Friday, June 4, 2010

How to find out what it's really like to work in a profession

Dear coach:

I'm trying to land on a great career, but I'm not sure I'm getting the real story when I talk to people in the field I'm considering.  I'm only hearing the positives (or sometimes only the negatives).  How can I get the real scoop? 

Flummoxed

Dear Flummoxed:

It's natural for most people to put the best possible face on their profession when they're talking to a new grad considering their field.  They don't want to squash your enthusiasm.  But you know that jobs, like life, cannot be fascinating 24/7. If you get only glowing reports, you need to ask more questions.  Every job has its challenges, and its best to know what they are and if you can live with them. 

You might try some open ended questions that indicate that you're willing to know the whole truth.  You can try questions like: "What characteristics do you have to have to make you happy in this job?"; "What do you consider the hardest part of your job?" ;  What kind of people are not suited to working in your position?"  Answers to questions like these should give a better idea of what it's like to work in the field.

You're really trying to find out whether your temperament and interest are a match.  If you're thinking of being an event planner, for example, the answers to your questions might reveal that you need great organizational skills and attention to detail to be happy in the job.  That dealing with clients during especially challenging times in their lives (think weddings) can be hard because they often react emotionally.  And that people who don't adapt well to rapidly changing circumstances (think the caterer doesn't show up) don't last long in the field.

Once you let people know by your questions that you really want to know the whole story on a profession, they'll help you fill in the picture.


Saturday, February 6, 2010

Anxious about your interview? Try this.

Dear Coach:

When I go to an interview, I freeze up, no matter how well I prepare. How can I get over my nerves?

Nail Biter

Dear NB:

First, there would be something wrong with you if you weren’t at least a little nervous about talking to someone who has the ability to change your life with a job offer. The question is how to accept your anxiety and turn it in your favor.

First look at what you tell yourself about anxiety. This month’s Psychology Today cites a study looking at students about to take the Graduate Record Exam. One group was told that nervousness could help them by increasing their performance. Another group received no advice. The result? The first group did better on the test, even if they took the test a month later. Like the first group of students, you can accept that your stress over interviewing is inevitable and that a little stress may help you rise to the occasion.

Second, you might try preparing for your interview beyond looking at the company’s website (which I hope you know is a must). Take a look at news reports and even blogs about issues that important to the company or the industry. Your goal is to feel like you know what’s important to the company. If, for example, you know that the firm is outsourcing work that doesn’t have to do with its core business, you can emphasize the skills you have that contribute to its new direction. You might note that you’ve had experience managing or working with people offsite.

Finally, you can use an imaging exercise that media trainers use to help prepare executives for reporters’ questions. Executives are told to look for questions that allow them to get their key messages across.

To prepare your key messages, imagine that you’re in an ideal interview situation that showcases your best talents perfectly. Imagine what question the interviewer could ask that would lead to him seeing you in the best possible light. Imagine your answer. Be as detailed as you can. Now think of a way to work this response into any interview, including some concrete examples.

For example, you might know that you are an outstanding trouble shooter. Sometime during the interview, the interviewer is bound to ask a question that allows you to highlight this strength. Your job is to make sure your key message gets emphasized. For instance, you could talk about your trouble shooting skills in response to any of these questions: “What do you think others would say about you? What do you contribute to a team? Can you tell me about a project you were proud of?”

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Who are you really? Make sure your job matches your personality

Dear coach:


My dad wants me to be an accountant. I know he has my best interest at heart but the idea of working by myself and crunching numbers all day leaves me cold. He’s paying for university and I’d like to please him, but it’s my life, right?

Afraid of Conflict

Dear AC:

There’s a natural tug of war between loving parents who want to give kids the benefit of their experience and sons and daughters who intuitively know that they have every right to decide how they spend their lifetimes.

You’ve indicated what you don’t want: to work by yourself crunching numbers. It will make it easier to talk to your dad if you focus on what you do want.

Take the time to think about the kind of work that would make you happy to get up every morning. Imagine what your ideal work situation would look like on an average day. Be as specific as you can.

· Would you work in teams or on your own?
· Do you work best under deadline, or are you happier if you have time to get every detail nailed?
· Do you like to plan before you proceed, or do you like to work more spontaneously?
· Do you like project work or do you like work that is pretty consistent from day to day?
· Do you like figure out how to do a job or are you happier when the steps are laid out?

Remember, there aren’t right or wrong answers here – just honest ones. Knowing yourself will guide you in finding the work that clicks for you.

After you’ve had time to think about your work style and personal preferences, it will be easier to have a conversation with your dad. You might say, for example:

“Dad, I know you want the best for me and want me to have a good career. I’ve thought about this a lot and I think accounting may not be a good match for me.

I know I’m not a detail guy. I see the big picture and I’m analytical. My strengths are really in pulling together with a team of people, like I did on the school news paper. I know I’m going to be more successful and a lot happier in a career that plays to my strengths.”

Figuring out what makes you happy in a job is important stuff. I’ll use my own kids as an example:
My younger daughter, an extravert, finds the idea of working alone suffocating.

When she had an internship where she was stuck in a cubicle writing reports, she was so bored she turned down a lucrative job the company offered. As a journalist, she found the kind of interaction and adventure she needed to thrive.

My older daughter, an introvert, finds the idea of working on a project uninterrupted heaven. When she had a job giving tours in a national park, she found herself drained at the end of the day from dealing with so many people. Now, as a program manager for the forestry service, she works on program planning that satisfies her need to work quietly and analytically.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Get ready! Signs of recovery in hiring

Dear Job Coach:

2009. What a year! I’m hanging on to a low wage job, but I’ve been looking for work in my field for 6 months now. Any hope for 2010?

Holding my breath

Dear Holding,

We all know that the economic recovery has not been robust, but there are signs that things are beginning to ease a little. Buck up.

In the US there are the “green shoots” of the stock market beginning to recover and foreclosures beginning to slow down. Things are improving in Canada as well. In today’s Vancouver Sun, journalist Derek Sankey notes: “Economists have widely predicted the labor market is expected to grow most in the second half of 2010 … Don’t expect the out-of-control hiring blitz seen during the peak boom years of 2005-2007, … but job seekers should prepare to launch a competitive search.”

So how can you be ready when the market is ready for you?

• Look for opportunities to grow in your current job. Think of any job, even one that’s not in your field, as an opportunity to develop skills. If you see your job as marking time, it will show. If you’re not engaged, look for a way to be engaged.

When I was a student, I worked as an aide in a hospital – a job that paid very little and was not in my field. The work was hard physically, but not particularly challenging. I noticed that the children on the pediatric wards had no activities to keep them entertained on the weekends. I volunteered to put together games and crafts that would keep the kids occupied. I learned a lot about teaching, about organization, and about working with children -- which showed up in my resume when I applied for my first job.

