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Five Ways to turn your Linked Invitations into Employer Magnets

Dumont — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:22:40 +0000

LinkedIn can offer rewarding professional networking opportunities…or not! What if you could maximize the responses to your invitations? Have you really hit all the bases? Let’s see.

Do you have an updated head shot? Not the one holding your new puppy or your latest vacation. Many people make this mistake. If you must show off that new pet or family updates, use a social networking site like Facebook. Your picture on LinkedIn must portray you as professional.
Do you have strong recommendations? Recommendations can make the difference between landing an interview or ending up in the reject pile. If you can’t get positive endorsements from past employers because they are out of business or aren’t likely to provide a positive recommendation, try to find one of your former colleagues who can make a recommendation. It is often useful to send the person who is providing the endorsement with a list of accomplishments you have made or a prewritten recommendation for their review and/or edits.
Does your LinkedIn profile inform an employer that you are actively seeking a job with their company? Recruiters are more likely to seek candidates who they know are interested in their organization.
Do you have too many connections on LinkedIn? Successful job seekers use LinkedIn to develop contacts. If your network is too big, how are you going to keep up with all of your contacts? It’s all about relationship building. You want to build contacts who will become champions for your candidacy.
Do you send generic LinkedIn invitations? Personalized outreach will make your invitations “pop”. Recruiters are more likely to respond to candidates whose invitations are personalized.

The lesson:

Take control of your LinkedIn profile and build it to create the contacts that can advance your career goals.

“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker

LinkedIn offers many advantages to the job seeker, but only if you know how to use it to develop your best list of contacts.

If you’d like to learn more about maximizing your connections on LinkedIn, please visit my website careerwindowsonline.com.

Opening windows to your career success,

Dumont

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

Certified Career Management Coach

Career Windows

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216-321-1268

Visit my website and receive my free e-zine, “Five Secrets to Career Success”, job search tips, news of upcoming events, and free bonuses.

The Little Penguin that Could: Helping Others in their Job Search Offers Benefits to All

Dumont — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:49:46 +0000

“Happy Feet”, the movie, stars a most unusual penguin named Mumble who was ostracized by his family and colony for not singing his “heart song”, the one unique only to him. Unable to sing a note, Mumble was born to express his “heart song” by tap-dancing, a completely unacceptable substitute for singing that according to one of the elders “Just ain’t Penguin”. In spite of it all, Mumble remained loyal to his own colony and others. He chose to place the needs of his fellow penguins above his own.

The colony was in crisis. Their food supply of fish had dried up, and the colony was in danger of perishing. Mumble’s tap dancing was blamed for the shortage. Mumble, not accepted by his peers, struck out on his own. During his travels, he met a colony of dancing penguins dedicated to a Guru who believed he had been abducted by aliens (humans), the same ones who were stealing all the fish. Motivated by loyalty to his home colony and his new found friends, Mumble lead a small band of fellow explorers to find the aliens and convince them to stop stealing their food supply.

The winter was bitter cold and the winds were ferocious. For every step forward, the little band seemed pushed back two. No matter how bad conditions were, Mumble was always there for his small band of followers to push or even carry them to reach their goal. Mumble helped his fellow adventurers by refusing to allow a single one to fail in reaching their destination.

The lesson:

Collegiality means caring about the success of others as well as yourself.

Has a protracted job search been grueling and discouraging? Are you experiencing low self-esteem and hopelessness about ever finding meaningful work that will express you own unique heart song? How would it feel if a fellow job seeker cared enough to reach out and encourage you when you see no end in sight? Burn- out is a challenge that most job seekers face everyday. Caring enough to help your colleagues stay motivated in today’s job shortage is a benefit to you both. Reaching out to others facing the same challenges may appear to hinder your own progress towards the career you most desire. The truth is just the opposite. Caring enough to encourage your fellow job seekers will help each of you maintain your job search momentum.

There are many ways to reach out and support others facing the same barriers to a fulfilling future. If you belong to a job search club, you can assist others by sharing job leads and tips to further their job campaign. Partnering with a job search buddy can motivate both of you to perservere in finding your own “heart song”, the one that will inspire you to “tap” your way to the career and lifestyle you so desire.

Collegiality doesn’t stop with the job search. Employers are more likely to advance the careers of employees who support and assist their team members to overcome challenges to the organization as a whole. An employee dedicated to helping his or her colleagues is a valuable imputus to the success of all.

Helping others is an act of kindness that can become a two way street. The more you care about the success others, the more they care about yours. The search for a meaningful career and lifestyle is a bit less disheartening with the help of caring friends.

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

~Dalai Lama

Stay tuned for further job search and career transition lessons from a penguin named Mumble including:

Multi-cultural communications connect
Loyalty is mutual
Recognize that different is wonderful
Risk-taking is growth
Blasting through barriers to your career goals

Opening windows to your career success,

Dumont

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

Certified Career Management Coach

Career Windows

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216-321-1268

Visit my website and receive my free e-zine, “Five Secrets to Career Success”, job search tips, news of upcoming events, and free bonuses.

The Little Penguin that Could: Lessons for Those Seeking to Manifest a Joyful Life and Career

Dumont — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:52:41 +0000

I just watched Happy Feet, a movie about a brave little penguin named Mumble who in the face of adversity chose to be true to himself… no matter if it meant ostracism from his family and colony. By being true to himself, he not only found the place where he belonged but against all odds became the hero of the story.

Mumble was born to a colony of penguins who believed that each penguin has his or her heart song. This is not a universal song but one that is housed in each penguin’s heart. Unfortunately for Mumble, he couldn’t sing a note. Instead, he literally came out of his egg tap dancing…his way of expressing his heart song.

One day, when the fish supply dwindled the elders blamed Mumble’s dancing for the famine. He was told to learn to sing or leave the colony. Mumble chose to leave the colony rather than betray his authentic self, the one filled with passion and joy. Against all odds, he chose to be true to himself and accepted exile over compromising the true Mumble …the one who lived to dance.

So what is the lesson here? Be true to Your Authentic Self – Have you ever taken a job that was a poor match for your personality, values, skills sets and passions? If so, how did you feel when you arose on Monday morning? If you dreaded going to work, it may be a signal the job is out of sync with your authentic self.

So how do you identify and remain true to your authentic self? You could start with a formal assessment of your strengths, values, personality factors and career orientation. Another method would be to write the story of your life. Look for any themes that give you insight into your authentic self.

If you are a regular follower of this blog, you know that I keep emphasizng the importance of remaining true to your authentic self. Authenticity is hard to fake so recruiters and hiring decision-makers will recognize it when they see it. Not knowing and remaining loyal to your authentic self can block your plans for a job search or career transition. If you don’t know who you are and what makes you tick, it will show up loud and clear in correspondence, networking and interviewing.

It takes courage to face your self (warts and all), but it can make all the difference in finding your heart song (or in Mumble’s case his heart dance).

“Courage is being afraid but going on anyhow.” ~Dan Rather

Stay tuned for further job search and career transitions lessons from the penguins including

Collegiality
Multi cultural communications
Loyalty
Recognizing that different is just different
Risk-taking
Blasting through the barriers that are hindering your success.

Register on my website and receive your free booklet, “Five Essential Secrets of Job Search Success” plus juicy tidbits, free offerings, previews and expert advice on how to achieve life/career success.

Opening Windows to Your Career Success,

Dumont

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

Certified Career Management Coach

Career Windows

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216-321-1268

What Have You Done Today to Advance Your Job Search or Career Transition?

Dumont — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 08:14:55 +0000

Each day of unemployment or underemployment can be an opportunity to make significant progress in your job search or career transition. Perhaps you are hesitant to make contacts with people you don’t know. Yet, we all know that networking online and in person is the main way that people succeed in reaching their career goals. Perhaps you don’t know or have the time to maintain your contacts. Yet, developing a relationship with your contacts produces champions for your candidacy for a new job, career, or opportunity for advancement.

Unemployment can lead to overwhelm. You may have lists upon lists of what you need to do. Wouldn’t is be cool if each day you could look back and say to yourself, I did the following and it feels really good? Would it seem less overwhelming if you could see progress every day? Of course it would.

So, where to start? Try breaking those endless lists into small pieces. Only include those action items that you think you can do in one day. If you can’t accomplish everything you had planned on your list today, ask yourself why. It may be something that is no longer important or it may be the action that you dread the most. If it’s no longer relevant, drop it off of your list. If it’s important but your dread is holding you back, try prioritizing the day’s list to make sure the most important items are addressed.

Breaking your list into smaller bites will document your progress and target you next actions. If something like family obligations prevents you from accomplishing your goals for today, move them to tomorrow. You don’t have to beat yourself up for not accomplishing every goal on your daily list, just move them to your next day’s action items. This way you will keep up your spirits and momentum and make meaningful progress each and every day.

You only have a limited time on this earth, so what are you going to do today to move you closer to your goals?

Opening Windows to Your Career Success,

Dumont

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

Certified Career Management Coach

Career Windows

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You should visit my website to download my free e-zine “5 Secrets to Job Search Success” and receive special offers, newsletters and more.

Difficult Interview Questions: Be Prepared with Your Best Answer

Dumont — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:08:00 +0000

Each interview is different but almost all will ask these questions in some form. This article describes five difficult questions that most interviewers will ask, along with sample answers to act as a guide.

Tell me about yourself.

I have extensive experience directing and revitalizing career centers. In my most recent job, I converted a part-time job listing service to a full academic internship program that increased internships by 35% contributing to an 85% placement rate of graduating seniors who found jobs in their majors.

Why should I hire you?

I have a history of over-delivering my personal services and those of my team. I’m a very strong team leader and inspire my work teams to produce their best results. For example: I started the career placement office for the FAMU/FSU College of Engineering. Since I had no staff, I organized and motivated the engineering societies to create a twice-yearly Career Fair. As a result we increased the numbers of employer participants by 33% in one year.

