I am so glad that during my time of "transition" (a fancy way of saying "unemployed"), that I learned how to effectively network. My new company prides itself in networking, and in fact constantly tells its staff to network. Whether you are on an elevator, buying lunch or running into someone in the hall, you are "required" to network.
Networking is a company perogative here.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Watch Out World, Here I Come!!!
Dear All:
On Monday, I will be starting my new job. However, since I accepted this job I have still received offers for interviews. With this in mind, I am going to offer some advice on job hunting.
Keep On Huntin': Even if you have a job offer, if could fall through just as easily as it was offered. Continue to network and apply to jobs. A job is not secure until you are working.
Interview: Although I did not take this advice, I feel its a very important thing. If a company seeks you out for an interview, you may as well go and see what they have to say. It may be a better job and more in line of what you want. Or, it may be a leveraging chip with the company you accepted a job with. Never rule out any opportunities.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Time Is(n't) On My Side
Here is another piece of advice: it will take you longer to find a job than you think.
In my case I thought: "I have a number of degrees, awards, been published, and have had wonderful professional opportunities. I'll have no problem finding a job." WRONG!!!! In Washington, you need to be prepared to spend at least 6-8 months in the job hunting mode. And that is even on the low end.
Many people I know who are currently job hunting or have done so in the past, spend up to a year looking.
How can it be that with experience and recognition one still cannot find a job in a short period of time?
In my case I thought: "I have a number of degrees, awards, been published, and have had wonderful professional opportunities. I'll have no problem finding a job." WRONG!!!! In Washington, you need to be prepared to spend at least 6-8 months in the job hunting mode. And that is even on the low end.
Many people I know who are currently job hunting or have done so in the past, spend up to a year looking.
How can it be that with experience and recognition one still cannot find a job in a short period of time?
Thursday, February 7, 2008
I Never Thought This Day Would Come
Friends and Readers:
I never truly thought this day would come--last week I was offered a job and today I accepted. After one year and almost 2 months, a company that I interviewed with four times, and was very interested in, offered me a position. If you have never been laid-off, had your position eliminated, etc. you do not fully understand the excitement one feels when you are offered a job.
But as always, I am here to offer advice and not to boast about my situation. I want reflect on all I have learned during this 1+year.
Feels Like the End of the World: When you are without a job, you experience every emotion from anger to sadness to helplessness. This is 100 percent normal. As I have written before, Washington is a cruel city because you are labeled as where you work and what you do. In Washington, without a job you do not have an identity. This can easily make you feel even worse.
Also, it is likely that you will feel that nobody knows what you are going through; not friends, not family. During my job hunt, I learned that many people lose their jobs for one reason or other. Nevertheless, you still feel that nobody understands. Advice #1: Seek out a job support group. Just being around others who understand your current situation does wonders for morale, not to mention the potential for some amazing brainstorming.
This is the Best Time in Your Life: Actually they say that about high school or college, but the theory also is true here. When was the last time you had a chance to answer the following questions: Are you happy? What do you really want to be when you grow up? Are you on a path that will take you to your life's goal? What is your life's goal? Being without a job gives you a chance to reevaluate yourself, your goals and priorities.
Here's an idea. Take a piece of paper and answer the following questions:
1. What am I good at?
2. What do I hate doing?
3. If I could have any job in the world, what would it be?
4. If I could work anywhere, where would I work?
5. What are some key competencies (I talked about this word in previous blog entries) that can use to describe myself?
6. When was I happiest personally and professionally?
By answering these questions and more, you will help to map out where you are going in the job hunt.
Lets face it, job hunting is very stressful. However, try to take time for yourself; because once you get a job, you will not have this personal time again.
So Many Job Sites, So Little Time: One thing my career coach and his company advices is to limit your internet job hunting and online computer activity. Advice #2: Utilize all job sites as possible, especially ones geared for your field.
Although many or most jobs as obtained through networking (I will address this later), it is important to look at various websites (Washington Post, Idealist, Indeed, HillZoo, Washington Network Group). If gives you an idea of what types of jobs are out there as well as what language the postings use in order to edit your resume to fit similar job postings. Please keep in mind that you will never hear back from the company, you never know which postings you will get a call back from.
Advice #3: After you send in your resume and cover letter for a position, follow up with a phone call immediately.
If A Tree Falls In the Woods...: You know the old saying, "If a tree falls in the woods...." The same things goes for job hunting. If you don't tell people that you are job hunting, then they can't help you. Advice #4: Let the world know you are job searching. It took me a long time to learn this but job hunting cannot be done in a vacuum. Statistically, the more people know you are looking for new employment the more people will keep their eye out for you. Which leads me to the next piece of advice and the next section. Advice 5: Don't ask your friends, family, neighbors etc. if they know of any jobs. Ask people to recommend other people to speak with in firms, companies or industries you are interested in.