• Line up your references. You never know when a great opportunity is going to turn up. Scrambling for references at the last minute puts pressure on the people you ask. They may not have time to write you the letter that shows you in the best light.

• Update your resume. If it hasn’t been updated in three months, take a fresh look. I suspect you’ve done something or learned something in the last three months that will make you more appealing to an employer. Maybe you’ve finished a project that had some impact on your organization. Maybe customer service calls are down as a result of what you’ve done. Maybe you’ve learned a new piece of software. Maybe you’ve taken on new duties as a result of downsizing.

Things really are starting to get better. Be sure you’re ready to take advantage when they do.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Information Interview Etiquette

Dear Coach:

My uncle has arranged an information interview with a friend in a company I’d love to work for. I’m not sure how to approach this. I’d really like to work for this firm, but I don’t know how to parlay this interview into a job. Help!

Beholden to Uncle Vinnie

Dear Beholden:

Job search books often suggest informational interviews as an excellent way to gather information and let a company know you’d like to work for them. When I owned my own company, I got up many, many calls a month requesting information interviews. In fact, at one point, I was getting so many calls that I decided to hold a workshop on my industry once a semester at a local university so that I could meet the demand. I simply didn’t have the time to respond to every request.

The requests I always responded to, though, were referrals from a friend or client. Your uncle has given you a terrific opportunity to talk to someone who is probably pretty busy but is happy to do your uncle a favor. So here are some ground rules on information interviews that might help:

Honor the time. When you set up the interview, set a time limit. Say, for example, “I’m wondering if we could meet and talk for 30 minutes about your company and your industry. I know that you’re probably very busy, and I’ll make myself available at your convenience.” Then, arrive on time. Keep track of the time that you’ve spent together. Once you’ve reached 30 minutes, even if you’re engaged in conversation that’s going very well, acknowledge the time. “I promised I’d ask you for only 30 minutes of your time and we’ve reached that point.” If your interviewee is really engaged, he’ll give you more time. At any rate he’ll appreciate that you’ve stuck to your request and respected his time.

Come prepared. Don’t waste time asking questions that you can find out on the company’s website or annual report. Do an online search to see if the company’s been in the news. Ask your uncle what he knows about his friend’s work. Knowing something about the industry and company shows that you are serious about your career.

Make a list and check it twice. Before you arrive, make a list of questions you’d like to ask. Of course during the interview, your conversation may generate other things you want to discuss, but having a list an reviewing it right before your interview will prevent awkward pauses. Here’s some sample questions I’ve been asked:
  • What combination of education, skills and experience would you like to see in a candidate for a job with your firm?
  • What do you like most about your job? What are the challenges?
  • Is there a chance to grow in your company? Is there a career path for employees?
  • Is your field growing? What are the trends you see in your field over the next few years?
  • What kind of salaries to people earn in your field when they are starting out? What is the earning potential?
Plan for the wind up. Don’t ask for a job at an information interview. Ever. It will likely make your interviewees feel pressured and used. Thank them for the time and great information they shared. Of course, if they ask you to submit a resume, you can follow up quickly.

Listen to your Mom. She was right about thank you notes. A few days after your interview send a handwritten note of appreciation, not an email. Your uncle’s friend made a special effort for you that’s important to acknowledge in a personal way. When you are ready to apply for a job in the future, you’ll have left a favorable impression.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Common resume and cover letter mistakes

Dear Coach:
I’m an Arts major who has been sending out dozens of resumes with NO responses. I’ve posted on every job site I can find. Any ideas of what I’m doing wrong?

Blood, Sweat and Tears

Dear BST:

You haven’t given me enough information to fine tune my answer, but I’ll pass on some common mistakes I’ve seen in the resumes and cover letters that have crossed my desk.

You’re writing a generic cover letter and resume. How do you react to spam? I’m guessing not well. Believe me an employer can tell when they’ve been “spammed” by a resume and cover letter that’s going out to a hundred employers. I know this seems like more work but you’re looking for your 1st professional job. Take the time to tailor a cover letter that looks like you’re serious about my company or organization.

Do the research. I can tell when someone knows something about my industry and why they want to be in it. It shows on their resume. They joined professional organizations that show me they were serious. They figured out what skills were going to be attractive to employers like me, like industry-specific software. Even before I interview them, I can see that their learning curve for my company is going to be short.

Your resume doesn’t tell me anything about what you’ve accomplished. Many resumes I’ve seen read like a history timeline. “2004, hostess at Whitespot. 2005, summer internship at St. Michael’s Hospital.” I need to know what these experiences gave you beyond a paycheck that would be helpful to my company. If you started out as a waitress, then moved to managing a shift, tell me. It lets me see that your employer recognized management skills. If your internship project resulted in a change in the way work was done at the hospital, tell me. It lets me see that your work had an impact that was acknowledged by others.

There’s stuff on the web about you that would singe your mother’s eyebrows. Information about you on the web has become part of the application process. Many, many recruiters that find your resume interesting enough to invite you in for an interview will google you before making their decision. Google yourself. If there’s stuff there you wouldn’t want an employer to see, you need to address it. And please consider what you post on MySpace or Facebook. It could follow you for a very long time.

Do you have what it takes? Focus and flexibility.

Dear Coach:


Every time I talk to someone about my job search, they emphasize something different. Half of them say “You have to be clear on exactly what kind of job you want. Be as specific as possible about the industry, location and work environment you want.” The other half say, “Stay flexible – you’re going to have 10 different careers over the course of your life so why focus? Apply for anything you’re remotely interested in.”
-- Huh?

Dear Huh:

You may not want to hear this, but the opinions you are getting are both right. Welcome to the 21st Century.

There’s a reason your generation is called the Millenniums. You and the Gen Y’s just ahead of you are the first generations that have used a computer all your lives. You’re the first generation that totally gets what technology brings to the table in terms of efficiency. You are the generation that will help us make a transition to a new kind of workplace where workers have flexible hours to complete well-defined projects. Other generations have dealt with outsourcing and downsizing reluctantly. But people from your generation seem to me the first to embrace these changes.

So what does this have to do with focus and flexibility?

Recognize that the workplace is still in transition. While there are still plenty of companies that have regular work hours and that employ people long term, those same companies are looking for ways to work more efficiently. They may be outsourcing some work off shore. They may use project teams to get work done, and then move team members to a new project with a new team when their project is completed. The team members may not even be their full time employees.

In your first job search out of school, try to find a job with an organization that has opportunities for you to use your skills and talents. Try for sure to check that the companies you choose are in growth industries. Focus on making as good a match as you can. But realize too, that your life long career success may depend on your adaptability, even if you have a nine-to-five job.

A crisis of confidence.

