they valued the face to face touch and didn’t rely solely on email and phone. I feel like I am a part of a family”

I am a person, not a commodity
“I have had experiences in the past where I had no personal relationship with my recruiter. Basically what happened is a staffing company called me out of the blue based on my skills, and left me a voicemail saying that they had submitted my resume, and secured an interview. In the meantime I hadn’t even spoken to them in the first place. What I enjoy about my experience now is that my recruiter works with me on reformatting my resume, asks me about my career goals and thoroughly prepares me for my interview, I am even walked in so that I have a support system the whole time.”

“My former employer was a joke. They had zero interest in getting to know me, to see how my job was going or to see if I needed anything. While I am thankful to have gotten a job, I was only a commodity to them. When my contract was up I did not feel any loyalty to stay with them and switched companies. Some contractors like the no touch model, but I would like to be able to speak to a person in person and not have my health benefits and paychecks come from a stranger.”

When looking for a new position, keep in mind some of these stories and don’t feel the need to settle on a company that won’t treat or represent you well.

2 Key Questions to Figure Out Your Career Goals

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As children, the question of what you want to be when you grow up seems so clear. My 6-year-old self answered, “Obviously I want to be a professional surfer and live off the land.” In reality I have never surfed, and Discovery Channel’s Shark Week continues to diminish that dream every August. If what we all really want to be when we grow up is happy and fulfilled by our professions, it’s possible then that we have been asking the wrong question all along. Maybe the real questions to consider are “Who do I want to be,” and “What environment do I thrive in as a person?”

“Who do I want to be” covers two areas: Where am I right now as a person and what changes should I make to be the person that I want to be? Before getting laid off last fall, I was in an extremely stressful and negative position. The stress and negativity was seeping into every area of my life both personal and professional. I began looking into other job opportunities, but eventually I was laid off and forced to make a change. It truly was a blessing.

The following actions helped me change my situation:

  • Where I am Right now? I took inventory of my professional skills. I kept a journal at my last job to note any projects or tasks I completed regularly, and made sure to have a resume that reflected as such.
  • Consulting with family and friends can help you look at the skills you possess in a different way, and may even help you see where you may naturally fit in. I had many conversations with my dad asking him “what am I good at?”
  • What activities do I engage in that I love? When I was in high school and college I loved to volunteer and work with a lot of different people. Luckily I found a company that fits both, but if you find that you love to help organize, you may be a great executive assistant or event planner. If you love to figure out what makes things work, and how to make them work better, you may be a great manager, executive, or engineer (with some schooling unless you already have the correct certification). It’s all about finding the simple things that you love to do, and then finding a way to do them for a job. What’s the worst that can happen? It doesn’t work out and you keep looking.

What environment do I thrive in as a person: When I was laid off I started thinking about the culture and kind of company I saw myself being happy in. Ask yourself these questions:

  • In what environments are you the best version of yourself? The best version of yourself can change depending on your age and your life outlook, but think about a time when you were truly happy at work. Where were you? What were you doing?
  • What type of people do you best get along with? Are you an extrovert or introvert? Do you like to deal with easy going people in an easy going industry or fast moving people in an industry that never sleeps? A great way to look at this is to see what type of people you are friends with. There is a good chance you get along with people like that.

Author: Elyse Lopez
Image from: weknowmemes.com 

 

How to Overcome the “Overqualified” Label

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“Sorry…You’re Overqualified”!  Those can be disheartening words for sure when someone is in a feverish job search.  Certainly, there are many different points of views: the job-seekers’, the company’s and the recruiter’s.

