How to Land Your First Job in a Tight Economy

When unemployment rates rise, the competition in the job market becomes increasingly challenging. Whether you're looking for your first job or trying to land a new position, it's more important now than ever to stand out from the growing crowd of job applicants. Sometimes people in the midst of a job search become so focused on one job search method, such as sending out resumes, they forget to cover all of their bases.  A single strategy may eventually land you a job, but it's likely you'll spend more time being frustrated than interviewed. 

Successful job hunters adapt to meet individual employers' needs and use multiple strategies to find a job. Here's what you can do to set yourself apart and outshine the competition.

Be Flexible in Your Requirements

In a job market as tough as this one, a flexible approach to job hunting is key. Don't limit yourself when it comes to salary, title, and the length of your commute.  Consider part-time and interim jobs, which can also help build your skills and experience. These positions get your foot in the door and could turn into something more permanent. If an employer is impressed with your job performance, he or she will keep you in mind for future vacancies.

Network with Personal Contacts

Career experts estimate that the vast majority of job openings are never advertised or publicly announced, but filled through word of mouth or networking – also known as the hidden job market. Networking means developing a broad list of contacts and using them to your advantage when you are seeking employment. Make a list of all of your friends, relatives, teachers, co-workers and acquaintances. Call each one of them and ask if they know of any openings that they could recommend you for. Tell them what you're looking for, but let them know that you are flexible and open to any suggestions.

Social Networking for Career Success

Social networking is changing the U.S. job seeking landscape. If you don't have a social media presence, you may be at a disadvantage in this competitive job market. All three of the  top social networks - LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter - are free and easy to join, and can be used to get job search advice and tips, to network, and to connect with career and job search experts, companies that are hiring, and other job seekers. A strong social presence can boost your candidacy and help ensure you will be found by recruiters and hiring managers.  In addition, employers are increasingly accepting applications directly from these and other industry-related networking sites.  If you haven't used social networking sites for anything other than connecting with your friends and family, don't worry. Create a social media presence one site at a time.

Get More Education and Training to Increase Your Value

Improve your chances of being hired by gaining more education, work experience and certifications. This will make you a stronger job candidate in your field of interest and open the door to more career opportunities and greater earning potential. Make a list of work-related skills you'd like to learn. The sooner you start building the right credentials, the stronger your resume will be to prospective employers.

Remember that for any job hunter, persistence is the key to success. Don't be discouraged by rejection. Nobody receives a job offer for every job application they submit.  If you didn't get the job, remain positive and ask to be contacted if another opening occurs.  Be sure to leave a copy of your resume, and thank the employer for their time. Remain persistent and your hard work will ultimately pay off.

Guest post provided by U.S. News University Directory a leading resource for locating accredited degree programs.  Students and professionals can use the directory to locate on-campus and online bachelor degrees, masters programs, distance learning MBA's and professional certificates from top colleges and universities.

Following Your Path to Greatness

This is an update of my August 31, 2011 post entitled "Career Success: Following Your Path to Greatness."

Steve Jobs had a lot to teach us about truly "listening" to and being guided by our inner voice. What an amazing example of boundless creativity and fearless action that man was.

"Trust that it will all work out ok," are inspiring words of wisdom Steve Jobs' shares during his commencement address at Stanford University in 2005. "Follow your curiosity and intuition" he says as he shows how his path led to greatness.

When my clients who are seeking to find the kind of job or career they'll love take the Life Theme Assessment they usually say "you know, I always thought about doing that." 

Steve's speech reminds us that life usually gives us clues, inklings about our true path. It's not always easy to listen or to respond to that calling like Steve Jobs did. Sometimes we push that little voice aside that gets us in touch with what we really want and we decided to go for the money instead or we think somehow following our path is harder than staying miserable in a job we don't like.  

And yet, time and again I've witnessed, and have experienced in my own career, as Steve Jobs' so aptly put it -- if you find what you love, have faith and don't settle, what you desire eventually comes to you.