Dear Coach:


I’m graduating in April and I’m getting scared. I’m afraid I don’t have what it takes to go out and get a good job. Everybody says having a job is easy now, but I still have my doubts. How can I raise my confidence?

Quaking

Dear Quaking:

Nearly all of us have an inner voice that whispers to us “You don’t have what it takes” from time to time. In fact it’s so common, coaches regularly have to work with our clients to silence that voice so that they have the confidence to move forward. One exercise that some of my clients find helpful is called the Mentor’s Table.

Here’s how it’s done.

Sit in a comfortable chair and take a minute to clear your mind. Now, imagine a place that is quiet, isolated and safe and which has special meaning for you. Maybe a stretch of beach, a cabin in the woods, a ski chalet. Call up the image as specifically as you can. What season is it? What do hear, see, and feel? What emotions do you feel? Really set the scene for your ideal place.

Now, to your imagined place, invite three people you truly admire -- living or dead, famous or just personally important to you. They should be people you would love to have a conversation with or who you know intimately and who love you. When I did this exercise I chose Buddha, an elderly neighbor and my best friend. Assume that the people you invite have your best interest at heart and want you to succeed.

Now, in turn, imagine each what each one would tell you that would help you see that you have the skills, talents and character to succeed in your job search. Again, try to see them and hear them speaking directly to you in your imagination.

If you are like most of my clients, you will be touched by how others see your strengths and talents. If you are like most people, giving yourself a break from your inner critic can help you gain a new perspective on yourself.

Facebook, My Space legacies you may not want

Dear readers:


I haven't had a question about the Facebbook and My Space but I've decided to write a column on it anyway. I recently had an alarming conversation with the head of human resources for a large tech company.

Here's what she said. “As soon as we're seriously considering a candidate, I look them up on the internet, especially on the social networking sites like Facebook and My Space. You would not believe what people have up on their sites. It's really the best way I know of to find out what people are really like.”

When I told her I'd be writing a column on this, she looked alarmed. “Please don't. It's a tool we all use and we don't want our applicants to know it!”

An article in the Globe in Mail last year quoted a British survey that found that 80% of the respondents from personnel departments regularly googled their applicants' names before hiring them. Of course, this practice may not be as common in Canada, or for smaller firms, but you need to be aware that what you put up on these sites could be there for a long time. Maybe forever. The wild keg party video, the revealing dress photos, your description of getting wasted may be fun to share with your friends, but a lot less appealing to employers.

If you must share this kind of information, limit access to your site. But, remember, even if you shut down your site, some of your stories may be so legendary that they've been passed around by others and are still out there.

Very few of us could stand the scrutiny of the things we did in our youth. But for your generation, new technology records the events which someday may cause you to wince.

Please consider what you put up on the internet. You may be creating a legacy you don't really want.

Concerned Coach

Space and time for job searching.

Dear Coach:


I know I should eke out some time for finding a job after graduation. But, frankly, with school and other obligations I feel buried. Any tips?

Buried Alive

Dear Buried:

Of the people I coach I’d say 100% feel overwhelmed at one time or another. In most cases it’s a question of creating space in your life for what you want to occur. Then, assigning a time when you’re committed to making your goal happen.

So what does it mean to create space? Take a good hard look at the where you work. Is the surface of your desk as buried in papers as you feel? Do you even know the color of the rug in your room because there is so much piled on it? Have you given up working on your desk and moved your studying or other work to the dining room table or, worse, to your bed?

Time to back away from the clutter that’s making you feel buried alive.

The first step toward feeling less overwhelmed is to create a clean slate – a dedicated space – where you can work. Put the notes and information for a given course in a file folder or notebook. Put all your bills in another folder. Honestly, you don’t have to be obsessive, just group like things together in a way that makes sense to you. Lest you get overwhelmed by the prospect, start small. Every day file one course’s information or tackle just one thing you’d like to track and put it in the same stack or file.

Nearly every client I’ve had finds this process of clearing the decks invigorating and one that helps them to move away from stuck in overwhelm.

Next, using the same principle of starting small, figure out an amount of time you would happily devote to starting your job search. Keep it small to let you develop your “honoring time” muscle. Could you devote an hour a week to looking at websites related to your career? Or researching companies you really want to work for? Or looking at job ads to see what companies are looking for? Now commit to that one hour more specifically. “For one hour on Sunday afternoon, I’ll commit myself to doing something related to job search.”

If you’re like many of my clients, I think you’ll find honoring the space you need to do what you want and committing specific time toward achieving your goal makes you want to do more. At the very least, you’ll have a clean desk.

Fine tuning your decision on profession.

Dear Coach:


I’ve been thinking about nursing, but I’m concerned about the shift work and demands of the job. I can’t imagine working 12 hour days – even if I get 4 days off in a row. Yet I’m really drawn to a profession that lets me help others and I that gives me lots of choices of where to live. How do I figure this out?

Yeah or nay?

Dear Yeah:

This is a major decision so it’s no wonder you’re finding sifting through the pluses and minuses difficult. Some of my coaching clients find it helps to look at your career choices using three perspectives:

1. Listen to your heart.
2. Listen to your head.
3. Listen to others.

First, your heart. Think of a time when you were fully engaged by something. So engaged that you actually lost track of time. It doesn’t have to be work – it could be a sport, a hobby or a school experience. What were the elements that gave you the experience of being in your zone? List them. If you had the peak experience of a runner’s high maybe you’d say that you felt confidence in your body, challenged by doing something hard, and the chance to be alone with your thoughts. See if you can come up with at least two of these engaging experiences. Now, look at the lists you created and try to see what core values pop out. Maybe all your peak experiences had to do with being with others. Maybe you value independence. Maybe all your experiences had some element of challenge in them. Now go back to nursing and see how many of your core values can be addressed by being a nurse. Ideally, you want to choose a profession that aligns as closely as possible with what gets you excited to get up for in the morning.
Now listen to your head. You’ve already started to make a list of the pluses and minuses of nursing. Now really get into it. In one column give yourself 20 minutes to list absolutely everything that’s great about nursing as a career. Now do the same for the negatives. Don’t censure. Just write. Give yourself a little break, then, return to your list. Highlight the items that seem really important in making your decision. Consider your core values here too. If your core value is that you need serenity, hospital nursing may be a mismatch you want to consider.
Finally, listen to others. Okay, say that you’re still on the fence. Time to draw on outside resources. For example, you can imagine yourself as a nurse, but can’t imagine coping happily with the shift work and you want to work independently. If these are your only deal-breakers, some research or discussions with practicing nurses might open up possibilities that would work for you. Could you think about nurse practitioner or health educator, for example? Or how about working in medical research?

First steps. Looking for jobs on-line.

Dear Coach:


I’m ready to begin my job search on the on-line. But I’m not really sure what sites will be most helpful. Now what?