How important is Money to you?

It is necessary to maintain my family’s needs and quality of life, but I don’t make money the sole priority in my life. (This may lead to your next question.)

What are your salary requirements?

I’ve researched the range for salaries in this career field this position. One of the reasons I applied for this job is your reputation for fairness in benefits and compensation. I’m positive we can work something out that will be mutually satisfactory for everyone.

Tell me about the worst boss you ever had.

While I’ve gotten along with every boss I’ve ever held, there are some who taught me more that others did. I’ve learned how to work with many management styles but prefer to work in a collaborative environment.

There are many difficult questions and they vary by company and style. However, by anticipating and preparing for these questions prior to the interview you will be well equipped to answer them. Keep an eye out for more difficult questions and answers. If you have particular questions that you find difficult. Please let me know so that I can address them in future entries.

Find the path to the career of your dreams,

Dumont

Certified Career Management Coach

Career Windows

You should visit my website to down load my free e-zine “5 Secrets to Job Search Success” and receive special offers, newsletters and more.

Planning to Change Careers? The Time to Start is Now!

Dumont — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:30:39 +0000

Many people who want to transition from their current career to a new job or career field have put their plans on hold until the job market improves or after the holidays. The reality is that when the job market is down, the holidays are a great opportunity to prepare for the transition that best suits your passions, interests and skills sets. Many people are still working during this time at your targeted organizations: This is the perfect time to establish contacts.

The single most important aspect of a successful career transition is research – Research yourself, your career options and possible career paths that promote your goals.

Research yourself: Your passions, interests, values, personality, skills sets, and dependable strengths. These are the building blocks that make your unique. By knowing them and how to promote them effectively you will greatly improve your chances of success in reaching your goals.

Research your career options: For every career field, there are many occupations. It’s important to know all of the career or organizational environments in which you’ll thrive in order to identify suitable options when they appear. Research provides the information you need to establish clear career goals. Without clear goals and objectives you will become lost and confused about your progress. This is where a here a research librarian can become your new best friend.

Keep your boss in the loop. Provide a weekly report on the progress made by you and members of your team. These reports will be invaluable when internal or external positions develop. They are a good basis for demonstrating your achievements and pertinent skills for internal promotions or external positions and career fields.

Create a personal brand and marketing plan to promote yourself to future contacts, champions, and employers. Your personal brand is your basic marketing piece. It projects the very essence of who you are clearly and succinctly. It’s how people remember you and sets you apart from others.

Don’t go it alone. Have a support group of positive people. Don’t rely on your family, they have a dog in this fight and may not be able to be objective or positive. Find a group of like-minded people or establish a job search buddy.

Finally, this may be the best time to consult with a career coach who will keep you motivated, on track and accountable for your goals.

Find the path to the career of your dreams,

Dumont

Certified Career Management Coach

Career Windows

You should visit my website to down load my free e-zine “5 Secrets to Job Search Success” and receive special offers, newsletters and more.

Tips to Create a Compelling Resume that will Get You the Interview

Dumont — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 13:30:16 +0000

Boomers’ resumes have changed over the last two years. In the past experts advised including all of your qualifications on your resume as long as it included all of your relavent information. A better approach is to include them in an addendum, or your header or footer. An addendum may include: Testimonials, volunteer work, speaking engagements and awards. Another approach is to include them in your heading or footer.

Cover letters can’t make up for a poor resume. Historically only ½ to 1/3 of hiring managers ignore cover letters. Those recruiters who do read them, however, say they may promote the applicant’s candidacy. Be sure that you include the most the most important information on your resume in case your cover letter is stripped by employer software.

Conduct your due diligence. Research the companies, their competitors, challenges, and vendors. Include key words that will create a resume highlighting the solutions that you bring to their problems and challenges.

Be sure to follow up. I have a client who sends an email thanking each person involved in the interview and follows up with a personal card thanking them for their time and your continued interest in that position or any others that would meet your qualifications. Send out cards is an inexpensive line of cards all set to go. Note that paper is not dead. It only takes a few minutes to delete an email but sending a copy by snail mail has become rarer and more likely to be read. Remember that the purpose of a resume is to get an interview. Follow up is one of the keys to your success.

Google, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook have replaced traditional resumes. They’re cheaper to post and easy and less expensive ways to locate qualified candidates. Be sure to sprinkle key words in your online information. Remember that your goal is to develop relationships with the most potential to gain you an interview. Keep your list small enough that you can develop relationships with contacts who will become your champions.

Use these tips to get your resume noticed. They can be very effective in creating a compelling resume geared to a targeted employer, one that will get you the interview.

Opening Windows to your career success,

Dumont

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You should visit my website and download the “Five Secrets of Job Jearch Success” and receive tips, special offers, and events.

Professionals find networking the most effective job search tool

Dumont — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:15:12 +0000

National surveys identify networking as the single most effective strategy for professionals currently considering a career change. A recent Wall Street Journal stated that 95% of new hires are found through networking. Ninety percent of employers upload resumes and 90% use key word searches to source candidates. According to the Ohio Bureau of National Statistics for June, the unemployment rate for the greater Cleveland area was 9.2% while the national statistics for the U.S. were 9.3% .

OhioLM.com states that career security and success further empathize the importance of social online networking in today’s job market.

“To establish authority and be distinguishable outside of their organization. Most professionals still land their next job through who they know. Subsequently social networking can play a critical role by providing an “at your fingertips” method of networking more proficiently and aggressively with greater results in less time. Social networking tools can provide a way to establish a professional online presence that sets you apart from your competition by showcasing your skills and accomplishments. Social netowrking is an excellent way to link with other “like minded” people and get useful information and share useful information and advice. Research job search-help and you can identify employers and key contacts within companies you want to target and elevate your visibility as a viable candidate.

Entice potential opportunities by being more visible to recruiters and employers through having a powerful online profile. Stay relevant and up-to-date of industry trends through ready access to information and resources. Feel supported through the ups and downs of the job search.

Build a strong network by using a time efficient tool and broad pool of companies and individuals to help you land your next position.”

Most experts recommend LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter as the most common sites for networking, creating contacts and identifying new trends. It is essential that one knows how to use these tools effectively. LinkedIn is the most often used online tool used for professional job searches. There are many Cleveland based groups on LinkedIn that can provide a wealth of information on local trends and networking events. Your Facebook and Twitter are secondary sources that are also commonly used tools to identify and review potential employees.

In today’s job market online networking is an essential tool for creating contacts and turning them into champions for your candidacy. Recruiters will also use Google to check the candidate’s past activities and web presence. It is in the best interest of a job seeker to comb the Internet and clean up any negative information that might hinder their job search.

The bottom line is that candidates seeking jobs or career transitions cannot afford to ignore online resources. Candidates must create a compelling online presence that will attract and appeal to potential employers.

Opening Windows to your career success,

Dumont

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You should visit my website and download the “Five Secrets of Job Jearch Success” and receive tips, special offers, and events.

Five Tips to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Sizzle

Dumont — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:40:36 +0000

Savvy job seekers and career transitioners know that LinkedIn is an invaluable search tool for building a network of contacts. These are the contacts that will help you reach your goals by championing your candidacy and helping you identify and establish connections to the decision maker. Try the following approaches to make your profile more compelling for employers.

Add sizzle to your profile by personalizing your approach. When you send an invitation to an individual to join your list of contacts, make your invitation stand out. If you truly want to establish a relationship, include a personal message that tells them why you are contacting them. You are much more likely to get a positive response.
It’s not the size of your network that is important. Keep your list short enough to keep up with your contacts regularly and establish a relationship that will convert them to champions for your cause. Be sure to review their profiles and contact lists to ensure that you are targeting the people that can provide you with the leverage you need to reach your goal.
If you are seeking a new position and are worried about your current employer finding out or need to keep your profile private for personal reasons there are a number of ways to utilize LinkedIn without exposing your profile. You can enter your first name and last initial in your profile or alter the settings on your profile that limit visibility. Your profile is too valuable a tool for building the relationships you need to ignore it completely.
Don’t forget the power of groups. Often they are your first step to identifing and connecting with potential contacts. Once you are a member of a group, you can invite anyone in that group to join your list. Don’t forget to check company websites, also. They are often a gold mine for identifying contacts and possibly their e-mail adresses. If they are not in one of your groups, you can use your list of contacts to introduce you to individuals on their list. In this way, you can network to the right contacts for your purposes.
Make sure that your profile is 100% complete. It is not that difficult and will attract more attention.

LinkedIn is an essential tool if you are seeking to enter the job market or transition to a new career or position. To maximize its value, be sure to take the necessary steps to build a network of contacts that will be the champions you need to successfully reach your goal.

Opening Windows to your career success,

Dumont

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You should visit my website and download the “Five Secrets of Job Jearch Success” and receive tips, special offers, and events.

Overwhelmed by your Job Search or Life Goals? Five Tips for Keeping Yourself Motivated and on Track

Dumont — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:35:36 +0000

I know I’ve said this before, but perfectionism is the first cousin of procrastination. Nowhere do I see this more than in individuals trying to become the “perfect” candidate”. Guess what…there is no such thing as the “perfect candidate”. Trying to be perfect will only slow your plans and contribute to your feeling of being overwhelmed.

Committing to a lifestyle change can be overwhelming and usually boils down to fear:

Fear of failure
Fear of Success
Fear of Financial Loss
Fear of Being Useless
Fear of Rejection

…and on and on and on.

I had a client who had spent a year rewriting the same resume. It took several sessions before he realized that he had a fear of failure extending back to childhood. Together we were able to come up with a plan to keep him moving forward towards success and alleviate his self-inflicted stress. His productivity increased and his self-esteem skyrocketed.

So how do you deal with feeling stuck or overwhelmed? Try these five tips.