Networking OR the Art of Getting People to Know You: Since many or most jobs come from networking, you need to get used to selling yourself. Advice 6: Prepare a speech about yourself for when you meet people. Talk about your strengths and what you ultimately want to do.
One of the hardest things I and many others had was networking and getting over the fear of talking to strangers. The funny thing is that strangers are more inclined to help you out than people you know. I cannot justify this but many others have found this to be true. If you have a list of companies you are interested in, ask all your contacts if they know someone in that company. Or, use an online networking tool like Linkedin to search out people to speak with. I cannot tell you how many networking meetings, lunches and informational interviews I went out.
Here are some questions to ask people you are networking with:
1. How did you get into this field?
2. From doing some research on the company, I found that....How do you feel about this?
3. What is your background?
4. What advice would you give to someone interested in this field and specifically this company?
Well, dear job hunter, thats all I have for now. I am sure I'll be offering more advice soon.
I never truly thought this day would come--last week I was offered a job and today I accepted. After one year and almost 2 months, a company that I interviewed with four times, and was very interested in, offered me a position. If you have never been laid-off, had your position eliminated, etc. you do not fully understand the excitement one feels when you are offered a job.
But as always, I am here to offer advice and not to boast about my situation. I want reflect on all I have learned during this 1+year.
Feels Like the End of the World: When you are without a job, you experience every emotion from anger to sadness to helplessness. This is 100 percent normal. As I have written before, Washington is a cruel city because you are labeled as where you work and what you do. In Washington, without a job you do not have an identity. This can easily make you feel even worse.
Also, it is likely that you will feel that nobody knows what you are going through; not friends, not family. During my job hunt, I learned that many people lose their jobs for one reason or other. Nevertheless, you still feel that nobody understands. Advice #1: Seek out a job support group. Just being around others who understand your current situation does wonders for morale, not to mention the potential for some amazing brainstorming.
This is the Best Time in Your Life: Actually they say that about high school or college, but the theory also is true here. When was the last time you had a chance to answer the following questions: Are you happy? What do you really want to be when you grow up? Are you on a path that will take you to your life's goal? What is your life's goal? Being without a job gives you a chance to reevaluate yourself, your goals and priorities.
Here's an idea. Take a piece of paper and answer the following questions:
1. What am I good at?
2. What do I hate doing?
3. If I could have any job in the world, what would it be?
4. If I could work anywhere, where would I work?
5. What are some key competencies (I talked about this word in previous blog entries) that can use to describe myself?
6. When was I happiest personally and professionally?
By answering these questions and more, you will help to map out where you are going in the job hunt.
Lets face it, job hunting is very stressful. However, try to take time for yourself; because once you get a job, you will not have this personal time again.
So Many Job Sites, So Little Time: One thing my career coach and his company advices is to limit your internet job hunting and online computer activity. Advice #2: Utilize all job sites as possible, especially ones geared for your field.
Although many or most jobs as obtained through networking (I will address this later), it is important to look at various websites (Washington Post, Idealist, Indeed, HillZoo, Washington Network Group). If gives you an idea of what types of jobs are out there as well as what language the postings use in order to edit your resume to fit similar job postings. Please keep in mind that you will never hear back from the company, you never know which postings you will get a call back from.
Advice #3: After you send in your resume and cover letter for a position, follow up with a phone call immediately.
If A Tree Falls In the Woods...: You know the old saying, "If a tree falls in the woods...." The same things goes for job hunting. If you don't tell people that you are job hunting, then they can't help you. Advice #4: Let the world know you are job searching. It took me a long time to learn this but job hunting cannot be done in a vacuum. Statistically, the more people know you are looking for new employment the more people will keep their eye out for you. Which leads me to the next piece of advice and the next section. Advice 5: Don't ask your friends, family, neighbors etc. if they know of any jobs. Ask people to recommend other people to speak with in firms, companies or industries you are interested in.
Networking OR the Art of Getting People to Know You: Since many or most jobs come from networking, you need to get used to selling yourself. Advice 6: Prepare a speech about yourself for when you meet people. Talk about your strengths and what you ultimately want to do.
One of the hardest things I and many others had was networking and getting over the fear of talking to strangers. The funny thing is that strangers are more inclined to help you out than people you know. I cannot justify this but many others have found this to be true. If you have a list of companies you are interested in, ask all your contacts if they know someone in that company. Or, use an online networking tool like Linkedin to search out people to speak with. I cannot tell you how many networking meetings, lunches and informational interviews I went out.