Overwhelmed

Dear Overwhelmed:

It’s not surprising you’re feeling a bit lost. Turns out the worldwide web really does offer a world of possibilities and that can be intimidating. So how do you zero in?

You don’t tell me what your major is, so I’ll have to answer your question in a general way. Most students know about the really big sites like Monster and Workopolis. These sites may have the greatest number of jobs, and in fact may be the best place for you to find a job if you have a unique and highly sought after talent. But if you are a student competing for jobs that many others could fill, you may be one of literally hundreds, even thousands, applying for a job.

You may want to increase your odds by looking at other internet sites with less competition. These include:

* company and other employer sites,
* industry association sites,
* web sites of employment agencies and head hunters,
* web sites for university career and placement services (CAPS)

Let’s look at each one.

If you’ve done your research, you know the companies you’re most interested in. Often companies decide to use their own site first for recruiting rather than pay the fees for big job sites. They also may not want to deal with the volume of resumes that come their way if they use a large site. If the company is a really big, though, they may ask you to enter your resume information into a software template so they can scan it for key words. A smaller company website is more likely to accept an attached resume. Using these websites lets you target the companies you’re most interested in and increase you’re likelihood for an interview.

Most professions and industries also have associations with websites. And many of these sites have on-line job banks. Their advantage is that employers have sought them out looking for talent in your field and the competition is usually less because fewer people are aware that they can use them. If you belong to an association, it also implies a built in endorsement of your credentials, even if this is not really the case.

Employment agencies often don’t charge the person applying for a job a fee. But many do. Be wary of agencies that promise your dream job by providing you with information you can easily find on your own. Agencies are often interested in someone who already has a track record. They may be a good source for temporary work while you’re seeking a professional job or if you’re looking for a job in an area the agency specializes in. Some agencies, for example, have a lot of non-profit clients or specialize in a particular market sector like health.

Finally, don’t overlook your campus placement sites where many employers in your region post jobs. By seeking out your school’s grads, they’ve already indicated a bias in favor of applicants from your university.

Who’s got your back? About references

Dear Coach:


I’ve had a great interview at a medical research lab. Now they’re asking for references. Okay, I know I should have lined them up first. But who should I ask?

Oops

Dear Oops:

You’re right. This would be a whole lot easier if you already lined up your references. But, hey, your question gives us a chance to focus on references, which, for a lot of grads seems to be an afterthought.

As the job you’re applying for is research oriented, you will probably want some of your references to be from professors that taught you in university. Of course, if you already have experience working in a lab, you’ll ask for work references – a great combination from an employer’s point of view.

Your reference portfolio consists of testimonial letters from 3 to 6 people who are prepared to attest that would make a good hire if employers ask. Most employers ask for three references, but it’s good to have references from different sources so you can have appropriate letters for the kind of jobs you’re considering.

Since you’re pulling together academic references, it’s a good idea to ask professors who taught courses in your major. Try to ask a professor whose rank is associate or full rather than an assistant professor or a lecturer. This is not because the associate and full professors are better teachers, but because an employer may believe that a more senior professor can assess your qualifications better.

Ask the professors you approach if they would be willing to give you a letter of recommendation in both electronic and hard copy forms. Ask also if you can include them in your list of references and give contact information for them on your resume. If they agree, make their lives easy. Give them a well written point summary of your:

* employment objectives
* your academic track record, especially in their classes
* other for the sorts of jobs of interest to you

Once you have your three core academic references, try to find at least three non- academic references. Ideally at least one of these should be from an employer you’ve worked for on a paid basis, or in a co-op or internship position. You need a reference like this to vouch for your ability to fit in and help with the bottom line needs of a real employer. It is helpful, but not essential, for the employer recommending you to be in businesses like those you’ll be applying to.

If you have no paid employment track record, try to draw your references from other sorts of organizations where you made substantial contributions such as school clubs, community organizations. For example, if you were the membership coordinator for a student club and the membership rose substantially, you could use the faculty advisor for the club as your reference.

Want to tick employers off quick? Try this.

Dear Coach:


I think you’re going overboard by harping on getting skills and training before I leave school. Can’t employers see I have skills that are transferable? Shouldn’t they be training me?

Overwhelmed in Ottawa

Dear Over:

Maybe you’ve been watching those decorating shows that are all over TV lately. (Or maybe not if you have an active social life). Anyway there’s a lesson to be learned here. Again and again the designers say “No, prospective buyers can’t imagine how your chartreuse bedroom with the disco ball will make a nice office. You have to show them what the room can be used for by making it into an office.”

Employers aren’t that much different from prospective homebuyers. They don’t want to guess whether you have the credentials and transferable skills they need. You have to show them.

One of the biggest complaints I hear from employers is that they often receive hundreds of resumes that do not meet even one of their qualifications. “What are these applicants thinking?” the employers ask, outraged. “Why are they wasting my time?” Not having the qualifications that are the standard in a field of work is like placing a heading on your resume in bold letters that screams:

“I didn’t bother to get the credentials you need. Maybe you can figure out how you can use me.”

You may have read articles that said you don’t have to have every qualification -- employers will be able to see you have transferable skills from another course of study or a job. This may be true if you have the major qualifications the employer needs and are missing a less critical skill or an easy to learn skill. You might get hired, for example, if you are an architect who knows how to use architectural software but not the particular software product an employer has. But if you’re saying that you’ve written a lot of term papers so you should have the qualifications to be a book editor, your resume is likely to get thrown in the reject pile without even being considered.

Employers today have an idea of the training, skills and experience they expect from potential employees. It is up to you to make sure that you have the credentials they want.

Decisions, decisions: employer, occupation, industry

Dear Coach:


I’m graduating soon with a degree in economics and I want to begin my job search. Now what?

Starting out and confused

Dear Starting:

Before you start looking, it helps to be aware of the three decisions you should make before looking for your first job: occupation, industry and employer.

Everyone understands the employer part of this trilogy. This is what students tend to focus on. Diploma in hand, they start searching job sites and reading newspapers for any company that is willing to hire them.

But by taking a look at the occupations your training and temperament are suitable for, and researching the industries that are growing you get two advantages. Your job search is more focused and you know you’re looking for jobs with the best potential.

Let’s start with occupation.

Occupation refers to what you do on the job. Examples are accountant, chemist, writer, and marketer.

You’ve gotten a degree in economics, but haven’t indicated what you might like to do with it. Do you want to be an analyst, for example? Do you want to be a researcher? If you don’t know for sure, try some of the online career aptitude tests. You’ll find links for a variety of these on the Canadian government site www.JobsEtc.ca and on other jobsites including CareerOwl.

Set a target date for choosing a short list of occupations you’re interested in. Now, it’s time to research each occupation on your list, storing what you learn about each in a separate folder.