A lot of stress comes down to setting realistic goals and incorporating them in your daily routine. Assuming that you already have a to-do list, pick out the one item you most dread doing… that’s your first priority for the day. Once you’ve finished the activity that you most dread, the rest of your goals for that day will be a little easier to achieve. Wouldn’t it be cool to know that you’ve taken care of the activity you dread most? This makes the rest of your day far less stressful.
Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Many of us forget the personal things in life that give us meaning. It’s hard to be grateful when it seem like the roof is caving in. Try keeping a gratitude journal. Each day write down five things for which you are grateful. Spread the cheer. Develop the attitude of gratitude. You’ll quickly find that gratitude is its own reward. You’ll feel better yourself and your current situation. The cool thing is that the more you express gratitude to others, the better you’ll feel about yourself.
Define your daily goals. Be totally clear about what you want to accomplish and how you’ll know that you’ve met your goals. Keep your list manageable. I have a friend who has list after list. He was totally overwhelmed until he started each day by selecting the three most important goals for that day. Not only did he make faster progress, he built a sense of accomplishment by meeting his goals on a daily basis.
Stick to your plan. Focus on the goals you established for the day. What are your avoidance tactics? Grocery shopping? Picking up DVD’s at the library and doing laundry may be urgent but do they contribute to your daily goals?.
Celebrate your success each day. At the end of the day compare the list of items you accomplished that moved you towards your goals. Reward your progress by doing something special just for you. Practice your yoga, take a walk in the park, call a friend, read a chapter of that book sitting by your bed…whatever floats your boat. Just celebrate your progress (no matter how small). It will lift your spirits and reduce feelings of being stuck or inadequate.

Feeling overwhelmed by seemingly unsermountable odds is natural and to be expected. Break your goal down into manageable objectives each day…you’ll reduce the pressure to be perfect and feel better about your progress.

Opening Windows to your career success,

Dumont

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You should visit my website and download the “Five Secrets of Job Jearch Success” and receive tips, special offers, and events.

Professionals find Networking the Most Effective Job Search Tool

Dumont — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 17:25:58 +0000

Recent national surveys identify networking as the single most effective strategy for professionals currently considering a career change.

A recent Wall Street Journal stated that 95% of new hires are found through networking. Ninety percent of employers upload resumes and 90% use key word searches to source candidates. According to the Ohio Bureau of National Statistics for June, the unemployment rate for the greater Cleveland area was 8.8% (seasonally adjusted) and 9.2% (not seasonally adjusted) while the national statistics for the U.S. were 9.2% (seasonally adjusted) and 9.3% (not seasonally adjusted.)

A survey of Fortune 500 companies conducted by CareerXRoads 2010 reported similar hiring trends reporting that 26.7% of external hires come from referrals, 23% from employer career sites and 13.2% from job boards and other sources. OhioLM.com states that career security and success further empathize the importance of social online networking in today’s job market.

Provide a way to establish a professional online presence that sets you apart from your competition by showcasing your skills and accomplishments.
Be an excellent way to link with other “like minded” people and share useful information, advice and job search-information.
Help you identify employers and key contacts within companies you want to target and elevate your visibility as a viable candidate.
Entice potential opportunities by being more visible to recruiters and employers through having a powerful online profile.
Stay relevant and up-to-date on industry trends through ready access to information and resources.
Feel supported through the ups and downs of job search.
Build a strong network by using a time efficient tool and broad pool of companies and individuals to help you land your next position.”

Most experts recommend LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter as the most common sites for networking, creating contacts and identifying new trends. It is essential that one knows how to use these tools effectively. LinkedIn is the most often used online tool used for professional job searches. Facebook and Twitter are secondary sources that are also commonly used tools to identify and review potential employees.

Five Tips for Maintaining Your Job Search Momentum

Dumont — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:58:02 +0000

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when faced with a long term job search. Most job seekers experience times when their momentum fades or just plain disappears. This can bring on major stress, depression, anger and other negative emotions. Use any of the following practices and techniques to neutralize your negative emotions and maintain your job search momentum.

Start each week by breaking down your most important goal (or goals) for that week. List the most important actions (those that will move you closer to your goal). If you have a goal of contacting twenty individuals per week, break it down to four per day. It’s much less intimidating and leaves time to research each prospective employer.
Prioritize your list so that you’re always moving towards accomplishing your goals. Select the most important actions that will move you forward…these are your tasks for today. Toss out all of those items that aren’t really important to reaching your goals.
Evaluate your progress on a weekly basis. Stay on top of your search so that you can tell immediately if it starts to stall and take steps to get it back on track. Assess what is working – do more of it. Determine what isn’t working and revise your approach. If you are still stuck consider working with a career coach.
Get the monkey(s) off your back. Often it is easy to be distracted by other’s issues or requests for help. It is important to be generous with others but not at the sacrifice of accomplishing your own priorities. It is not selfish to take care of yourself first. You can’t be there for anyone else if you’re not there for yourself
Be persistent about achieving your goals but know when to let go. Often we have our hearts set on working for one particular employer, and we’re blown out of the water if we don’t succeed in securing our desired position. There is nothing wrong with continuing to follow up, but know when to let go. Continuing to cling to your “dream” employer can be an ego-deflating proposition and will drain your energy.

One size does not fit all when it comes to the best techniques for perpetuating your job search. Hopefully a few of these tips will keep you motivated when the job search process seems endless. For more tips on maintaining your job search momentum see my article “Five Tips for Maintaining Your Job Search Momentum” published on 2011/01/16.

Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author name credit.

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New Trends in Resumes

Dumont — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 19:02:59 +0000

The rules for writing resumes keep changing. It is of vital importance to keep up with the tools of your job search or career transition. The five tips listed below will make your resumes more compelling.

Keep it short. For a while three to four page resumes were in vogue, now the rules have changed. Do not go beyond one or two pages. Does this mean that you have to leave out essential information? NO! You still must include related qualifications, successes, deliverables, highlights, traits and more. To shorten your resume try smaller font (not below 11 points.) or take out bullets and write it as a paragraph. Try adding and addendum or if this is not possible, try to include them in your heading or footer.

It’s about them, not you. Do your due diligence and research the company. This will provide you with the necessary information to write a resume targeted towards the company’s challenges or problems. You can then emphasize the solutions that you bring to the table.

Paper resumes are still around and becoming more important. In large part job candidates apply online. I have a client who always applies online, and then sends a paper copy by snail mail. Most recruiters are used to e-mail messages. A paper resume has become a novelty. My client also uses this same tactic by sending them an e-mail thank you note followed by a paper copy using “Send Out Cards.” This “double up” approach indicates that you will go the extra mile… not to mention putting your name in front of them again.

Core Competencies return. Placing a “Core Competencies” section had gone out of style with many applicants. This is partially due to the 140 characters mindset that keeps everything succinct. Listing core competencies helps recruiters evaluate whether to keep reading or file your application in the “circular file”. Plus it is helpful for keyword searches.

Cover letters will not overcome poorly crafted resumes. Studies have shown over and over again that only one-third to one-half of cover letters are ever read. It is of vital importance then that resumes are designed to stand-alone. They must have the most critical and compelling information placed above the fold (As in a newspaper format). Those recruiters who read cover letters usually report that they are helpful in sourcing candidates.

So there is! Follow these few rules and increase you chances of gaining and interview. {Career Thought Leaders, http://www.careerthoughtLeaders.}

Visit my website to down load my free e-zine “5 Secrets to Job Search Success” and receive special offers, newsletters and more. I offer free consultations to define your goals and create the plan to propel you to success in you career and life success!

Opening Windows to your career success,

Dumont

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Five Effects of Long Term Unemployment You Can Control

Dumont — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 09:58:40 +0000

Long-term unemployment often results in negative emotions that can hinder your job search. Recognizing these self-defeating thoughts is the first step to countering their effects.

1. Anger and Frustration: You may be angry at your former employer or frustrated about your job search. This is natural but won’t help you find a job. You must be careful to not reveal your anger in the form of criticism about your last employer. It will only raise suspicion that you will carry your frustration into your next job or express anger that will undermine your performance and those of future colleagues.

2. Depression: Many job seekers experience some depression during a long-term job search. Depression ranges from mild to crippling. Mild depression is common. Associating with positive acquaintances, exercising or finding a job search partner can reduce depression. If, however, it is hindering your ability to function, you may need to see a mental health professional.

3. Low self-esteem: An extended job search often results in loss of self- esteem. Concentrate on your many talents and accomplishments or review your resume to remind yourself that you have a lot to offer your future employer.

4. Perfectionism: Perfectionism can lead to procrastination. The truth is that not everything needs to be perfect to start or continue your job search. Attention to details is necessary for effective correspondence. Do the very best you can with each step of your search then move on to the next task on your list.

5. Loss of motivation: You must stay motivated even in the face of adversity. Everyone hits the wall occasionally. When this happens, take a break to refresh, but don’t get settled. Tenacity is the key to success.

So, remember that there are many effects of Long Term Unemployment that are out of your control. Control the Ones You Can: Counter those negative emotions with positive Emotions.

Dumont

Certified Career Management Coach Career Windows

dumontowen@careerwindowsonline

Opening Windows to your career success,

Opening Windows to Your Career Success!

Dumont

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D
Career Windows
careerwindowsonline.com
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Cleveland, OH

Create a compelling resume, Tailor it for the Job You Want

Dumont — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 08:28:10 +0000

Pop Quiz:

What is the sole function of resume?
To get an interview.
How many resumes do you need? You need to tailor each resume for each position. The effectiveness of a resume is how well it meets the organization’s purpose and make it very clear how hiring you might best be for the employer. Creating one way to cover many situations is a thing of the past. It takes a long time to create an individual resume but is definitely more effective.
What are the elements of common of compelling resumes? Contact Information, A summary statement of accomplishments, Work-related skill sets, Accomplishments, Key words, Employment History, Education, Dates employed and the required Skills sets for the position.

