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Archive for the ‘JOB SEARCH’ Category
Friday, August 27th, 2010
A recent enquiry asked me if two years out of his desired career path will mean that he will never get back to doing the job he wants.
It depends.
Like many, this person had been made redundant and after a few months of not getting as job in his desired field took on a different job, it took him time to get to grips with the job and a year had gone by before he started looking for a job back in his specific branch of HR. Since then he has applied for many jobs and has yet to get shortlisted.
He is now concerned.
So I asked him what he has been doing to get a job in his desired field.
· He is registered with agencies
· He is making applications online
And that’s it.
He is not doing anything about building contacts and finding out more.
Asking him to be honest he said that some weeks he is spending about 5 hours a week on job search, but some weeks he doesn’t do anything.
Some of this is down to motivation, and it can be hard to keep ourselves motivated without support. It’s similar to losing weight or getting fit, you could do it on your own, or you could go to a weight loss club or see a personal trainer, both would help. And so working with a career and job search coach can help.
I’m not sure if we will work together, but what I’ve suggested to him is that
- He gets his CV/ application approach reviewed and improved. I can see some significant enhancements to his CV and he could implement some of these himself using the advice in my book – How to get a job in a recession.
- He looks to enhance his CV by demonstrating that he is keeping up to date on his professional area, such as getting qualified, doing short courses, attending professional meetings, reading journals and writing reviews on Amazon of business books. The later will also enhance his online profile.
- He gets an online presence, starting with LinkedIn and my eBook How to use LinkedIn to find a new job will help.
- He increases the amount of time he spends on job hunting, and he could do this by getting up an hour earlier and doing an hour each evening, this would double the amount of time he is spending on job search.
- Finally he decides if he actually wants to return to his desired field. If he is comfortable where he is then he won’t have the impetus to really give as much as it takes to get a new job. He really has to want the new job. It would be easier (I don’t mean easy) if he really disliked the job he was doing or didn’t have a job. Then he has the pain to escape from, so now he has to concentrate on the pleasure he will get from being successful and to make sure that every day he is doing something that moves him slightly towards his goal.
Any thoughts, comments, questions? Do leave them below.
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Denise Taylor is a chartered psychologist, registered guidance practitioner, author and award winning career coach. I love my job, and love helping other people get their ideal job both helping them get clarity on what this is and also ensuring they are successful in job search. I haven’t always loved my job and like many people climbed a ladder and when I got close to the top realised it was the wrong one. Read more on my web site www.amazingpeople.co.uk . Any questions? email me Denise@amazingpeople.co.uk.
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Posted in Career Motivators, Client Stories, JOB SEARCH
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Friday, August 20th, 2010
Hi I’m at the end of my tether, I’ve been looking for a job in graphic design since I graduated in 2009. Please can you suggest any relevant help. I don’t need any generic links, I’ve read them all but would appreciate any practical advice anyone can give me. Thanks.
First thing I’d suggest is to review what you have already done. You may well have been applying for jobs, but to what extent have you been contacting companies direct, have you approached companies from a position of REALLY knowing what their business issues are and how you can help. This can be both design companies but also companies who may not realise the benefits of what a graphic designer can do for them.
I know you will want to do paid work, but could you see about doing work experience for a couple of days a week for a month. Or look to do some work as a freelancer for small businesses to help expand your portfolio.
There is lots more advice in my book – How To Get A Job In A Recession.
Posted in Job Hunting in a Recession, STUDENTS AND GRADUATES
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Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
I was on Pete Price’s radio show (Radio City, Liverpool station) on Monday night talking about what advice I’d give to older people who are looking for work due to the pension crisis.
Sometimes it is about asking people questions to get them thinking, so if you are having to go back to work, or can’t retire due to poor pension outlooks you may like to think about:
· What would I like to do? You could of course do more of the same, but what you have been doing may bore you, stress you, or you are not in the right fitness level to do it well. And of course it could be that you just can’t get the job doing what you used to do anymore.
· I think as we get older we have to take account of our health, in our 60s we may no longer be able to do a physical job.
· What can you see yourself doing in 5 or 10 years time? If you are going to have to work for a considerable number of years then you may as well aim for something you will enjoy and that you can continue to do over the years.
· How much money do you need, maybe you need some to supplement your pension but I is less about the money and more about keeping your mind active and meeting people and for some it gives them a sense of purpose.
There are other factors to consider, such as the cost of getting to work, having to buy clothes specifically for the job and what you may be giving up such as less chance of taking last minute cheap holidays, and less time with grandchildren.
Posted in Approaching Retirement, JOB SEARCH, Over 50s
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Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
I’ve coached a couple of clients recently who want to work for themselves, but they aren’t making enough money, and so need to get a job. Sometimes they are too truthful in what they say to the interviewer. Here are a couple of questions, their answer and my reply
Tell me about a time when you had to make a difficult decision
“One of my difficult decisions was choosing to set up my own business after being made redundant. I was worried about not having a stable income and worried whether I would make enough money to cover a comfortable life style. Especially at the age of 29 when a lot of my friends were getting married and looking to buy a house.”