To research your shortlist, go to an online job site and read the ads for each occupation on your short list. Carefully note the descriptions of what each job entails. Start a key word list for each occupation on your short list.

Another way of learning more about your occupations is professional associations. Associations often have information on their web sites about the requirements for jobs in their areas. Sometimes they have job postings too. If you can, attend a meeting and see if you click with the people who are working in your chosen occupation. After all you will be spending much of your waking days in their company.

Next, try to learn growth trends for the occupations on your list. For instance, check out what the Government of Canada job market experts think will happen by going to JobFutures at http://www.jobfutures.ca/noc/browse-occupations-work-prospects.shtml.

Consider industry

Industry is determined by what an employer produces. Most occupations can be pursued in more than one industry. An economist could work for a telecommunications company or a government department or a university, for example.

Which industries interest you? Which do you dislike? Select one or more industries you’d like to work in for each of the occupations you’ve short listed. Within the folder for each short listed occupation, create a folder for each chosen industry for that occupation.

Now, check which of the industries on your list is growing in terms of employment. You might select an occupation that is hot, but lose your job because the industry you’re in suffers a downturn. When a software company or a fish plant closes, all employees lose their jobs.

Doing a good job choosing growing industries can greatly improve your lifetime earnings.

When employers come knocking be ready to answer

Dear Coach:


Enough already! I’m really really busy just keeping up with my courses and exams. And you expect me to look for a job? Can’t this wait until I graduate?

Up to my neck in alligators

Dear Up to my neck:

Of course, you could wait. If you’re parents are willing to support you while you look for a career. Or if you’re willing to work in one of the many service jobs that don’t pay very much while you look for the job you really want.

But if you’re willing to devote a few hours a week to finding your best job out of university or college, why wait? One relatively easy way to look for a job while you’re still in school is to take advantage of a resource that’s right nearby. Use an underutilized resource on almost every campus: campus career and placement services (CAPS).

There are employers that actually prefer grads from your university or college. Many employers do most of their new grad recruiting through just a few campus career and placements services (CAPS) offices. Employers who have had good experience hiring from particular educational institutions and programs tend to keep going back to hire more grads from those same places. Check with your CAPS office to see if there are employers in your field that prefer grads from your institution. Your placement office can help you find out if employers you’re interested in have hired grads in the past. They can help a lot with landing a job offer with one of those employers when you graduate. I am always amazed that students use career placement, if at all, only when they are about to graduate.

Employers who go to the bother of posting their ads with your campus CAPS office are looking for recruits who studied at your educational institution. Similarly, when an employer sends a job ad to your faculty or department or one of your professors, that employer may be looking for someone just like you! Smart jobseekers regularly check out the job postings for the educational programs they took.

Most employers want quality -- not quantity -- when if comes to applicants for their jobs. Many employers also prefer to hire those trained by institutions and instructors whose grads they hired before and who worked out well.

Your best job coach for an interview may be YOU!

Dear Coach:


I’m starting to interview for jobs, but when I get to the interview, I freeze. The interviewers don’t really get to see me at my best. Help me!

Tongue-tied

Dear Tongue-tied:

Let’s assume you’ve done all your homework. You’ve researched the company, and looked at its website. You’ve dressed for the job and feel confident about your appearance. But still, you’re flummoxed when you actually get there.

First, cut yourself some slack. Your reaction is normal for anyone who learning a new skill – from riding a bicycle to interviewing for your first professional job.

Think about when you first learned to drive a car. In the beginning, you were conscious of what you didn’t know. You were keeping track of how to use a clutch, when to use turn signals, your speed, braking and traffic signs. All the components of driving required intense focus. But gradually, you could begin to use some of your mind to think about other things than just “how” to drive a car. Eventually, you got mastery of driving, so that, most of the time, it became second nature.

Learning to interview is like any other skill. At first you will be self-conscious and perhaps anxious as you develop your new skill. But eventually, as you have more experience, it will get easier. I promise.

So how can you ease the transition into mastery? You can borrow a technique that athletic coaches and life coaches use. You can envision your success. Imagine an interview where you know you’ve hit a home run. Imagine the questions an interviewer who was really interested in hiring you might ask. Envision yourself responding with poise ease and confidence. Envision it in as much detail as possible. Feel yourself sitting in the chair, what the office looks like, how the interviewer is engaged by what you are saying.

What does this exercise do? It allows your unconscious mind to “rehearse” interviewing success.

This kind of previewing an event has been used in athletics. One pro football player wanted a life coach to help him decrease the number of passes he fumbled. They worked very hard, without much improvement. Why? Because they focused on the failure – footballs that were not caught. When they switched tactics and the player began to envision successful pass reception, his performance improved remarkably.

One university professor has used a similar exercise with her business students to help them prepare for a job interview. “I have them imagine one question that an interviewer could ask them that would let them show themselves in the best possible light.” She asks them the question and watches their response. “They usually become more and more enthusiastic as they talk.” Finally she asks them to try to work this “best question” response into their actual interview. Usually, there is some way to use this response to one of the interviewer’s questions.
 
“The results are amazing,” she says. “These students do not do just a little bit better, but a lot better in terms of having successful interviews.”

The chicken and egg problem of gaining work experience

Dear Coach:


I just applied for a job I really wanted, but didn't even make the first cut because I didn't have experience. DUH! I'm a student - how am I supposed to get experience if no one will hire me?

Catch 22

Dear Catch:

New grads often complain about this chicken and egg problem. “Employers say they want experience, but to have a work record I need one of them to give me the job,” they say. Of course, in the best of all possible worlds, employers want exactly that - new graduates with leading edge academic knowledge and with proven work records to demonstrate they can do the job.

Most employers know they have to settle for new grads who have some work experience (paid or unpaid), who have demonstrated they can show up on time, do the tasks assigned to them and get along with other people. Fortunately, there are many ways a student can demonstrate those qualities.

Getting a work experience track record before you graduate can greatly increase your chances that employers will bet on you. Getting pre-career work experience shows initiative, and demonstrates that you are truly interested in the area of your pre-career experience.

Where can you begin? Start with your college or university placement offices, which, surprisingly, many students overlook. Look beyond summer break employment. Every office is likely to have co-op opportunities and internships. Many also list volunteer service opportunities. In considering which opportunities to take, look for ones that give you either experience in the industry you've chosen or that develop skill sets you know employers want.

If you're fortunate enough to get an internship with a company you're actually interested in, it may be a better investment than taking a low wage job with no career potential. In the best case scenario, an internship may translate into an entry level job with that company. But, even if it doesn't, you'll have industry specific-experience to put on your resume.

Of course sometimes economic need means you simply have to take any job you can get during your summer breaks. If you do take such a job, remember to look for skills and experiences you can mention. At the very least you should ask for a letter of reference at the end of your part-time or summer job that proves that you were a responsible and conscientious employee.