The Chronological resume starts with the most recent work experience and education in reverse. Usually it includes the most recent dates of employment and education. It is best suited for new graduates.

Experienced professionals or those with spotty and/or unrelated experience most often use the functional resume. They are often advantageous for showcasing the experienced professional who has gained the skills and wisdom to provided solutions to company challenges and tomorrow’s leaders. Remember: It’s not about writing a resume: It’s about tailoring it to the employers problems and challenges.

Dumont Certified Career Management Coach Career Windows

Dr. Owen’s passion is to inspire experienced professionals to realize their unique passions and qualifications, and provide them with strength, resources, and strategies to achieve their job search or career transition. She has extensive experience helping individuals actualize their career/life dreams in the higher education, nonprofit and for profit sectors. She is dedicated to personal authenticity and work-life balance. She has helped hundreds of individuals discover and actualize their ideal careers by guiding them through the career transition process and job search campaign. People describe her as empathetic, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, authentic, centered, and dedicated to helping others achieve personal fulfillment in life and work. With PhD in Higher Education and an MS in Counseling from The Florida University, She has served on the boards of several national Career Development Organizations, presented nationally, and been recognized for her innovative approach to collaboration and partnerships that serve her clients.

You should visit my website to down load my free e-zine “5 Secrets to Job Search Success” and receive special offers, newsletters and more. E-mail me for a free consultation on how we can work together to ensure and propel you to career success! Opening Windows to your career success. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2010 Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author name credit.

Five Sure Fire Ways to Manifest Success In Your Career

Dumont — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 08:11:11 +0000

*Many of you are working extremely hard to reach your career goals with little success. Maybe this is the time to try another approach. Try some of these powerful ways to manifest success in your career goals.

Define your ideal career. Visualize each detail: What are you doing? In what setting? Who would you work with? Is it consistent with your passions? Often professionals such as athletes improve their performance by the use of visualization.
Attract the results you most desire. According to the Law of Attraction, if you are observant, committed and have faith in the results you want, you will manifest what you desire in your life. The more you focus on what you want and only what you want, the means to gain your desired results will follow.
Take time each day to reduce stress: Meditation, yoga, deep conscious breathing, exercise or reading a good book. All are good methods for reducing stress related to your job search or career transition.
Recognize and celebrate your unique strengths and talents every day. Promote them to contacts and champions for you career goals. If you have difficulty identifying your strengths and talents, write your career story: Look for similarities in your past accomplishments to laser in on your assets.
Embrace an attitude of gratitude. Thank your higher power for your blessings. The more you are grateful for the gifts in your life, the more you will manifest the career opportunities you most seek. Recognizing and appreciating your life’s blessings is a powerful force for attracting more blessings.

Celebrate yourself, your present life and the life yet to come.

Dumont

Certified Career Management Coach

Career Windows

Career Thought Leads Consortium*

She has extensive experience helping individuals actualize their career/life dreams in the higher education, nonprofit and for profit sectors. She is dedicated to personal authenticity and work-life balance. She has helped hundreds of individuals discover and actualize their ideal careers by guiding them through the career transition process and job search campaign. People describe her as empathetic, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, authentic, centered, and dedicated to helping others achieve personal fulfillment in life and work.

With PhD in Higher Education and an MS in Counseling from The Florida University, She has served on the boards of several national Career Development Organizations, presented nationally, and been recognized for her innovative approach to collaboration and partnerships that serve her clients.

Is Change Making you Feel Hopeless About Your Career Goals?

Dumont — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:24:32 +0000

Did you hear the one about the two men who met on a park bench? The first man asked the second man, “How are you today?” To this the second man answered, “Things are terrible. I lost my job, my house and I’m living out of my car.” “Don’t worry,” said the first man, “change is inevitable.”

A year later, the same two men met on the same park bench. The first man asked the second man, “How are you today”? To this, the second answered, “Everything is great. I found a new job that I love, I married the woman of my dreams, and we just bought a new house.” “Don’t worry”, said the first man, “change is inevitable.”

We are in the midst of discouraging times. Today many of us are out of work, underemployed or postponing career transitions for extended periods of time. Like the second man, many of us are experiencing discouragement, loss of self-esteem and even despair. Out-dated skills coupled with lack of funds to retrain for a new occupation raise further barriers to achieving our goals. All of this can create a sense of hopelessness.

These are real problems, and may affect our lives for many years. For the young who have worked so hard for the “golden degree” they dash hopes for a sparkling future. For the mid-to late age careerist it crushes plans for continued careers or retirement.

Even impossible goals can be realized. It may be hard; and it may require a lot of sacrifice and resourcefulness. But it can happen.

One of my most vivid memories is of my father telling me about watching out the window as this parents pulled away from their ancestral home, lost to foreclosure after losing their business. In order to survive they became migrant workers until they purchased a small house in Amarillo, Texas.

One day a barnstormer came to town. My father and his younger brother talked the pilot into taking them up for a ride in exchange for turning the tail of the plane. The pilot agreed, and it was a winning arrangement for them all. The pilot increased his customers by not having to turn the plane around, and my father and uncle had their first experience with flying. At this point in time, my father, who had no chance of becoming a pilot, knew he was born to fly.

My father was advised to enter the army and try to get into flight school. Even then, pilots were required to have a college degree; but war was breaking out and more pilots would be needed. He enlisted in the army, and after one year he convinced his commanding officer to recommend him for flight school.

The impossible had become possible; but he had to make it happen.

Change is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be hopeless. You can use this time wisely to create strategies and execute a plan to realize a new dream. You can accomplish your goals, but you have commit to doing whatever it takes to get you where you want to go.

Find the path to the career of your dreams,

Dumont

Certified Career Management Coach

Career Windows

You should visit my website to down load my free e-zine “5 Secrets to Job Search Success” and receive special offers, newsletters and more.

E-mail me for a free consultation on how we can work together to ensure and propel you to career success!

Opening Windows to your career success.

Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author name credit.

Planning to Change Careers? The Time to Start is Now

Dumont — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 15:05:10 +0000

Many people who want to transition from their current career to a new job or career field have put their plans on hold until the job market improves. The reality is that when the job market is down it provides a great opportunity to prepare for the transition that better suits your passions, interests and skills sets.

The single most important aspect of a successful career transition is: Research – about yourself, your career options and possible career paths that promote your goals.

Research about yourself. Your passions, interests, values, personality, skills sets, and dependable strengths. These are the building blocks that make you unique. By knowing them and how to promote them effectively you will greatly improve your chances of success in reaching your goals.
Research your career options: For every occupation, there are related occupations. It’s important to know all of the occupations or organizational environments in which you’ll thrive in order to identify suitable options when they appear.
Research provides the information you need to establish clear career goals. Without out clear goals and objectives you will become lost and confused about your progress.

Network (carefully) with internal and external people who can be contacts or better yet, champions for your cause when the time comes. The time to develop those contacts and turn them into champions is now.

Don’t go it alone. Have a support group of positive people. Don’t rely on your family, they have a dog in this fight and may not be able to be objective or positive.

Finally, this may be the best time to consult with a career coach who will keep you motivated, on track and accountable for your goals.

Find the path to the career of your dreams,

Dumont

Certified Career Management Coach

Career Windows

You should visit my website to down load my free e-zine “5 Secrets to Job Search Success” and receive special offers, newsletters and more.

E-mail me for a free consultation on how we can work together to ensure and propel you to career success!

Opening Windows to your career success.

Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author name credit.

UNEMPLOYED? BE A GREAT CLOSER AND WIN THE JOB

Dumont — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:37:19 +0000

When I was directing a career center, one of the most common complaints I heard from recruiters was that the candidate did not appear interested in the position and didn’t ask for the position.

A true story: When I was recruiting we had an opening for a secretary for our department. I wasn’t all that impressed with her qualifications from the way she answered my questions. At the end of the interview, I asked if there was anything I hadn’t asked that she’d like to add. I’m so glad I did.

I would have rejected her because of her lack of activities. We were looking for someone who could handle a high workload and deal well with (sometimes difficult) clients on a regular basis. She had a 3.2 GPA but was not involved in any activities on campus.

She went on to tell me that she had grown up in poverty and was the first member of her family to attend college. She had worked her way through school, and she lived at home to save money. It was difficult for her to participate in activities that usually occurred at night when she had to work. She spent all of her time working or studying and had a strong work ethic that had not come through during the interview. She closed with the statement that she was very impressed with the organition and would love to work there.

She convinced me that she was right for the job and converted me from a “doubting Thomas” to a champion for her cause. I lobbied for her to the other members of the team. She got the job!

Many candidates don’t take advantage of the opportunity to improve their candidacy because they don’t want to seem too eager. On the contrary, be a strong closer. If the recruiter doesn’t ask you if you have something to add , ask if you could add a few words about your qualifications. Use this time wisely. Be a good closer by letting them know that you’re really interested in the company and job. Emphasize this again in your thank you letter.

So, be a great closer and win the interview.

Enthusiastically yours,

Dumont

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

Certified Career Management Coach

Career Windows

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216-321-1268

Dr. Dumont Gerken Owen is a seasoned career coach who is passionate about coaching clients who are actively seeking employment or transitioning to a new career. Drawing on her extensive experience in both Career Development and Human Resources, she has helped hundreds of job seekers achieve their professional goals.

She brings two decades of consulting and coaching within the higher education community. Dumont’s accomplishments include being cited in Who’s Who in technology (Education Category) three years in a row by Crain’s Cleveland Business Online, Cited by the Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education for co-founding the Northeast Ohio Career Consortium

Dr. Owen provides customized services designed around the client’ goals. She provides the knowledge, motivation, and strategies to help clients define their goals, identify and promote their unique value, create and implement strategies for success and overcome the barriers and stress blocking their success.