I spoke with a friend of mine who has been in this situation a couple of times while he was searching for a new job and was told that he was “overqualified for the position.”  Though he was never told why he was overqualified, his senses told him that the company felt he was a ‘flight risk’ and that he would get bored far too easily.  But did the company and companies in similar situations miss out on an opportunity?  Hiring Managers that refuse to consider a candidate that has more qualifications than what the position calls for are far more likely to hire someone that is under-qualified!  Companies  should be clear and concise when speaking with candidates about the role they are interviewing for.  This can save a lot of time for both the candidate and company if there is not a potential match.  Job seekers may have many different reasons for taking a job that hiring managers would say they are overqualified for.  Did they work ridiculously long hours?  Are they starting or adding to their family?  Find out what their true motivation is – this can go a long way in determining whether the candidate is a good fit.  Sometimes, an “overqualified” candidate can greatly contribute  to the company’s long –term organizational goals.  An employer looking at hiring a slightly overqualified candidate is potentially looking into a crystal ball at the future needs of the company and being proactive as opposed to reactive.

According to Dr. Randall Hansen, founder of Quintessential Careers, one of the oldest and most comprehensive career development websites, there are tactics for helping job seekers to overcome the “overqualified” label:

1)      Let your network speak for you – Nothing is stronger than a recommendation from someone who knows you and your background.

2)      Focus more on skills and accomplishments than job titles.

3)      Take money off the table – Be clear that your prior salary is of no relevance and that you are flexible about salary.

4)      Talk about financial advantages of hiring you – If there is a concern regarding salary, use specific examples that showed how you either increased revenues, cut costs or both.

5)      Talk about teamwork and personality – Show that you are a team player, that team success is far more important than individual team members.

6)      Discuss ‘new’ knowledge – Did you have recent training or skills added to your background that shows you are “up-to-date”.

7)      Demonstrate Loyalty – Alleviate the company’s fears of you leaving with your history of longevity at prior employers.

8)      Get the interview – Be prepared to deal with the overqualified issue, if you can’t get an interview sell the hiring manager on at least giving you a meeting so that you can make your case in person.

9)      Moderation – Do not overwhelm the hiring manager with your experience or ego (especially if the hiring manager is younger).

10)   Express interest and enthusiasm – Nothing is better than a positive attitude and having passion for a new position and potential new employer.

Practicing some (or all) of these tips may be the difference from “Sorry…You’re Overqualified” to “Welcome Aboard”!

How to Join the Workforce When You’re Short on Experience

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What do you do when you’re starting out? What do you do when you’re switching industries, or rejoining the workforce?  While every situation is different, many companies are looking  for people with experience.  Here are a few ideas for students, professionals switching industries or those rejoining the workforce:

Students leaving the nest

  • If you are a current student or a recent grad, you may have a few advantages…
    • Internships are usually reserved for students or recent grads. If you are a junior, senior or just graduated, you may have a very good chance at scoring an internship that will essentially be a business school education and your base for an entry level position.  Look for an area and companies that interest you and apply/network like crazy. When you land said internship, be a sponge. Soak up everything you see, hear, habits that successful people have and the way that successful people carry themselves.  Take notes, ask questions and at the end of it, you will have a lot to add to a resume.
    • Clubs and projects are a part of the everyday. You can gain “ideal world” experience that may not be what you actually do in the “real world”; however, the project management skills, planning and presentation experience you gain are invaluable.
    • Networking opportunities are constantly made available. Talk with your peers, professors and guest speakers about their ambitions, where they had success, mistakes they made or tips on how to be successful are all information that you will need.  These people may also help you land a job or internship.
    • College centers can help you market yourself! Never be afraid to go to your college center and have them format your resume, give you interviewing tips or a heads up on volunteer or internship opportunities. It’s their job to help you find opportunities for employment; use them.

Changing Industries with Work Experience

  • Assess the pros and cons: The New York Times quoted John A. Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, who suggests, “For mid-career people, it’s risky to make a wholesale career switch. Unless they are at the beginning of their working lives, many people can’t afford to give up the time and the income required to develop entirely new skills.” If this description fits you, then applying your learned skills to a new industry may be the most economical and fulfilling choice.
  • Research and compare your skills to those of your potential colleagues. Robert Hawthorne, president of search firm Hawthorne Research suggests, “Compare your accomplishments and skills to someone in a similar job who has been working in the industry you’re targeting. That will give you a better read on your chances and help you figure out how to position yourself against incumbents.” This can also help you see the way that industry experts talk about their skills and experiences. You can catalogue your existing skills, and find where you may need more research or experience.
  • Network, network, network! Do research, learn the lingo, see any forecasts for successes or challenges in the industry and then hit the networking circuit. Attend events that are either industry specific or position specific, listen, learn and ask questions. The people you meet here may be able to help you directly, or know someone who has employment needs. If getting a job is about who you know, then go out there and meet people.