At this time in our history when new ideas and out-of-the-box solutions are so needed in our economy and our world it's worth considering -- what amazing avenues of creativity would open for you in life if you truly listened and followed the dots?

If you were inspired by Steve Job's speech, leave a comment about how his words of wisdom touched you.


Linda Hardenstein, MPA, PCC, helps college graduates and professionals how to find their authentic career and gain more satisfaction from work.  To get a free recording of the Secrets Most Job Seekers Don't Know about Finding a Job You'll Love, click here, put "free mp3" in the comments section and I'll send it to you.      

Are You a Professional Dealing With a Horrible Boss? Secrets for Winning - Part 2

This is Part 2 of my previous post providing tips for dealing with a horrible boss. It's not uncommon at some point in your career to have what you would describe as a "horrible boss." Handling them and surviving is an art. In addition to the previous tips you can:


4.  Explore Your Options.  Without taking the time to identify what options you have for dealing with your situation you feel trapped. Feeling trapped can make you think you have only two choices to go or to stay.  With a little exploration, or brainstorming with a coach, friend or mentor, you may be able to discover that there are more choices than you think. Are there options are for getting some relief inside the organization? What internal mechanisms exist for resolving conflicts with your boss or co-workers? Is there someone you can talk to within the organization?  What are the ramifications of speaking up, of keeping quiet?  When speaking up it is essential to use excellent communications skills and to know what you want so you don't make your situation worse. 
5.  Get out.  After exploring all of your options if making a job change or leaving are your only choices, create your path to freedom before you quit. When you've got a lot of work to do it can be hard to find the time to begin or manage a job search campaign but it can be done. You need an organized, strategic, carefully crafted, step-by-step exit strategy. You'll want to stay productive AND achieve your job transition goals. Part of your strategy should be how to leave on the best possible terms.

6.  Get Help. Sometimes it's hard to deal with a horrible boss on your own, especially if you're in a management position and can't discuss things with your colleagues. This is when a coach, mentor or trusted adviser can help you brainstorm and come up with creative strategies to overcome obstacles, find a ray of hope, stay motivated, do something you may not have thought of, or create a winning exit strategy. Coaches like me offer laser coaching sessions that help you zero in on your unique situation to develop a winning strategy to deal with a difficult boss so you can improve your work situation and your life. If I can be of assistance to you feel free to contact me or use my automated calendaring system to schedule a complimentary session.

If you've survived a "horrible boss" and have some tips to share please add your comment below. 

Linda Hardenstein, MPA, PCC, helps professionals and managers who want to improve their careers and build a better life achieve more of what they want through personal achievement coaching and authentic career development. Find out more at her website.

What Do You Love?

"You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you." — Maya Angelou

Have you ever noticed sometimes when people ask you what you love to do, what you want to do, or what you do for fun that you don't have an answer? It's hard to be in that place and respond with a "I'm not sure" or "I don't know."  

Not knowing what you love can come from doing everything you don't want to do for so long that you can't remember what it is you love, or how it feels to do something you love. If this is the case, think back to a time when you were loving life. Write down the situation you were in, who you were with and what you were doing. This exercise will give you some hints to what brings you joy. 

It could be that you're just starting out in your career and you haven't discovered what you love yet. Some people go through years of struggle trying to figure out what they were meant to do. If you're ready to do what you love now, take some time for personal reflection to find out what it is. 

If you're in a transition that forces you to re-evaluate what's meaningful, or that tests your metal from going through a divorce, retiring, recovering from a life threatening illness, or re-establishing yourself after a move to a new town you know what it's like to be in that "no man's land." But even with changes going on in your life, you still have an authentic you that wants to express and when it does you're living what you love.  

No matter what stage you're in, finding what you love comes from knowing who you really are. Discovering your authentic style puts you in touch with what motivates you, why you like certain things, why things bug you and what stops you. Knowing what makes up the real you makes it easier to find your path to a meaningful career, friends and activities that energize you, and a life so full of passion and joy that people will look on in awe because they can't take their eyes off you!