Denise says:
This sounds like a reasonable answer, but it can raise some questions for the interviewer. Are you still interested in working for yourself? Why are you now applying for a job? Will you only be looking to take on a job in the short term and leave once your own business takes off? An additional thing to consider is disclosing your age, which is almost never appropriate to do during an interview.
Are you applying for any other jobs?
“I’m very interested in this job, hence applying. However, I’m not applying for anything else at the moment due to concentrating on my business. I have had a few good jobs that have come in recently which is positive. I’ve been thinking about possibly looking for part-time work so I can run both my business and get further income to support my business and lifestyle.”
Denise says:
Be very careful about telling the interviewer that you are looking to develop your own business. The interviewer will be concerned that too much of your energy will be focused outside of the job that you are being interviewed for. Why mention part time working if the job you are applying for is full time. Keep focused on what will help you get the job.
Need help with interview coaching? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Posted in Interview Tips & Assessment Centres
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Monday, July 19th, 2010
The Open University has reported that the number of 18-21 year olds starting degrees with the OU is up 17% on the previous academic year. 25% of new OU students are under 25.
This method of study means you can study part time alongside a job and you are unlikely to get into high levels of debt.
I have gained all my qualifications part time, and did my first degree from 1981-88 whilst building a career within Royal Mail. Back then it was 6 years for an ordinary degree and 8 years for an honours degree, and studying for 12 hours a week meant it would take 6 or 8 years. you can now get an honours degree in 6 years.
I was working full time so 12 hours of study was all I could manage, but if you were working part time you could do 2 courses a year and still get a degree in 3 years, with no debt and 3 years of work experience.
I highly recommend the OU having gained both my first degree in psychology and my MBA with them. There are of course other options including Birkbeck College, University of London. I did my MSc in Occupational Psychology via their distance learning course which was mainly study from home but we met up for a weekend once a term. There was also the night school option for those who were able to attend 2 evenings a week.
The benefits of an OU degree
- you can pay as you go so don’t build up a lot of debt
- you can work part time and live from home
- employers love the way you demonstrate great time management skills
- study and work can enhance each other, so you are more likely to get promoted
What do you think about part time study? Have you done it? Would you?
Posted in ABOUT DENISE, Career Discovery, STUDENTS AND GRADUATES
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Sunday, July 11th, 2010
It may seem very logical for some people but when you’re in the middle of a crisis or funk, when you just can’t see the woods for the trees and cannot dig yourself out of that black hole of de-motivation, the thought of dusting yourself off in readiness for the next adventure in life can tip you over the edge! So that is when the thoughtful 10 steps structure can be a head clearing godsend! The key I think is that it makes you stop and THINK!
You may not meet everything on your wish list of a utopian job, but at least you are clearer about what it is you like and dislike and being realistic in terms of what you can or will put up with on the way to getting there. Some of the thought provocation is difficult, especially near the end if you’re not used to thinking of yourself in terms of a product or service or sales pitch! What do you do well? Sleep was my first response.
In my case I was finally made redundant after years of living through political and hierarchical machinations of torture in terms of job roles, organisation structure and performance measurements. Communication was diabolical and we all basically stayed for truly wrong reasons. For me this was a release and I was one of the few wandering round the office with a smile for the last 3 months, but…I had no clue (as usual) what to do next as like with every other job throughout my increasingly long life, I had just ‘fallen’ into it. There was no master plan of action; I just need ‘a’ job with little thought to enjoyment as long as it paid the bills and for trips abroad. The thought of actually doing anything I enjoyed as a job was just didn’t enter my brain.
So I went through the steps and did laugh as so few of my previous roles had anything much to do with my passions or natural skills and instincts. In fact a lot of the time I have gone against my natural temperament and abilities, though paying tribute to them occasionally in some roles I’d had I had mostly developed ‘interventions’ to develop the skills I have.
So my decision after a nice long holiday to think some more and have a bit of a collapse after 10 years at the same place was to try university and see if study would actually assist me in finding a concrete path to something I truly enjoy doing. Ultimately I’m still learning about myself and still finding my way in terms of alternative job roles. The last few steps are in no way near completion, but I do have my steps with me that I can update and confirm and think about. I know my values and that life is short and its way too short to spend in a job you hate or company that destroys your life energy and soul. So I highly recommend the journey, even if you can’t answer all the questions yet, talking to people and learning along the way questioning yourself will mean you start to get more answers! And who knows, one day I might hit upon that role that leaps out at me and shouts UTOPIA!!!