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Is FEAR Derailing Your Job Search?

Dumont — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 17:52:57 +0000

FEAR is often defined as False Expectations Appearing Real. Many of or our greatest fears are self imposed. Fear comes with many different faces. Many of them are unrecognized until an event triggers a reaction: Unemployment is one of those emotional triggers.

I have a client whose has been the primary breadwinner for the home for many years. Now that he’s been unemployed for two years, he is expressing fear over losing his house. Further probing revealed that although he had never even been late on a mortgage payment he had been obsessed with losing his house for years. Unemployment was just the trigger!

Common Fears associated with unemployment include:

Loss of home
Loss of savings
Loss of Reputation/Prestige
Loneliness
Loss of spouse/or insignificant other
Loss of friends
Loss of self-confidence
Hopelessness
Depression
Loss of life style

Many of the above associated fears are realistic. In many of losses like depression most coaches are not licensed psychologist. In these cases the client may want to consult a licensed professional.

Many of these fears, however, are self-imposed, but they feel real. There are several ways to deal with self-imposed fear to deal with the job searrh.

Label the fear – you can’t overcome fear if you don’t what is causing it.
Deal with what you fear by limiting the amount you are allowed to worry each day.
Live one day at a time. Don’t obsess over your past or future. Live for today.
Take a break every time the fear arises and do something else important but not as urgent.
Call a supportive friend or colleague
Consult a career coach to help you deal with your fears and guide your through the job search.

Fear can derail your job search. Dealing with real or imagined fears associated with your job search releases you to concentrate on your job search. Deal with your fears and improve your candidacy by eliminating fear as a barrier in your job search that can be over come.

Dr. Owen brings two decades of consulting and coaching within the higher education community. Dumont’s accomplishments include being cited in Who’s Who in technology (Education Category) three years in a row by Crain’s Cleveland Business Online. Cited by the Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education for co-founding the Northeast Ohio Career Consortium

Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author name credit.

Temp Your Way to a Permanent Job

Dumont — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 09:28:15 +0000

One of my clients who is job searching suggested this topic. According to a recent article by KForce, Inc. seventy to eighty percent of companies hire temporary employees, and recruiters say 87.5% of their placements are from temp positions.

Having had both “temp” and “permanent” assignments, here, are the “nuggets he has discovered.

The upsides of Temping:

It is easier to get a temp job because the employer is looking for a candidate is not going to need a long learning curve. You must be able to pretty much “hit the ground running”.
The wage salary is usually better for a temp than a permanent employee, but the benefits are minimal to non-existent.
Temping is a great way to network. Often temping is a great way to network and can lead to a permanent job.
If the work situation is not a good fit, This gives you a chance to evaluate if this is the employer for you.
If you like variety, It can be neat in itself going from job to job.

The Downsides of Temping:

Job security is a myth. All of us can be let go at any minute. Temping agencies are springing up for experienced personals. Often these Temping agencies are often the first step to a permanent job.
Benefits run from minimal to non-existent.
While you can become well-known for the quality of your work through temping, you can also be interpreted as job-hopping making it difficult to move from temping to a permanent job.
When temping and, therefore, changing jobs frequently after each assignment ends, you are dependent on good recommendations from your previous employers and fellow employees for getting another job. When temping use this is an opportunity to gather references.
Employers often look at profiles on” On LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and other online tools. Do not post a profile that presents all of your employment goals. Try to work them into one description. “Published Author with Special interest in Antique Cars, history and desk top publishing.” Ask each temp employer for a recommendation.
If after accepting a temporary job. The wage salary is usually better for a temp than a permanent employee, but benefits are search. Temping is a great way to network yourself to the decision maker.
You may be able to learn about job opportunities before they are advertise to the general public. Most jobs never get published.
If the work situation is not a good fit, you’ll know it.

Take a look at the above at the temping situations and decide whether they will help or hinder your job search. For some people it can lead to variety in work situations for others a permanent job.

Is your Career Marketing Plan Working for you? Reach out and touch someone!

Dumont — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:43:55 +0000

The Marketing Industry has long recognized the importance of “Touches.” Touches are the number of contacts with an individual needed to “make a sale.” When it comes to job searches or career transitions, “touches” are the number of contacts per individual to convert them to a supporter or champion for your cause.

How Many Touches are Necessary?

Recommendations for the number of required touches range from six to sixteen per prospect. So plan at least six “touches” per contact. Why? The better your contact knows you, the better the chance of developing his or her support.

To demonstrate, let’s look at two common networking activities and how you can increase their effectiveness by converting contacts to supporters or champions using the “touch” system.

Networking events can be one of the most productive opportunities to meet and establish new contacts. They offer (at least) five chances to “pump up” the power of your contacts:

Research and make a list of three to four people you want to meet, send them an e-mail prior to the event to let them know you are looking forward to meeting them. (1 touch)
Seek them out at the event and use what you’ve learned through your research to strike up a conversation that establishes a common bond. (1 touch)
After the event send them an e-mail to express your pleasure in meeting them. Note something in particular from the conversation that you enjoyed or gained from the conversation. (1 touch)
Make yourself memorable by e-mailing a thank you or a request for a contact on LinkedIn. Deepen your bond by sending a card to follow up. (2 touches)

TOTAL TOUCHES: 5

Information Interviewing is a great second opportunity for deepening contacts.

Once again, you start by researching your potential contact.

Armed with this important information, you are ready to

Warm up your potential contact before you request a meeting or call. Send a brief e-mail or card to introduce your self and mention something you have in common that you found through your research. (1 touch)
Send a follow-up e-mail with an article or some other item of interest you think they might enjoy (1 touch.)
Request an information interview (1 touch))
Ask your new supporter for referrals to two other people who might be helpful as sources of information or referrals. Follow-up with a “thank you” email and “snail mail to your referring contact (2 touches)
Stay connected to each of your contacts every month or two to update them on your search and progress. (1 – or more touches)

TOTAL TOUCHES: (6 or more)

Now you have two examples of how the touch system can be used to convert your contacts to “raving fans.” We each encounter many opportunities for meeting new people every day. The key is to develop those contacts into people that will support you and promote your candidacy. The “touch” system requires a significant investment of time, but it will increase your return on investment whether you’re engaged in a job search or planning a career transition.

Three Tips for Conquering Job Search Overwhelm

Dumont — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 21:30:03 +0000

Control the things you can. Quit obsessing over the bad news. Yes, the economy is a mess, the job market has gone underground, and opportunities in your field are limited.

These are things you cannot control: Now here are a few things you can.

You can control your reactions…the job search has been described as a series of rejections followed by a Yes! Don’t give up before you reap the rewards.
You can control the ROI on your investments of time and effort by crafting a personal brand and marketing campaign.
You can choose to expand your job search by opening yourself to opportunities in other fields, industries, or locations

Find you Gremlin and “and kick it’s little butt! Your Gremlin is that little guy who whispers all of those ego-deflating “words of wisdom” in your ear. You’ve heard his messages. “What makes you think you can get a job in this market?” “You’ve been unemployed for over a year…why even bother? “ “You’re too old. Nobody will hire you.”

Give your Gremlin the boot! Replace those negative messages with positive affirmations:

I can get a job in this market; I can be the best-prepared candidate in the pack. Better yet, I can be the best candidate before the competition even knows there’s a job to be had.

Being unemployed for over a year is not a stigma in this job market. I can use this time to brush up on my skills, or keep them current by taking courses, keeping up on my professional reading, and participating in professional associations
Ageism is a fact, but I can learn the underlying concerns of employers and counteract them. Better yet, I can present the “advantages” the employer will gain because of my experience. My generation has the “soft” skills that employers consistently rate as the top qualities they seek in employees.

Home alone? Isolation only creates more Isolation.

In times of stress, many of us choose to self-isolate. This is not a good idea. If you’re depressed, you’re not going to feel any better by hanging out with yourself. Try some of these tips.

Make time for connecting with others.
Join a job search group.
Take your laptop and work at the coffee shop or bookstore, take a yoga class or go to the gym.
Choose your friends carefully… look for people with a positive outlook. People who will inspire you to keep going..
Find a job search buddy and meet for breakfast. Just connect!

These are just a few of the actions you can take to get unstuck. Remember that even in the worst job markets, the best-prepared candidates still find jobs.

Expect the Unexpected: The Best Job Seeking Advice I Ever Received

Dumont — Mon, 30 May 2011 10:57:51 +0000

In past articles I have evangelized the necessity of being the best prepared candidate to land the job. The second requirement of job search success is to “Expect the Unexpected.” While preparing for your interview, be sure to include self-knowledge in your arsenal of job search tools. Knowing your unique interests, talents, passions and goals will help you think on your feet when faced with an unanticipated question or situation.

OK, this is kind of embarrassing but my first professional interview was a total surprise. Imagine walking into a room expecting to interview with one person and finding twelve people sitting around the table. I thought I was pretty well prepared for an interview, but with twelve people? My first instinct was to turn and run. Then I remembered what my mentor had always told me, “Expect the Unexpected”. This was probably the best job seeking advice I ever had.

I had really prepared for this interview. I was competing with three other candidates for two residencies in the State of Florida. The competition was tough. Some of the other candidates had higher GPA’s, more campus activities and work histories that were more impressive than working at Pizza Hut. So how on earth did I get the job?

It turns out that I was applying to an institution in a small town with not much entertainment. One of the main attributes they were seeking was a person with the ability to create a support network and fit into the culture of the location. I suddenly had to switch gears and concentrate on my passions, avocations and interests. I landed the job, because I had learned from my mentor (Thanks Ted) to always “Expect the Unexpected”. We had concentrated on my avocational as well as my vocational attributes and interests. When it came down to it, I was ready for the unexpected . I really was the best prepared candidate... self-knowlege was the clencher.

Remember:

Rule 1: Be the Best Prepared Candidate

Rule 2. Expect the Unexpected.