 Re-Entering the workforce

Stay-at-home parents, those coming off of extended sick leave, or those coming out of retirement please do not get discouraged. Any volunteering during your time off and past work experience (years ago), can be relevant if you are able to present them in a way that shows you are keeping up with your industry. Our resident interview expert, Karen Melvin, had insight as to how a company may look at an extended leave candidate’s experience:

“First and foremost, if you have been on extended leave you may want to research companies who value a work/life balance. Those are the kinds of companies that are more likely to keep an open mind about extended leave, as opposed to companies that view employees as a number. Before interviewing I would suggest researching the industry to show that you are up on trends, review your resume to refresh your memory about how you acted/ re-acted in certain situations and network to find out any inside industry knowledge.”

As a last resort, or if you are seriously wanting to not only re-enter the workforce, but switch industries and/ or professions altogether, you may want to look into going back to grad school or college. Remember what Christopher Robin said, “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” You can do it!

How to Improve Your Communication Skills

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A man I know very well, who for his company’s PR restrictions I cannot name, was once a left brainiac. He learned Morse code, was an eagle scout, and an Electrical Engineer in college (Go Irish). There was one Saturday where his friends had to drag him out of the library to go to a football game and … sigh…. there were a few dark years where he wore a pocket protector. The story could have ended with him sitting in an IT/engineering lab for the entirety of his career, but he made the very conscious choice to become the line of communication between technical minds and business decision makers.

If you are technically minded, here are a few suggestions that can help you communicate with people and be good at it (see picture below).

 

 1. You have to want to communicate
What good is any idea without communication? If you cannot let someone know what it is that you deem important in a way that people can understand that will drive them to act, there is a great chance that nothing will come of your idea. You are incredibly intelligent, as is evident by your technical capabilities, but in order to get people to buy into your idea, either literally or figuratively, you need to be able to hold a genuine conversation.

A common example would be that businesses are increasingly looking to their IT departments to help make expensive IT purchasing decisions. If you cannot communicate what system you think is best and why, you may get the IT solution that doesn’t have all of the capabilities you need to help the business run.

2. Look at your talents from a different viewpoint
When I was in college, I interned at a business software company in their global communications sector. At the office, people didn’t necessarily sit by their teams and I would frequently sit by developers and IT geniuses hoping that their knowledge would flow to me through osmosis. Not knowing about the IT industry could have been a disaster, had my developer friend Simon not explained a great deal to me.

My internship was where I first encountered CRM, HR and ERP solutions, which meant nothing to me, until Simon pointed something out. A business has different departments, who have different IT needs. If a company purchases programs for all departments it would help them all run separately, but could be disastrous if the departments needed to share information. If business IT solutions were all connected like a series of gears, they would all run together and share the needed information to make the business run. Simon could have just looked at me like a sad puppy of an intern, but instead looked at his world from a different viewpoint to explain it to an outsider.

3. Help connect the dots
IT and engineering professionals start at the solution and work their way to the customer’s needs. Sales people start with the customer’s issues and relay information back to IT/ Engineering. This can be a confusing model, but does not have to be. As an IT or engineering professional you can become even more of an asset if you understand your company’s current systems and capabilities, and also understand and can communicate what your customer needs.

 

How to Be an Extraordinary Boss

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For as long as I can recall I never remember having a “Bad” or “Mean” or “Jerk” of a boss.  Throughout my working tenure I always had good luck in working for decent people.   The Assistant Attorney General for the State of New York, the billionaire commodity trader, the Bankruptcy Partner at the law firm, the IKON copier Manager, the restaurant Manager, the Valet Parking Manager and the Head Counselor at a summer camp were all “Good” bosses.  They were all fair, honest and understanding.  But I have never worked for an “Extraordinary” boss or leader.