Posted in Career Discovery
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Thursday, July 1st, 2010
The budget is going to lead to huge job losses – according to an article in The Guardian 500,000 and 600,000 jobs will be lost in the public sector and between 600,000 and 700,000 in the private sector by 2015. But where will people get jobs? The treasury are assuming that the private sector will create 2.5m jobs but how? With the cuts in public sector budgets there will be a dramatic drop in the money spent in the private sector and with people losing their jobs they will have much less money to spend.
Cutting jobs in the public sector will save money, but there is also the costs of unemployment benefit and the lack of tax payments.
I wrote my first book, How to Get a Job in a Recession to help those who couldn’t afford one to one coaching with me and as a course reader for my job search clients. There really is a lot of helpful guidance in this book.
It can be a period of uncertainty, and not just for the next couple of months but possibly over the length of this government, so what can you do:
If you think there is a possibility that you my lose your job it is worth spending time in advance getting prepared.
- Take time to bring your CV up to date, to build contacts and ensure you are in contact with people who may be able to help you in your job search.
- Be sure that you know what you would apply for. Whatever your job are there likely to be jobs available elsewhere?
- Think about your transferable skills and how they could make you a suitable candidiate for a different type of work
- Listen to what is happening within your company or department, not to be scared by rumours but to be aware of possible lost contracts
- Keep an eye on the business press, what is being said, where is there any growth
For some people working for themselves may be an option
I’m very happy to answer any questions you may have, so post a question below and come back to read my reply.
Posted in CVs, JOB SEARCH
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Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
Answered a question on the Guardian Forum regarding Interviews. Here is my reply:
Interviewers will often ask questions about how you dealt with a particular situation and what they want is a specific reply, using STAR (Situation, Task, Activity and Result). I’m sure there have been situations they could have lead to conflict at work, but because you smoothed things over you are downplaying what you did or said. The example you provide has to be your own, but it could be along the lines of ‘Working in a team we don’t always agree with something and occasionally this can lead to disagreement. It could be easy to argue but I don’t think that is helpful. On one particular occasion … and describe how you were able to deal effectively with conflict perhaps through working in collaboration or through compromise. You may find it helpful to read up on different means of dealing with conflict to help you develop your answer, for example see – http://www.amazingpeople.co.uk/thomaskilmann.htm
Think also about a time when you have been under pressure. Rather than think generally about how you ‘just get on and do it’ think about how exactly you get on and do things. Again think of a specific time when there has been a deadline and how you delivered. It may be that you stress your organisational skills, or your ability to focus and willingness to stay late to meet a business objective.
Finally you asked about what will impress people. If we are thinking about what will impress the interviewer it will include being prompt, dressing smartly, being well prepared, which includes thinking through answers to probable questions and providing specific examples, like I’ve suggested above. Also demonstrate that you have done your homework and have researched the company and have developed some questions to ask at the end of the interview.
Finally, developing your self confidence is important, if you go into the interview thinking that you are rubbish at interview that is likely to have a negative impact. Do your prep and tell yourself why you are right for the job and that you are going to do great.
Good luck!
Denise
Posted in Interview Tips & Assessment Centres
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Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
Many people are dissatisfied in their job, for many its more niggles than a real hatred for the job but sometimes the niggles make people take action, and it is not always the right thing for them.
One of my clients, let’s call him John has been talking to me for a couple of months as he is not happy in his work – he doesn’t like all the travel, and the job is getting too repetitive. But … the job pays well, especially the commission and he has got used to having the extra money.
He would love to get a new job, but what? If it is going to involve a drop in income he wants to make sure it really is a job that appeals to him and provides lots of satisfaction. So we are now working together.
What he wants to avoid is the situation a colleague is in. He also was dissatisfied in his job, but rather than think things through he took a new job and then thought about it. He is now unhappy, really unhappy and desperate for a new job. What he is likely to do is to take the next job he gets, just to get him out of his current job, but will this be right for him?
As I’m typing this up I’ve taken a call from someone else, let’s call her Jane. Jane has been working in marketing for 4 years, in 3 different jobs and wondering if she should take the time to identify what job would be the best fit for her, but she already has an interview for another marketing job next week so she could again be feeling restless in a year or less.
When people talk with me about finding a job they will love I tell them that the process can take time, there is a lot of personal work to do and alongside choosing the right career path/job; time also needs to be spent identifying the right sort of company and location.
For Jane marketing might be the right career but she hasn’t found the right company or location. For John he needs to work out what takes priority, a high income with money to spare or a job which enriches his life. He may get both, but it often is an either/or situation.
The approach I take with my clients varies, with some it is focused on coaching, but for many they will choose to include assessments such as The Highlands Ability Battery, The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) or the Strong Interest Inventory.
Career coaching can help you in these difficult decisions, if you have a question or you would like to know more please do get in touch.
Posted in Career Discovery
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