If you're ready to discover who you really are so you can do more of what you love, Linda Hardenstein helps new job seekers, retirees, and professionals who hate their job, find the career and get the life you'll love.  Click here to find out more.

Have you found your authentic career or what you love to do? What got you there? Leave a comment.

Five Easy Steps for Getting Your Career Back on Track

Are you feeling stressed, burned out, or like you're going nowhere in your career? If you find yourself constantly complaining about your job to family, friends and co-workers, it may be time to set a new career direction. Here's five easy steps for getting your career back on track:

1. Review these 11 Signs Your Career Has Stalled and check off the ones that are relevant to you.
   
2. Identify your options. It's easy to feel stuck or to have blinders on when it comes to being able to see beyond your current situation. As a career coach one thing I do is help my clients see opportunities they may not have noticed before. If career coaching isn't for you, try brainstorming with a trusted friend or family member to create a list of your career options and what you'd like to accomplish in your career.
   
3. Make a plan. What are the benefits you want from all of the hard work, hours and energy you put in every day? Maybe you'd like to learn something new, interact more with people, become more well-known, or get a promotion. Maybe you want a paycheck to pay for the bills and a lifestyle where you have more time with your family.  Once you're clear on what you want, make a plan so it is more likely to happen.
   
4. Make it real. Identify your next steps.  Do you need additional skills or training? How will you let others know about your goal? What support systems do you need to accomplish your career goal?
   
5. Take action!

A well-thought out and executed career plan can help you alleviate stress and burn out by providing clarity and focus so you know what you're doing and why. It can provide the positive direction that ultimately leads to more satisfaction in your work and life.  

Linda Hardenstein, MPA, PCC helps you find new directions in your career by identifying the kind of work you'll love and helping you achieve successful career or retirement transitions. Find out more at her website and feel free to send her your career questions.

Are you Finding a Job or Building a Career?

“What Career Seekers Need to Know” a teleseminar this week brought up some enlightening points about finding the work that is right for you. (Contact me if you’d like a recording of it.) It brought to mind a conversation with Tom, a parent seeking advice about how his son, a college graduate, could find a job that he loves. I asked him a critical question – does he want to find a job OR to find a career?

Tom was surprised by the question and hadn't really thought about there being a difference. He confessed that he didn’t receive much guidance about his own career. Well-meaning adults said things like, “you should do this” or “hey, there’s a job over here and you’d be good at it.” So he’s wandered his whole life down a career path built for him by others.

UC San Diego produced its "Best Jobs ..." report for this year. That’s one way to find a career. But if you want work that keeps you motivated to get up in the morning so you're loving what you do, feeling a sense of happiness, purpose, well-being and contribution, there’s usually more to it than just finding a job.
   
Whether you’re a college graduate or a seasoned professional the difference between a job or a career is like taking a different fork in the road. Building a career you'll love takes exploration and effort.  Finding a job can also take exploration and effort but it can lead you to a lifetime of work that isn't as rewarding. 

If you really want a rewarding career choose your path wisely. With the help of a career coach you can find the kind of work that suits who you are and the jobs that will take you in the career direction you want.

Find out more about the career transition services that will help you find work that you'll love at Linda's website.

What are your thoughts about a job v. a career? Leave your comment below.



 

Happy Graduation! Some Hot Tips for Finding a Job

If you're a recent college graduate - congratulations! Do you know your next steps for finding a job and starting your career?

When you graduate it's easy to feel like all the hard work is done and you've earned your entree into the job market. Having a degree does make it easier to qualify for jobs, but, attaining a degree is often just the beginning of a career. This year's graduates will have an easier time finding a job than those who graduated in prior years according to CBS Money Watch, Job Outlook for 2011 College Grads Best in 4 Years.

My clients who want to thrive in their careers learn the steps for putting their degree to work and you can too!  Here are some tips to get you started.