Where else might you find “experience” opportunities? Most major cities have on line volunteer listings on line such as http://www.govolunteer.ca/ or a United Way office you can call. In the course of finding your career focus, you may have also identified professional organizations that may need help with projects or member services. These are ideal ways for you to get to know your future colleagues and to prove yourself.

One student I know volunteered to maintain her professional organization's on-line job bank, which was fairly time-consuming. While she wasn't ready to apply for any of the jobs yet, fielding questions from companies and looking at their ads gave her invaluable knowledge when she was ready. She also got to know some of the job applicants who later became contacts she could talk to when she was actually looking for work.

Hide and seek: the hidden job market

Dear Coach:


I keep hearing about the “hidden job market.” Do I need to know about this?

Huh?

Dear Huh:

You’re not the only person wondering about this.

There is a commonly quoted study that says that 80% of jobs are in a “hidden job market,” inaccessible to anyone but insiders in an organization. In fact, many firms have sprung up to offer to help you uncover these hidden jobs if you’re willing to pay them thousands of dollars. As a result, many students feel hooped. If the majority of good jobs are hidden from them, how can they hope to land one?

So how do you get access to the jobs that are only posted internally? Do you really have to pay a firm to tell you about them? Probably not.

Research shows that people really do land jobs because they know someone that works in a company or an industry. Is this because people want to give cronies and relatives jobs? Maybe partly. But mostly people want to avoid risk. They’ve had a chance to see someone at a social function, a professional organization meeting or heard about them from a friend or colleague. In some way, they’ve seen them in a favorable light. They’ve seen them as energetic, or dependable or just engaging. Or they know someone who’s willing to vouch for their character.

Your job is to find as many opportunities as you can to get to know the people in your industry. Look for internships and apprenticeships that give you a chance to work for the industry or even ideal company you want to work for eventually. Even as an intern you’ll meet people and learn about potential opportunities in the organization.

Almost every field has a professional organization you can join even as a student, usually at unbelievably low student rates. I hired several students, for example, that belonged to a professional organization for communicators. I got to know them working on volunteer projects. I got to evaluate their friendliness, intelligence and commitment before they ever came for an interview.

Also, professional organizations usually have presentations by industry leaders as part of their meetings. In the after-speech discussions or over coffee, you have the chance to meet people in your field that you would normally not be able to talk to.

If you’re looking regularly at news on the websites of the companies you’d like to work for, you may be able to anticipate opportunities too. If a company has just landed a big contract, you there may be some hiring. It's your chance to check in with someone you know at the firm or with the HR department to see whether they need new staff for the project.

Ethics on the job still count. Honest.

Dear Coach:


I’m almost finished my business degree but I’m getting cold feet about applying for a job. It seems like stories about corporate corruption are in the headlines all the time. Do ethics even matter in the workplace anymore?

Considering a Desert Island

Dear Considering:

We may not be able to abolish insider trading and corruption on the grand scale, but your own code of conduct does matter. In fact, it is one of the most important “job skills” you bring to the table.

Your personal code of ethics affects how both your superiors and subordinates view you. It is a factor in whether you will advance and how far you will go. It determines the very nature of your relationships at work, where you will be spending many of your waking hours. Most important, it determines how you feel about yourself. Self-respect comes from knowing the principles you’ve agreed to live by. Having these principles in place lets you spend less physic energy on regrets and unsatisfactory interpersonal relationships. In fact, I view a personal code of ethics as one of the most important components of a successful career.

Think about someone you really admire. While you might observe some traits they were born with – like an agreeable temperament, good looks, intelligence – your admiration probably is the result of acquired traits like integrity and consistency of character.

For example, one of the people I admired most during my career consistently demonstrated her own sense of integrity. This consistency was important. It allowed those around her to know what to expect in their interactions with her and allowed them to build up trust in her. Here is what they could count on:

* She backed her employees and took responsibility, as their manager, for their performance, even their errors.
* She praised her employees in public and criticized them only in private and in person.
* She understood that great gains and innovations are based on taking calculated risks. She didn’t punish those who risked and failed.
* She meant what she said and stood by her words.
* She didn’t back away from tough decisions or giving necessary negative feedback.
* She didn’t take credit for other people’s work.
* She didn’t gossip about others’ shortcomings.

Of course, I wasn’t the only one who noticed her character. She quickly gained a reputation as a leader in her field, not only because she was talented but because she had the respect of both her colleagues and her clients.

You may be thinking, “This woman sounds like Mother Theresa.” Not really. She started out with a few strongly-held principles -- like taking responsibility for her mistakes and not gossiping (a big temptation in the workplace). Over the years some principles got added, deleted and modified along the way, as she learned more about interacting in the workplace. “In the beginning I didn’t have enough confidence to give my employees negative feedback”, she told me. “I was trying not to hurt anyone’s feelings. But I came to understand that glossing over problems was really a form of dishonesty. Now, I tell a staff member if there has been a problem so he or she can learn from it. I’ve found it’s easier on all of us to tell them what I really think.”

Even in a job interview, your code of ethics is on display. Many of your responses to an interviewer’s questions will spring from your own views about what is right and wrong. If you have thought through how you want to relate to others, you will inevitably convey a sense of integrity and stability. If, for example, your ethics run along the line of the woman I just mentioned, you wouldn’t exaggerate your accomplishments, though you would state clearly what you bring to the table. You also wouldn’t badmouth former bosses, colleagues or companies.

Just as you are the one who needs to choose your career focus, you are also the only one who can choose your values. Introspection, including thinking about the values of those you are acquainted with, life experiences, and reading books about philosophy or about people you admire are some of the ways for developing your personal values.

Want to change the world? Try one project or conversation at a time.

Dear Coach:


Everybody seems to be dumping on my generation for wanting meaningful work. I don’t see what’s wrong with wanting to spend my lifetime doing something that makes a difference to the world. I’m holding out for a job like that. How can I get my parents to back off and realize that we’re on the mark?

Proud to be a Y-er

Dear Proud:

Boy, I couldn’t agree more with you. If you don’t value how you spend your life, who will?

I just spent a weekend at a seminar where the participants ranged in age from 19 – 70. One lively discussion was raised by the 30-somethings in the group who asked why Gen-Yers – the age group between 16-27 -- expect so much from their employers. Gen-Yers, they said, can’t be motivated by money. If they’re not happy, they’re quite willing to move on or find some way to be self-employed. They can’t be motivated by loyalty to the organization, because they’ve lost faith that the organization is loyal to them. The only thing that does seem to motivate them is work they find important and are engaged by.