Here are some questions to ask people you are networking with:
1. How did you get into this field?
2. From doing some research on the company, I found that....How do you feel about this?
3. What is your background?
4. What advice would you give to someone interested in this field and specifically this company?
Well, dear job hunter, thats all I have for now. I am sure I'll be offering more advice soon.
Monday, December 31, 2007
MSNBC Article
My friend recommended this MSNBC article. In truth, I did not find it helpful. However, the last part of the article gave some good advice.
Happy New Year
Happy New Year
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Happy 2008....I think
Once again, many of my readers have reminded me to update this blog. Please be assured that the reason for infrequent blogging is due to a lack of useful ideas to write about; I never wanted this blog to be an opportunity to write about my frustrations with the job hunting world. As the new year is about to begin, a friend of mine recently said that 2007 was a wash. Unfortunately, I concur and believe things can only get better in 2008.
Previously I wrote that its a pity that DC defines individuals by their profession. By this way of thinking one can conclude that work is more important to DCers than family, hobbies, and overall happiness. What a horrible situation! Existence for the DC residence can be summed up by a simple phrase: "all work and no play."
2007 brought a new way of thinking for me. There is more to me than being pegged by a business card, shmoozing with the necessary dignitaries and politicians, and putting in 50+ hours at the office. In the end, do these things make you happy? If the answer is yes, I believe the individual is filling an emotional void with work. This is not to say that I do not want to be employed--I WANT TO WORK...more than you can imagine. However, putting one's nose to the grindstone should not be the sole reason for existence.
I cannot stress enough, also, the importance of interacting with other job seekers. Such a group brings--as the one I belong to does--is a sense of self and, pardon the expression from Oscars and Hammerstein, "you are not alone" additude. Sure, your friends and family will give you an unending supply of support but they do not understand what it is like to feel unwanted in the professional world. The group setting allows for venting and advice--two things that one needs constantly when one is unemployed.
Previously I wrote that its a pity that DC defines individuals by their profession. By this way of thinking one can conclude that work is more important to DCers than family, hobbies, and overall happiness. What a horrible situation! Existence for the DC residence can be summed up by a simple phrase: "all work and no play."
2007 brought a new way of thinking for me. There is more to me than being pegged by a business card, shmoozing with the necessary dignitaries and politicians, and putting in 50+ hours at the office. In the end, do these things make you happy? If the answer is yes, I believe the individual is filling an emotional void with work. This is not to say that I do not want to be employed--I WANT TO WORK...more than you can imagine. However, putting one's nose to the grindstone should not be the sole reason for existence.
I cannot stress enough, also, the importance of interacting with other job seekers. Such a group brings--as the one I belong to does--is a sense of self and, pardon the expression from Oscars and Hammerstein, "you are not alone" additude. Sure, your friends and family will give you an unending supply of support but they do not understand what it is like to feel unwanted in the professional world. The group setting allows for venting and advice--two things that one needs constantly when one is unemployed.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
What Have I Learned In A Year?
A number of my friends keep reminding me to update this blog. Its not that I have forgotten about it but rather I do not have any advice to give a reader. The purpose of this blog was not to depress the world about the harsh realities of finding a job in Washington, but rather to offer suggestions.
But today's entry will be completely different. Tomorrow is my one year anniversary since having my position eliminated. I want to expand upon a point one of my friends said to me the other night, "You are completely a different person."
But today's entry will be completely different. Tomorrow is my one year anniversary since having my position eliminated. I want to expand upon a point one of my friends said to me the other night, "You are completely a different person."
- I am a much happier individual. Sure, at the beginning of this "state of transition" I was upset. In a city where you are defined by your career and status, I felt like a nobody. However as the year has progressed, I am more relaxed (some of my friends said in all the years they've known me, they have never seen me relaxed), delved into hobbies, and did things I've never done before.
- I started losing weight. Usually, when you are depressed you eat too much and lose motivation to leave the sofa. However I did quite the opposite. I reverted back to swimming laps during the summer and started going to the gym 3 times a week. Going to the gym was a nice break during a day of job hunting.
- For much of my life I was scared to talk to strangers. This year, I have cold called and cold emailed hundreds of people to network with and seek their advice. I learned that strangers are very willing to assist others in pursuits of jobs.
- As I mentioned in an earlier blog, volunteering is a great activity when in a period of transition. Helping others makes you feel useful and needed, it also benefits someone else. I loved helping out with the organization I volunteered for; in fact, I cannot remember one time the entire year that they called me that could not help out in one way or other.
- Probably the most important thing I learned was the importance of a strong support network. Without friends, family and a career coach to help me on my way, I would not have made it through. I am lucky to have wonderful cheerleaders in my life. Also, I was so happy to join a job search support team. When others are in the same situation as you, it is refreshing to know you are not alone.
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