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

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Visit my website and blog, to download a free copy of “Five Secrets to Job Search Success” and receive juicy career tips and free offers.

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New posts will be suspended until May 30. please check back then.

Dumont — Tue, 24 May 2011 22:39:26 +0000

Due to personal circumstances: New posts will be suspended until May. Please check back then.

Thank you.

Networkers: Toss the Golden Rule & Achieve Your Career Goals

Dumont — Wed, 04 May 2011 21:57:27 +0000

Networking is the major way that most jobseekers or career-transitioners find new jobs or careers. It is also a daunting task for many of us. Especially if, like me, you’re an introvert and meeting new people is intimidating. This is also a great way for extraverts to demonstrate a better understanding of the person with whom they are talking.

We’re all familiar with the golden rule: ‘’Do under others as you would have them do unto you.’’

The Platinum Rule: ”Do under others as they would like to be treated” is invaluable for successful networking. It provides clues on the best approach to use with new acquaintances. What one person considers rewards and motivators may not be of value at all to another individual. Knowing how others would like to be treated can be “the beginning of a beautiful friendship”, but not if you don’t you know how others like to be treated. So how to you know how others want to be treated? The two suggestions below may prove to be a good place to start.

Ask them point blank. What keeps you motivated in your job? What are your favorite job-related activities? Your least? Do you have strengths that are not being recognized or utilized in this profession? How do you like to be rewarded for your efforts?

For example, I attend a lot of networking events. Knowing that I am not a natural networker, these methods help me identify and establish contacts when promoting appropriate clients to employers. Knowing what motivates them provides me with valuable information about how to coach clients to network with this individual for greatest results.

The Platinum Rule requires both nonverbal and verbal skills Effective use of this rule will assist you with making new contacts and gathering new leads and information. The first step is to devote your entire attention to the person with whom you are talking. Focus on the nonverbal clues they project. Are they distracted, smiling, nodding their heads? These are all nonverbal clues about how to engage them in a productive conversation.

Ask open-ended questions that will extract the verbal clues you meet to determine how they like to be treated. This will provide you with valuable information that you can use to maximize the effectiveness of your job search.

Remember: The Golden Rule is important, but the Platinum Goad maximizes your chances of reaching your goal.

Enthusiastically yours,

Dumont

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

Certified Career Management Coach

Career Windows

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216-321-1268

Visit my website and blog, to download a free copy of “Five Secrets to Job Search Success” and receive juicy career tips and free offers.

Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author name credit.

Even In the Worst of Times the Best prepared Candidates Still Get Jobs

Dumont — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:00:26 +0000

How is it that even when the times get really tough in the job market, there are always individuals who find jobs. Are they smarter than you? Too young, too old? Better qualified, cheaper or are they the best-prepared candidate out of the applicant pool?

So how can you become the employer’s best of the best?

Work harder and smarter than your competitors

The average advice is to spend twenty hours per week for a part-time job and 40 hours a week for a full-time job. It’s best to treat it like a job and schedule your workweek and goals. Don’t forget to schedule some relaxation: You don’t want to wear yourself out.
Still you can make your work easier and save time by creating a well-organized “tool kit” that contains all of the information you will need: sample cover letter, resume, references, a computerized system to track your activities with contacts, copies of transcripts, thank you notes, etc. This will save a lot of time as you fill out on-line applications and resumes.

Research (I know I keep hounding on this, but it’s an essential element of a successful job search.) So what to you need to know?

Know yourself – Personality, skills sets, career interests and values. A self-examined individual projects authenticity. Authenticy can’t be faked, so employers are more responsive to those who present an authentic image. Job seekers who need help identifying their authentic selves can benefit from assessments with a qualified career professional.
Know your target. You must be clear about your targeted occupational field or industry and the company to which you are applying.
It is important to demonstrate that you are up to date on current and future developments in the industry and the challenges faced by the employer. This sounds like a lot of work and it is. Successful applicants, however, report that they spend an average of four hours preparing for an interview. As time goes by, you’ll find that your research will take less time as you learn about your targeted field or industry.
One question in every recruiters mind will come up in some form in the interview: “Why do you want to work for us?” Be prepared. This is your chance to demonstrate all of that research you conducted and suggest solutions, show your understanding of current practices and trends and ask questions that illustrate your extra preparation.
Make your research librarian you new best friend. They are more than eager to help with research projects.

Now go back and look at the title of this article again. Remember, you can be the applicant who gets the job….if you do your homework.

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

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Is Your Curb Appeal Losing you Job Offers?

Dumont — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 14:58:31 +0000

Are you dressed appropriately? No not your Sunday best, dress for the job you want.
Do you arrive a few minutes early (but not too early?) It’s important to arrive a few minutes early: It gives you time to freshen up and boost your curb appeal. Showing up too early may make you look desperate.
Are you friendly to everyone you encounter? From the receptionist to the hiring decision-maker, they may all be asked for their opinions.
Do you respond to the recruiter’s greeting reflecting his or her style of communication? Take the recruiter’s lead. If he doesn’t shake your hand and use your first name, do the same. If he starts with a handshake and addresses you by your first name, follow his lead.
Are you wearing a big smile? A smile can make a great impression on all you meet. Use it liberally.

That’s curb appeal!

Curb appeal as applied to the job search is often referred to as the “Halo Effect.” Research reveals that many recruiters make the decision about a candidate during the first thirty seconds of their initial meeting. That’s how important it is to stand out by creating a professional and inviting presence from the start. The “likeability” factor is real. Put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes. When confronted with two candidates with equal qualifications but one seems more likable and fits the corporate image better than the other, who would you choose?

Think about it.

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

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Pop Quiz: Do You Know How to Create an Electronic Resume?

Dumont — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 11:00:34 +0000

Many employers require electronic applications. The following quiz will help you measure your strategy for preparation for this this type of resume.

Is you name and how to reach you at the top of your resume?
Is it printed on only one side?
Have you used a common type font: Helvetica, New York Times or Courier?
Have you used white or light paper?
Does each section start with a bold font. Do you avoid underlining, or italics?
Is your font between 10 and 14?
Do you avoid stapling or folding your resume?
Do you use you use single spacing except between sections on your resume?
Have you included key words (but not too many) for the position, occupation, industry or company?
Does your resume included a summary statement, a skills summary or accomplishments summary?

If you answered “yes” to most of the answers above… Congratulations! If you answered “no”, then you need to check your resume to create it for an electronic format.

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

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Discouraged by Unemployment? Blast Your Inner Gremlin!

Dumont — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 12:00:50 +0000

What is a Gremlin? He or she is the one that whispers negative messages in your ear: “You’re too old, your skills are out of date, why would anyone hire you, you’ll never find a job. Old dogs can’t learn new tricks. Employers only want direct experience in the position or industry and don’t recognize the value of transferrable skills.”

When does the gremlin appear? Usually at the worst time possible. You’ve just been layed off, fired or resigned. You’ve been out of work far longer than you ever anticipated. Your retirement savings are shrinking or you’re worried about your future financial state.

How your gremlin manifests itself: The gremlin’s role is to discourage you during your job search, career transition or career success. Some signs that your gremlin is at work are: Free floating anxiety, depression, anger and resentment, self-isolation, substance abuse, and hopelessness.

The role of faith: The gremlin can reduce your faith in yourself. Many individuals find relief by turning their worries over to their Higher Power. As an example, I write down every worry I have and put it in a jar that I turn over to my higher power each day. (This works for me, but is not intended as clinical advice.)

The Gremlin is a great de-motivator. Counter it by surrounding yourself with a support network (people who are really and consistently in your corner), self-affirmations or other stress-relief methods such as Emotional Freedom Techniques.

The gremlin can bring your job search to a screeching stop. Kick that little devil to the curb! Turn to stress relief techniques, your higher power or build a support network. Remember, When the gremlin is in control, you’re not.

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

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Women Job Seeking Squirrels: An Apology

Dumont — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:00:25 +0000

I recently posted an article entitled “Are you as Courageous as a Baby Squirrel”? Many readers sent in very thoughtful and informative comments. The most thought provoking comment was from a man who asked, “Whoever said the squirrel was male”? Uh Oh.

Memo to Dumont: Hey, Dumont, stop making assumptions, period! Moreover, don’t pass them on unless you’ve checked your “facts”.

The fact is that I have no idea whether the squirrel was female or male. (I don’t think he or she would have let me close enough to determine gender attributes.) The point is that I am guilty of making assumptions that have become embedded in our culture. They are so insidious and persistent that we tend not to notice that they have become part of our psyche.

As a career coach, I am committed to improving others’ lives. How can I do that if I have made assumptions about them before even hearing their story? There are many before me who have been trailblazers in enlightening us about gender discrimination. The only thing I know for sure of is that this comment on my article stopped me dead in my tracks. It’s a lesson to me and hopefully for my sisters and brothers who seek equality for all.

P.S.

To all of my sisters. Don’t perpetuate false assumptions. Take a few moments to consider whether you are subconsciously buying into the systemic stereotypes imbedded in our culture. Without doubt, there has been much progress…but the work is not over. Until there is parity among the rates of hires, opportunities for promotions, salaries and mentoring our work is not done.

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

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Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

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Know the Rules of Correspondence and Land the Job

Dumont — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:03:43 +0000

To build an effective job search, you will need to master the art of business correspondence. The tips below are good guidelines.