If I ever did work for an exceptional, remarkable, excellent, brilliant or outstanding boss, here is what I imagine they would be like:

First, they would view business as symbiotic rather than parasitic.  The concept that customers are a “territory” to be conquered and competitors are the “enemy” would be replaced with the philosophies of “collaboration”, “alliance” and “cooperation”.  The boss would build teams of people that would partner and collaborate with other companies, customers and even competitors.

Second, this fictional leader would never motivate employees with loss of privileges, but rather inspire people to self-actualize and see a greater vision for the company by empowering them to create change and be a part of that change.  Great bosses inspire their employees to share the same vision for the company.

Third this boss would not micro-manage employees; rather commit themselves to serving their reports by providing all the necessary resources for them to produce exceptional work product.  As well as, encouraging them to make decisions, take ownership and learn from their successes and failures.

Fourth, they would view people as the key ingredient to the success and higher purpose of the company, rather than commodities that need to be controlled through rigid rules and regulated systems.  They would inspire people to be the beneficiaries of their peer’s success, the community’s success and ultimately the company’s success.

Fifth, and probably most importantly, they would own the philosophy that change equals growth and is an inevitable part of life.  However, that does not mean that change is always easy and good leaders understand that change is more readily received with effective communication.  Real change happens when it is championed by employees supported by leadership and this is what makes a “perfect boss.”

 

 

Author: David Chernow

How to Stay Creative in the Workplace

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Staying creative in the workplace can be challenging, even if you work in a creative environment all day long. I was recently asked in a marketing meeting what websites, books or blogs I read for inspiration and creativity and my list wasn’t that long, in fact it was downright pathetic. I never made time for surfing the web to view other designer’s work or reading design blogs mainly because I felt I couldn’t give myself permission to take the time away from my daily job duties. So I challenged myself to find interesting design websites, blogs and articles to view or read several days a week, such as Pinterest.  Once I gave myself that permission, I opened myself up to a whole new world of creativity, excitement and a fresh perspective on ways I can be more creative.

The article “5 Ways to Ignite Creativity” by guest author, TJ Philpott states, “In order to promote our own ability for thinking outside the box and spawn the creativity we seek within ourselves deliberate measures sometimes need be taken”. One of his suggestions is to separate yourself from the work environment which is usually a very structured environment with triggers that limits one’s ability to create and causes one to focus more on the issues and functions of that environment. Our marketing department is following this suggestion. We have decided that each month we will focus on a new creative medium and choose a day to do a mini field trip to explore that medium. For instance, March is Interior Design, April is Television & Movies and June is Culinary. The idea being that exploring different forms of creativity and getting “away from our work environment” will open our minds to be more creative in what we do on a daily basis.

So what do you do if you don’t work in an extremely creative field or department? What if your job is more technical? How do you stay fresh, come up with new ideas and think outside of the box? I collaborated with Brightwing Recruiter Angela Crooker to get her perspective on staying creative in the recruiting field.

Being a Recruiter is more of a technical job but you can also be very creative! When you are looking for candidates for a position, sometimes you have to get creative.

Bianca Male, in the article “10 Creative Recruiting Strategies to Hire Great People”, states “…many companies are embracing creative recruiting.”  Recruiters these days have to think outside of this box. Some of the ideas that this article suggests are some Angela uses every day, like utilizing obscure social networks. Angela also likes to meet with candidates after work hours in a group setting to discuss things such as resume and cover letter building. This brings her a lot of referrals.

By staying creative in your career, you will have greater success. Being creative doesn’t always mean painting a picture or sculpting something, it’s as simple as the dictionary describes it – the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods and interpretations. This can mean just thinking outside of the box, making use of creative thoughts and problem-solving like Angela does when looking for new ways to find candidates. Something as simple as day dreaming is considered to be a constructive way to help foster new ideas and to open your mind to creative thinking. So anyone at any type of job can find a moment to step away from their usual setting to do something that will open themselves up to more creativity.