In response, the Gen-Yers said, “Look, we’re overwhelmed. We have more choices, it seems, than any other generation. We could start a business, and we’re not afraid to try. Maybe we could go to Darfur and help out for a few years. Maybe we should get a more traditional job , because our parents’ lifestyle looks pretty good. More than that, we know we’re inheriting a world with global warming and other issues that will rest on our generation to solve. “

In short, these Gen-Yers were saying, “Other generations talk about us being irresponsible. But its exactly because we feel so much responsibility that we’re having a hard time figuring out the best path.” What I heard in this exchange was that Gen-Yers are looking for not just work, but mind-blowingly important work.

Anyone would be daunted by finding that kind of career. So what can you do? Keep the vision, but chunk it down. Remember this is a vision, not a specific job, but the kind of work you really want. Then, spend some time expanding on your vision by doing this exercise:

* If you were doing mind-blowing work, what deeply held values would be met?
* If you were to have the kind of work you envision, what kind of person would you be? What would others say about you?
* If you had the kind of work you envision, what talents do you already have that could contribute to it?
* If you had the work in your vision, what capabilities would you need to develop?

Finding your life’s work just got a lot easier.

Maybe your vision is to work in an area where you can have a positive impact on the environment. You envision yourself working with people who share your strongly held beliefs about the importance of nature and sustainability. You see yourself as spokesperson and writer who can influence public opinion. You already have talents as a public speaker and in leading small groups, but you need to develop your skills as a writer and researcher. You don’t have to find your ideal job tomorrow. You just have to take every opportunity in whatever job you’re in to develop the skills and have the experience that bring you closer to your vision.

The successful job interview: Whose job is it anyway?

Dear Coach:


Our Campus Job Center has set up interviews with some major companies in January. Lots of my classmates are signing up. How do I make myself stand out?

Lost in the crowd

Dear Lost:

How do you make yourself irresistible (or at very least interesting) to recruiters? Three ways.

* Change your perspective from a student consumer to a supplier of services.
* Put yourself in their shoes.
* Do everything in your power to reduce their risks for hiring you.

As a college or university student, you’ve spent your last four years or so as a “buyer” of educational services. You’ve paid tuition, evaluated the performance of your instructors, expected them to see you during their office hours, and certainly expect to receive a diploma. Of course, you’ve done your part by studying and passing your exams, but if you’re like many students I’ve interviewed, you may be carrying the expectations of your experience at school into a job interview. When you go on the job market, you are no longer “buying” a service. You are selling one – yourself. It’s no longer someone’s job to meet your needs. It’s your job to figure out how to meet theirs.

So put yourself in the recruiter’s shoes. She has to see the benefit of spending her limited time interviewing you. One hiring manager in a small architecture firm told me recently, “During my last interviewing round, I was shocked by how many new grads had only two questions for me – how much do you pay and how much vacation will I get?” If you begin to think like a seller of services, you understand that the interviewer gets no benefit from giving you a great salary, a short work day and fascinating projects. To sell a recruiter on giving you her time, attention and interest, you have to show her how you can benefit her firm.

That means, before you arrive at the interview you’ve done some research and given some thought to what, you have to offer. Look at the company website and any recent articles written about it. Know the trends in the industry. Then figure out how hiring you will benefit the bottom line or improve performance. What new directions is the company taking that you might be able to contribute to? What volunteer and summer work experiences can you bring to the table that will make you a great employee?

Finally remember that human beings – including your interviewer – are wired to avoid risks. Once you’ve shown the interviewer that you have something to offer, do your best to show her that buying you is a safe purchase. What kind of risks is a recruiter worried about? She’s wary of someone who has never demonstrated that they have any kind of work experience. Summer employment and letters of reference for example show her that you show up consistently and have gained some specific skills her firm can use. She’s worried about hiring a prima donna with limited ability to work in teams. She’s worried that she might hire someone who is not committed to doing a good job.

If you were selling a cell phone, say, you wouldn’t expect your buyer to figure out what features your phone has to offer. You’d have to tell them the benefits. You’d have to ensure them that your product had few risks and was backed by a reliable company. As a job seeker, you have something to sell, just like a business selling a product.

Make sure employers see you – increase your keywords

Dear Coach:


My friend just told me that a company’s software screens my resume before anyone even sees it. Great. How’s a computer going to appreciate the hours I spent putting myself in the best light?

Give Me a Break

Dear Give Me:

Sorry, but your friend is right.

Many of the resume books and articles I’ve read in the past few years agree that the majority of large companies use software to make the first cut on the resumes they receive. Why? Because anything HR people can do to reduce the time they spend looking at unqualified applicants’ resumes saves them money and aggravation. How can a software program make these all important determinations about who gets to be considered for an interview? There’s a one word answer: keywords.

Keywords are your industry’s buzzwords. They are the shorthand that lets the employers know you have the set of skills and talents they are looking for. The employer simply supplies the keywords that they want the software to screen for, and voila! The resumes are sorted by the number of keywords they find. Those with the fewest may never be seen by human eyes.

If you’re a computer programmer, for example, keywords might be the applications you know, the years of experience in project management, or your understanding of database architecture. If you’re a communicator, employers might want to see Power Point expertise, experience working with the media, publications in certain publications, or certification by a professional organization.

So how do you generate the keywords that will make your resume move to a human being’s desk instead of the “We regret to inform you . . .” pile? It’s fairly easy, really. Over the next week, look on line and in the newspaper for 10 jobs in the industry you want to work in after graduation. Then, take a paper and divide it in three columns:

Education Skills and experience Bonus points

Now take your job ads and highlight what education and training employers are asking for (level of education, certifications, licenses). Then, go through with another colored highlighter and note skills and experience they want in their hires (like computer programs, years of project management, mastery of specific equipment). Finally in another color, highlight all the requirements that say: “Preferred candidate will …” (speak Mandarin, work in a MAC environment).

As you place what you find into the columns on your paper, look for repeats and patterns. In the bonus point column you might see items that are specific to one firm. But if you see a pattern in this column, it may give you an idea on the expectations of your industry in the future.

You have your basic list of keywords – an indication of what employers want to see on resumes from people who work in their industries. Your job now is to work as many of those keywords as you can into your resume. Here are some guidelines to help:

* Be specific. List the actual programs you know how to use, not just “many applications.”
* No need to repeat. The software doesn’t give you any more points.
* Keep refining your keyword list every few months. Industry requirements change.

Finally, be sure to customize your resume to include the exact keywords that appear in an ad for a job you want. It only takes a minute to add in the phrases that an employer is looking for.

Wanted: interesting work and short hours

Dear Coach:


I watched my Dad clock in long hours at the office. I want a career that’s engaging and that lets me use what I’ve learned in school. But I also want some balance in my life – time for friends and dating and sports. Is that too much to ask?

Want a Life

Dear Want:

First let me acknowledge that you’re not alone. According to What Canadians Think by two of Canada’s leading pollsters, 81% of Canadian students surveyed said having an “interesting” work was important to them. To put that in prospective, only 19% said having a high paying job was important.