General Rules of Correspondence

Address it to a specific person. Do not start with Dear Sir of Madam. For example, If I can’t find a name, I start out by stating that my experience and skills are a perfect match for the position.
Consider snail mail. Even if your use a follow up e-mail, this second step will make you stand out. If you’re like me and can’t read your own writing. Type your letter and put it in an interesting but appropriate card, or use a service like Send Out Cards.
Use active, not passive voice. It creates the impression that you are action-oriented. For example, if I say “My specialty is career coaching,” I’m using passive tense. But if I say, “I specialize in career coaching.” It’s more action oriented with “specialize” used as an action verb.
Proofread and edit. Read it forwards, backwards and out loud. Have it proofed by friend.
Divide your letter into three sections: Introduction, middle paragraph and conclusion.
An introduction is usually 1-2 sentences long. Tell them why you’re writing and if you were referred. A middle paragraph is usually 2-3 sentences. (What is included depends on the type of letter.)
A conclusion puts the ball in your court. Tell them how you will follow up and when.
Be sure that all of your correspondence includes key words that relate directly to a job post, organization, qualifications, or accomplishment.

These are the basics of correspondence. Remember, it only takes one spelling or grammar mistake to cost you the interview or job.

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

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Unemployed? Create the Map to Your Career Success!

Dumont — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:10:12 +0000

Are you like me? I’m one of those people who are directionally challenged. I can get lost anywhere, so I have to rely on maps, written directions (and my husband when he gets my frantic call) to reach my destination. What does this have to do with your job search? To attain career success in the form of a job change, career transition or career management, you must have a well-defined destination and a map to reach your goal, successfully and efficiently.

How do you create a map to your career goals?

Research your qualifications for the position, company and industry.
Create your toolbox (for more information see my earlier post: “Do You Have the Right Tools in Your “Zoomer” Job Search Tool Kit? Do You know how and when to use them?
Decide on your specific goal or (or goals).
You now have the basics for planning your career map.
Create you map including barriers you might encounter or you may end up staying in less than desirable accomodations.
Create your plan A (your primary goal) and B (your second goals).
Don’t try to do it all at once. Develop a map for plan A and plan B. Launch your campaign with plan A first and then move on to plan B if plan A becomes unreachable or changes as you reap the benefits of all the research you’ve put into preparing for your search.
Create the criteria to measure your progress and adjust your plan as necessary.

Now you have the resources to create a diagram mapping job opportunities to successfully reach your goal.

Please take the time to create a career map. It will save you a lot of time and effort to become the best-prepared applicant!

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

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Over Fifty and Tired of Hearing You’re Overqualified for the Job?

Dumont — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:00:07 +0000

One of my clients asked me today what it means when an employer expresses concern that you’re overqualified. The answer is that it can mean many things, but overqualified may be “code” for ageism. The real concerns may be far different than the term “overqualified”. Discern what the real meaning behind the term is and address how can you eliminate this as a barrier in your job search.

Employers fear I will leave for a better opportunity. Employers are well aware of the costs involved with hiring and training new employees. The more turnover the more expense. The fact is that employees leave jobs for many different reasons and at different ages. Concentrate on your loyalty to previous employers and promote how your experience and skills can contribute to the bottom line of their company.

Employers believe that they can hire someone who is younger and less expensive. They probably can, but is a younger applicant going to have your experience and skills? Prepare yourself prior to the interview. Research the company, hiring managers, competition, vendors and challenges. This will allow you to define their challenges prior to your interview. During the interview, emphasize that of all the companies you have researched, this is your first choice.

They think I will bored or unhappy. Of course they do! Employers know that if you have extensive experience at a higher-level job, the opening they have may not hold your interests. To counter this, emphasize that you’re seeking a new experience. Demonstrate how you can leverage your skills to help them address new and different challenges. Employers are more likely to see you as a match for their position.

Your experience may be more extensive than that of your manager. This may very well be true. No one is good at everything, and they know it. Emphasize how you have made past managers look good to their superiors. Be prepared with some SMART stories to back up your statement. This is a good time to demonstrate that you have gone the extra length to research their challenges and possible solutions, preferably ones that will impact their bottom line. Let them know that you want to support them in meeting their goals.

To be successful in your job search, you must do your due diligence and research the company’s challenges and priorities and provide evidence of how you can contribute to the solutions. Conducting your research, asking the right questions, demonstrating your abilities to overcome their current challenges, emphasizing your interest in the position, organization and/or industry will help you ace the interview and get you one step closer to the offer.

To your success!

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

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Set SMART Goals and Keep Your Job Search Set on “Go!”

Dumont — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:00:51 +0000

Goal setting is integral to any successful job campaign. Goals must, however, be very specific to create and implement a successful plan to reach your target. In order to monitor your progress and boost your momentum, you must be very clear on your targeted outcomes and how you’re going to reach them. Set SMART goals to keep your job search plan progressing.

According to Arina Nikitna, the SMART Acronym for goal setting stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. Follow this formula to create goals that will propel your job search forward.

Specific: When it comes to your job search, a “fuzzy” goal is like no goal at all. Your goals must be specific enough to keep you on track. Start with your end goal in mind and work backwards to create the supporting goals you will need to be successful. When you plan each step of your job campaign, ask yourself whether this goal will move you closer to your targeted job or career transition. Specific goals will benefit your job search in several ways.

- You can keep your job search on track by asking yourself whether each goal you set will help you reach your final destination.
- Your can increase the momentum of your job search by regularly checking your goals and making any adjustments necessary.
- Goals are easily broken into daily objectives. Crossing off objectives is one of the most self-affirming actions you can take.

Measurable: To be effective your goals must be measurable. You can’t possibly know if you’ve achieved them unless you have established specific measures to determine if and when they have been achieved. Hang a large sheet of paper beside your desk and map out your goals and the results that will signal when you’ve accomplished each. Revel in the sense of satisfaction you’ll receive from accomplishing each goal.

Attainable: Goals must be attainable or you will be discouraged when they can’t be reached. Creating attainable goals will bring to light the actions you need to bring them into reach such as attaining more education, updating needed skills sets, or exploring alternative careers.

Realistic: Setting unrealistic goals can only lead to frustration, anger, shame or disappointment. Do your due diligence and compare your current qualifications to those required for the career field or industry of your choice. You are then in the position to determine how or whether to proceed as you are or take action to make your candidacy more compelling to employers.

Timely: It is human nature to procrastinate when faced with an intimidating challenge. It’s essential, therefore, to establish a timeline for attaining each goal. This will help you keep your momentum going and succeed in your job search as quickly and effectively as possible.

Keep in Mind: “Success is the progressive realization of predetermined, worthwhile goals.” Paul J. Meyer

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

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Eight Strategies to Beat the Dreaded Salary Question

Dumont — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 08:27:35 +0000

For experienced professionals, one of the most dreaded questions is “What are your salary expectations?”  There is a lot of advice available on this topic, but one size does not fit all. Here are a few suggestions that may be useful based on your situation.

Research the salary range for your targeted job or title, education, industry, company size and geographical location. Check out resources like Pay Scale http://www.payscale.com/ or Salary.com http://www.salary.com. This prepares you to answer salary questions by quoting a range based on your research. Follow your answer with an inquiry as to whether this position offers a salary in that range. Whether it does or doesn’t, you know where you stand and how or whether to proceed.

Be proactive not reactive. A sample response might be, “I believe my interests and talents are perfectly suited to this position and your company culture. Can you tell me the pay range”? If the salary is within your range, let the interviewer know. This signals that you probably won’t reject an offer based on the pay rate. If it doesn’t meet your expectations, you can just nod your head and say “Hmmm, that’s interesting. Based on my qualifications, where do you think I might fall in that range?”

Be straight forward. Disclose your salary history but emphasize that you are flexible. Let them know you’re familiar with their company and the position, and you’re sure they’ll make you a fair and reasonable offer based on your value to the organization.

Demonstrate that you understand that salaries have changed and you know you may not see the same numbers again. Emphasize that you are excited about the opportunity and are sure that you can work something out. After you receive the offer, you are in a position to negotiate salary, an early review or additional benefits.

Emphasize that at this point in your career, it’s not just about money. You are more interested in new experiences, the opportunity to apply your skills and talents in a different environment or belong to an organizational culture that aligns with your passions, talents and values.

Acknowledge the question and briefly reiterate your qualifications. Let them know that you are willing to answer the question but are uncomfortable with discussing price before value.

Know when to hold them and know when to fold them. If the salary is simply not going to meet your needs or theirs, move on and find the job that will.

The truth is that an applicant’s age, experience and salary history can be barriers in the job search. No single approach will apply to all situations, but the time to prepare for salary discussions is always prior to your interview. Be prepared to sell your value proposition and demonstrate your research on current salary ranges before the question arises.

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

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Boomers: The Interview Process Has Changed – Are You Ready?

Dumont — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:00:04 +0000

If you haven’t conducted a job search in the last few years, the rules are very different. Although interviews come in many forms, there are standard practices that are fairly consistent. Today we’ll review the basics of interview preparation, how to prepare for an interview, the three basic kinds of interviews, the interview process and how to follow up.

What is an interview?

It’s an exchange of information: A two-way dialogue between candidate and employer.
It’s an opportunity for you to showcase your experience.
It’s a time where you can demonstrate your knowledge of and interest in a position.

What is the usual format for Interviews?

The employer initiates greeting/small talk/ice breakers.
The employer asks the candidate questions.
The candidate asks the employer questions.
The employer and candidate will close/wrap-up.

What are Employers looking for?

Employers are seeking the answers to four basic questions:

Why are you here?
What value-added attributes do you offer?
Will you fit into our culture?
What makes you the best candidate?

There are three types of interviews that each job seeker will most likely use or encounter.

Information Interviews: Purpose – To research possible occupations, industries, job types and to make and expand contacts/champions. Treat these as you would a job interview:
- Inform the interviewee of the purpose of the interview.
- Establish a mutually convenient time along with the length of time you are requesting of them.
- Write down three things you want to get out of the exchange and organize your questions around those three priorities.

Screening Interviews:

Most common and familiar interview format

Usually the initial interview.
Often conducted by Human Resources Representative
Typically lasts 20-40 minutes

Site Interviews:

This often means there are only a few candidates remaining in the pool.
You usually meet potential supervisor and co-workers.
It could last several hours or a couple days.