• Be sure you have a targeted strategy that guides your job search. 
• Once you've identified the kind of job you want, find the industries that offer those jobs. Pick your first choice and determine how you're going to go after it. This becomes your "Plan A."
• "Plan A" needs to be written. It should list the steps you're going to take and the date you want to complete each step. Studies show that if you write your plan, you'll have a bigger chance of success. Having a plan will help you evaluate what is working in your job search and what isn't. If something isn't working you can make adjustments before too much time passes. 
• Create a Plan B and a Plan C for your second and third choices too.

Having a written plan and a well thought out strategy can keep you productive, focused and motivated so you're more likely to land the job of your dreams.

If you'd like to learn more tips for finding a career that is right for you, be sure to attend "What Every Career Seeker Needs to Know," a FREE teleseminar on June 2, 2011. Register here.


I'd love your comments and to hear what has worked for you.

Believing You can Create Your Career Path

"Of all the forces that hold women back, however, none are as powerful as entrenched beliefs" ... states a new McKinsey report, "Unlocking the Full Potential of Women in the US Economy," by Joanna Barsh.

As my clients and I work together to find the right job that resonates with who they really are and to realize their true potential, we explore beliefs about success, opportunity, the past, and who, or what keeps them from getting what they want.

From my experience some widely held beliefs about what it takes to be successful in your career are:  

• you need to always be available to stay ahead of the competition
• keep taking things on to prove your ability, your capacity and your worth
• keep up or they'll find someone else who will
• if you've put in the time you deserve the promotion
• just wait (don't ask) and good things will come your way
• I'm so busy I don't have time to do what it takes to create my career path

These beliefs can exact a heavy price -- burn out, exhaustion, disappointment, frustration, and going blindly down a path you didn't chose to an unfulfilled and unbalanced life.

Career success begins with the belief that you CAN create your own path.  Career success is sustained by constantly revisiting two fundamental questions, "what do I want to achieve?" and "what am I doing it for?"

Have you carved out a career path that you love? What beliefs do you think are necessary for achieving success in your career?

How To Ease Your Job or Life Transition

Meet Jan. She started a new career. She's always been successful so it's hard being in a new role she hasn't mastered yet. She goes into work every day with the best of intentions -- to be productive and useful. She finds herself sitting at an empty desk waiting for the boss to be available so she can get some direction. She's bored out of her mind from reading the company manual. She's frustrated and anxious for this "know nothing" phase to be over because she's feels useless. She's used to being an expert who knows her stuff! 


Have you ever started a new job, been promoted to a new role, become a new parent or a retiree and felt the discomfort and challenge of starting anew? Being in transition isn't easy.  It requires letting go of the familiar and being willing to stumble, make mistakes, and wobble with grace on the way to walking in the shoes of a master.  

I love helping people make exciting and successful life transitions. We work together to find the strategies that make their transitions smoother and accelerate their ability to get what they want out of life. In my many years of helping hundreds of clients make successful career transitions, move into retirement and set and achieve their personal and professional goals, three important factors emerge for making smooth transitions:

• Recognize that you're in a transition phase. This time of not knowing doesn't last forever and it is an essential part of making a change. 
• You need a strategy that applies to your unique way of learning.
• You need to determine what it takes for you to feel productive, valued and good about yourself at the end of the day and how to get that satisfaction.

So how did Jan get moving forward? She had to recognize that the transition phase is about adjusting to something new so there's no use feeling bad about not being productive. We designed a strategy just for her that she could put into action right away.

Discovering that Jan learns by doing we found a way for her to create some tools, a process, a system, and some steps to accelerate her learning curve. Once she had a foundation -- a strategy and some tools -- she knew how to best gather the information she needed. Soon she regained her confidence and began taking the initiative, asking the smart questions that were needed so she could feel comfortable taking action. Her increased productivity made her feel useful again. 

Now Jan's on the fast track, impressing her employer, feeling motivated and enjoying the learning that she's engaged in. We discovered the key that unlocked her path for moving from the discomfort of transition into the exciting learning phase which is now leading her gracefully into the success phase of her work and life.  

Have you ever started a new job, phase of life, or transition? How did you master it? I'd love to hear your thoughts so please leave a comment.