I get that engaging work is really, really important to the folks in your generation.

But I should tell you what I’m hearing from the people who are hiring students. They’re saying “Job seekers today want us to guarantee them stimulating work, increasing responsibilities and pet projects before they’ve even proved themselves. New hires have to put in the work to show us what they can do before we’re going to trust them with a major assignment.”

The truth is work, like the rest of life, can’t be interesting every minute. But, if you’re committed to your career and work for a good organization, you’ll find that exciting projects are usually part of the mix.

As a Life Coach, I can’t argue with your desire to have a balanced life. Achieving it can be tricky when you’re in the early years of your career, though. Only you can choose the kind of career that will let you meet the outside-of-work commitments that make life worth living for you.

A lot of people want the status and pay that goes along with a big career. Big careers often take big amounts of time, even if you’re smart and well trained. During the years when you’re laying the foundation for your career, you may have to work longer hours than you want. That doesn’t mean you can’t find time for sports, or friends, but you may have to give more attention to scheduling your priorities.

Job searching: shotgun or sharpshooter?

Dear Coach:


I’m graduating in January and I’m already dreading Christmas vacation because my relatives are bound to ask “What are you going to do now?” I’ve sent out over 200 resumes to big job sites without a single response. Everyone says the job market has never been hotter. What am I doing wrong?

Sinking Fast

Dear SF:

The job market is hot for certain service jobs (like retail clerks), for certain trades (like plumbers), and for certain grads in “red hot” technical areas (like nanochip designers). If you live in Vancouver and you can lift a hammer you can probably get a job during the pre-Olympics building craze, for example. Actually, if you’re a mammal you can probably get a job in Vancouver right now.

But it sounds like you’re not in a sought-after field and you’re looking for a job with growth potential (a career). The jobs you’re looking for are scarcer. Unfortunately, you’ve been taking a shotgun approach that isn’t going to land one of these scarcer jobs unless you are very, very, very lucky. How many students do you think are applying for the same jobs you are on a monstrous job site? Unless you have some unique skills you will probably be competing with hundreds (and maybe thousands) of applicants. Getting a job under these circumstances is like winning a lottery. It could happen, but I wouldn’t bank on it.

So how do you increase your odds and home in on employers that will look at your resume? You need to do a little more upfront work. You need to know about more targeted job sites to zero in as precisely as possible. You need to find out how to apply directly to the companies you want to work for using their websites. You need to learn how to use key words to bring your resume to the top of the pile. In short, you need a more refined sharp shooter’s strategy.

To cover what you need would take a book. Fortunately, you can buy one like Job Searching for Dummies by Canadian Pam Dixon that tells you how to target your on-line job search. It’s easy, accessible and it’s well worth the investment.

It may sound like a lot of work, but picking up these on-line skills is a lot less soul-killing then sending out 200 resumes without a single response. Trust me.

After grad travel: time off for good behavior?

 Dear Coach:


I’m thinking of taking a year off after graduation to do some traveling before I settle down to a job. I’ve worked hard and long in school and I’m feeling fried. Don’t you think it’s best to see the world while I’m young? Don’t you think I deserve it?

Happy Feet


Dear Happy:

Sure you deserve it and I’m a big time believer in people following their dreams. But I need to tell you about some opportunities you may be missing and some risks you’ll be taking if you decide to travel for a long time right after graduation. Then you decide.

First, the lost opportunities. If you want to work for the Federal government, some provincial governments or many large corporations you’ll be missing an opportunity that’s only available to new grads. Many of these large employers have jobs that are earmarked for entry on the first rung of their job ladders. That means they’ll invest in your training and you’ll be groomed to move up the ladder to more responsible positions. A year from now, you may not qualify for these entry level programs that could give your career a boost. You’ll be competing with all the other applicants that have been out on the market.

Second, the risks you’ll be taking. Even if you want to work for smaller companies that don’t have new grad entry programs, you risk being seen as not very interested in your career. I used to own a small communications company and would receive applications fairly often from first time job seekers who had dropped out for a couple of years to climb the Himalayas (or whatever). All things being equal, I would choose an applicant with some solid volunteer experience over the traveler, even if neither had ever worked. Why? As much as I might sympathize with the spirit of adventure, I want to invest my limited energy and time in someone who had already committed to their career.

It may still be worth it to you to have that travel experience, but these are the tradeoffs. You might want to compromise and take a shorter holiday, which would still allow you to be eligible for entry programs. You may also want to consider that your wanderlust might just be fear about looking for your first job. If that’s the case, it won’t be any easier a year from now.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Beyond your degree: skills employers want to see

Dear Coach:

I’m graduating next year with a liberal arts degree.  I’d really like to work for a non-profit company, but I’ll be competing with lots of other grads for the jobs I want.  Any tips?

Waldo in a crowd

Dear Waldo:

You still have time to make yourself a stand-out.  How?  By developing the skills employers in your industry want to see.  Think of skills as capabilities that can be applied directly in the workplace. If for example you mastered excel spreadsheets, many employers would find that skill useful in the workplace. 

To find what those skills are for non-profits, go online and take a look at a site like charityvillage.org.  Then, make a list of the skills 10 employers are asking for.  Look especially at any that are listed more than once.

Now, design a strategy to demonstrate you already have the skills they want – or to develop the skills you’re still sketchy on.

First, look closely at the skills you can already show.  For example, employers site “ability to work effectively in a team.”  You can provide evidence of this skill if, for example, you worked on a project in the inner city with your classmates as part of a sociology course.  Your volunteer experiences probably have also let you develop important skills.

Next, take a look at the skills you don’t have yet.

Some you may be able to teach yourself, like learning the software that’s commonly used in your industry.  Some may involve taking a technical course.  Some may be skills you can develop by doing your own research.  Some may be skills you can only develop by working with other people. 

For example, say you’re a psychology major who eventually wants to work in human resources for a large health organization, like a hospital.  When you look at job ads, you find that they want someone familiar with labour codes and union regulations.  They also want the applicant to know how to use candidate screening software and work well with people from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds. 

To develop your training strategy, you need to figure out how to meet employers’ skill requirements.
  • You know that you can learn labour codes by taking a course or possibly doing research on your own.
  • Union regulations are likely to be more job-specific.  You can gain those skills by getting a summer internship in an HR office.  Even if the internship is not in a hospital, working in any large bureaucracy will give you a working knowledge of a unionized environment. 
  • To gain skills working with diverse populations, you can volunteer with an organization that helps new immigrants adjust to Canada.
  • You can familiarize yourself with applicant screening software by finding out the most frequently used products and how they work.
In short, while you can’t claim extensive experience, you can demonstrate that you can take the initiative to develop the skills the employers in your industry value.