Authors: Carol Koskyn, Angela Crooker

New Technologies Are Creating Jobs in IT Field

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So you’re probably wondering what job markets are on the rise in 2011? Well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, information technology is seeing substantial hires this year. What a lot of people do not know, however, is just how many new job positions are starting to form. The rise of emerging technologies has been a substantial help in creating new jobs.

Flight Restriction

But what new jobs are starting to form and what type of learning methods will help you get them?

Take off

The major technological stride this year is in mobile applications development. Phones have branched into realms that were unheard of 6 years ago, and people skilled in these technologies are finding it easier and easier to get employed. Even the Bureau of Labor Statics is calling for software designers to help them out in developing a mobile application for their information. In 2010, Apple’s App Store grew by over 300%, and Android grew by 800%. With the launch of 4G networks, these numbers are expected to rise even further.

According to Wired Magazine, a new form of middle-class jobs is also increasing. These jobs, labeled smart jobs, are specialized, but most just require extensive training over long schooling.

Wired Magazine article Smart Jobs states, “These new, innovative middle-class jobs are cropping up all over the country, in regions where you would never expect to find them…In information technology, job growth is flourishing from Richmond, Virginia, to Provo, Utah. Once these pockets of innovation gain a foothold, they can grow, the employees subdivide, multiply.”

Other prominent areas include Michigan, where analytical instrument development is increasing. Avionics has elevated in Texas, and communication technology has grown in Florida. Internet and online publishing markets have been peaking since 2006. Surprisingly, the environmental market is even higher. If your passion is publishing environmental information on the internet, then you are set for life!

Maintaining Altitude

These emerging technologies are very opportunistic for those in the college market or looking to broaden their current skillsets. If you have an interest in these new methods, the job security and outlook is very high.

These skills will help you find a job easier when diving into the IT market.

 

The Dos and Don’ts of Changing Careers

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I hear that you are unhappy with your job and are ready to leave! You got in touch with a recruiter who found you an amazing position and the phrase “goodbye” is roaring in your head. Those bridges are ready to be burned, but hold up a minute.

Flight Restriction

People are always afraid of change. They focus so much on just leaving the job that they forget that the way they do so is very important. Keeping connections with your old employer is crucial! Don’t you want to have good contacts for the future?

Take Off

If you are leaving your current position, it is likely that you are moving into a job of the same field. If the new company wants to know anything about your work ethic, they have all that information available to them with a simple phone call. Keeping good connections assures that the transition is smooth and nothing but good words are said.

Try to make sure that everything you were working on is done before you leave. If you are in the middle of a big project and suddenly decide to switch, you are putting a huge amount of pressure on the people around you. Nothing is worse than an angry mob.  While they probably won’t follow you to your new employer with pitchforks and torches, this could come back to haunt you in a negative way. Finish what needs to be done! It might not be fun, but it is important. Also, try to negate any bad blood in the office before you go. People who continue to look negatively on you are a bad idea. You can’t win over everyone, but knowing you tried is better than nothing.

It goes without saying that companies love prior notice before leaving. If possible, make it known that you are planning to leave them well in advance. Do not make a spectacle of it, however. No one likes a person who makes it seem as if they are the wick of the candle. You may be an asset, but pushing your importance around is never a good thing when you are leaving. Help as much as you can in the transition stage. Offering to help train a replacement is a great way to exceed expectations if it is possible.

One of the most important challenges is how to present this decision to a manager. They are the key person that you want on your side and are likely the one to communicate your work ethic to an inquisitive company. You must be ready to explain your reasons for leaving. Try to keep it clean and professional. Exclaiming that you hate your job and everyone around you or that you want more money is not the best way to go about it. Better ways to get this message across is to just say that you do not think you’re happy enough in this position or you are considering your family’s well being. As long as your manager has no prior beef with you, a calm and polite list of reasons will likely go smoothly.

Maintaining Altitude

Now that you know how to leave a job, the only part left is just to do it. Walk tall and be ready! It is not an easy situation but sometimes it must be done. A new job opens up new opportunities, but make sure that they are not destroyed by the blaze left behind you. Are you prepared?