How do you prepare for an interview?

Research yourself – know your skills sets, interests, personality preferences, and values.
Research the company, position, industry and industrial trends, competitors, vendors, and employees or any other contacts who have a relationship with the company.
Know the salary trends for the positions, industries and geographical location.
Prepare your 30 second elevator pitch and four to five SMART stories.
Prepare a portfolio: Keep a copy of your resume, your SMART stories and questions in front of you. Ask if you can take notes.
Gather a business card from each person you meet during the interview process.
Practice, Practice, Practice!! Consider doing a mock interview with a career professional.
Be prepared with specific questions garnered from your research…avoid questions that could be answered by looking at their web page.
Ask for the job: Show your enthusiasm. In all of my years in career development, lack of enthusiasm has been a major factor in whether a candidate progressed up the line.

How do You Follow up on an Interview?

Immediately return to your car and write down all of the details of the interview, each person you met, what you discussed, your answers and how they could be improved.
Follow up immediately with a thank you note by e-mail. To add emphasis, follow up with a card.
If you haven’t heard back from the employer in ten days, call and check on the status of your application.
If you are not offered the job, follow up every few months…remind them of your interest, but don’t give them the impression that you’re a stalker.

This article is a basic introduction to the interview process. For more about interviews, conducting research, writing SMART stories and answering difficult answers… Please check my blog at careerwindowsonline.com.

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

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Five Tips to Address Negative References & Land the Job

Dumont — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 09:16:57 +0000

By the time many of my clients reach 50 or above they have experienced a lay-off, extended unemployment, intermittent work history or other “spots on their record.” Worrying about negative references or your professional reputation is one of the best ways I know to stop your job search before it begins. This is not to say that your concerns are not realistic, but the following tips may help you neutralize any negative impact from your past employment history.

If possible, sit down with your supervisor to discuss and agree on what he or she could state that would be positive or at least not negative when contacted for a reference. (I know this is scary, but is scary worse than worrying about how your reputation will affect your job search?) Be prepared with a list of positive contributions you made to the organization. Be aware that some institutions have policies that prevent employees from providing references other than dates of employment and whether they would hire you again. In that case, you may need to try another approach.

If you’ve already left, swallow your pride, and contact your former supervisor to request a letter of reference. Offer to write it for his or her approval. This provides you with the opportunity to remind them of your contributions to the organization. People are fired for all sorts of reasons, but everyone has contributed something positive.

Line up former colleagues who can offer a different point of view. I have one client who worked for a highly dysfunctional organization. After she was fired, she knew she would not get a positive reference. To neutralize this, she enlisted the help of two other colleagues who also had a bad experience. It’s always a mistake for an applicant to bad mouth an employer, but colleagues can speak freely about the organization and it’s functionality.

Another approach is to list a reference with which you interacted while you were employed. While some potential employers will insist on a reference from a former supervisor, this approach can be an effective way to overcome a black mark on your record. As an example, I had a client who was fired following a change in supervisors. The new supervisor had different expectations and was moving in a different direction. To make things more difficult, the institution had a policy against making personal references. To address this, she enlisted the help of an individual who had worked on several projects with her. He verified her talents and contributions to important collaborations while employed by her former employer.

Employers are suspicious of individuals who have an intermittent work history or record of extended unemployment. One way to address this may be to write a functional or combination resume. This lessens the impact of the lapsed time and promotes your value to the organization. The down side of this kind of resume is that it may raise more questions. Be prepared to explain what you were doing during those years and no - addiction to soap operas is not an adequate explanation.

The most insidious part of failing to address concerns you may have about your references or reputation is the affect is has on you. Worry is a useless emotion and can only de-motivate you. Be proactive and address you concerns ASAP. You’ll remove another one of those barriers on the way to a successful job search or career transition.

Will a Coach or Recruiter be Right for Your Job Search?

Dumont — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 08:32:25 +0000

Coaching is often likened to recruiting. However, there are distinct differences between the two approaches, and it’s important to recognize the role of each when selecting a vocational specialist.

Recruiters are usually specialists in a given vocational or industrial area. They are hired to give recommendations and refer potential applicants that are the right fit for a position and/or organization. A recruiter often works for an agency but sometimes work for a specific employer. Recruiters are usually paid by the company or agency with whom they often work on a contingency fee. Their allegiance is to the employer. If the recruiter is useful in filling the position they get paid. If not, they aren’t compensated for any work they took to screen applicants.

Coaching uses a more holistic approach. The coach examines the situation, creates a plan of action, and works side by side to resolve the issue in as short a time as possible. The client is the expert. The coach partners with the client to create a solution using the client’s knowledge and answers. Coaches use a variety of tools including assessment, job search correspondence, identifying issues, career exploration, and planning and implementing strategies to help their clients succeed.

Coaches work with a client to create a map to follow to achieve their goals. The coach and client often communicate between sessions. Accountability is built in. There may “homework” the client needs to prepare for the next session. The client is responsible for submitting updates to the coach. If the client is not engaged in the process, the coaching tends not to be as successful. Unlike recruiting, the coaches’ allegiance it to the client. Usually, but not always, the client pays for services.

Both coaches and recruiters offer valuable services to applicants an employers. They differ, however, in their primary allegiance and services. When shopping for employment services, be sure to keep the differences in mind in order to achieve your specified goals in the shortest time possible.

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

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Opening Windows to Your Career Success!

Dumont

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D
Career Windows
careerwindowsonline.com
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Cleveland, OH

Take this Quiz to Measure Your Job Search Readiness

Dumont — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:00:44 +0000

Even in the worst economies, the best-prepared candidates still get jobs. Are you prepared for success? Take this quiz to measure your job search readiness.

Do you have your job search goals well defined? If not, you’ll waste a lot of time by wandering off track.

Are you part of the professional societies connected to your targeted occupations or industries? Are you an active participant or just another member? Active participation on committees or in leadership roles conveys a sense of responsibility to an employer.

Are your e-mail and phone messages professional? ( Not email hidden; JavaScript is required). This not the time to be “cute.”

Are you networked on any or all of the following? Linked In (www.linkedin.com) Face book (www.facebook.com) My Space (www.myspace.com) and/or Twitter (www.twitter.com)? Are you networking face to face and touching base on a regular basis with you top contacts? It’s important to be selective about contacts…remember: quality not quantity.

Do you have a job search plan? If so are you sticking to it? Your job search plan keeps you on target and provides a guide for your campaign. Each goal can be broken into objectives with accountability measures to keep you on track.

Have you released your anger at past employers? Have you developed a positive attitude? Carrying resentment is a barrier to your progress. A positive attitude makes all the difference in your impression on others.

Are you clear about your interests/passions, talents, values and skills sets? I f not, how will your articulate them to a potential employer?

Have you done market research on the skills sets employers in your industries are currently in demand? Are you willing to take more training if required?

Do you know value you bring to an employer? How can you impact their bottom line? How can you solve their challenges?

Do you have a job search toolkit containing resumes, business cards, correspondence, three to four SMART stories, work history, references and resumes?

Have you researched the salaries you can realistically expect in your targeted industries? Your potential employer has.

Does your job search make you feel like a “stuck in the mud rhinoceros?” Do you know how to get unstuck as easily and efficiently as possible?

If you answered, “yes” to four or less of the above questions, your job search is likely to take longer to achieve fewer results.

If you answered “yes between six and ten times, you have some of the major elements in place, but need to be more thorough in your job search.

If you answered “yes” to eleven or more of the above questions, congratulations! You may need a few “tweaks” but you’re well on your way to a successful job campaign.

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

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Are Your Job Search Fears Self Imposed?

Dumont — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:37:50 +0000

An extended job search often results in internal pressures. Some of them are self-imposed and some are the result of an extended period of unemployment.

Do you know that many of your fears and self-image are programmed before the age of five? Given this, what can you do today to keep you motivated during your extend job search?

What are these internal challenges? Internal aspects that may impede your job campaign include anger and frustration, depression, low self-esteem, guilt, perfectionism, loss of motivation, loneliness, shame, fear of isolation, hopelessness and fear.

Some of these can be signals of severe distress and are best addressed by a licensed counseling professional A partial list of these symptoms includes long-term depression, shame, hopelessness, or suicidal ideations.

Coaches often address impediments blocking your progress in your job search campaign such as fear, isolation, lack of support or distress over an extended job search. Coaches partner with clients on career choice, job search strategies, barriers to progression, concerns over long term unemployment, discrimination and fear of out-dated skills.

Many internal de-motivators are based on F.E.A.R. (False Expectations Accepted as Real). A little fear is expected in a job search and can serve as a motivator. The problem surfaces when fear becomes a barrier to your daily objectives and goals. No one can predict the future, and yesterday is gone and can’t be changed. That leaves today.

Needless obsession over a future that may never occur is a waste of time and can defeat your progress. One way of handling false expectations is to identify your goals and break them into objectives. Decide what you can realistically do in one day. These are your objectives for the day. Finishing these objectives raises self-esteem, increases productivity, releases stress and helps to keep the momentum going in your job search or career transition.

Like fear, there are many techniques to counteract self-imposed barriers. The key is to identify them and determine what you can control, or seek the right kind of help to address barriers to your job search.

The Gender Gap in Employment: A New Twist?

Dumont — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:00:54 +0000

The recession has had a devastating effect on salaries and hiring rates for both men and women. Evidence, however, indicates that the gender gap has extended from a disparity of salaries and advancement opportunites to success in the job search.

According Tony Pugh of McClatchy Newspapers, for every twenty jobs that are filled, only one is filled by a woman. This is particularly disturbing as in recent years women have risen to 52% of the job force.

According to Pugh this is not necessarily due to systemic discrimination against women. Instead he points out that many of the hardest hit industries following the Great Depression were in male-dominated industries such as manufacturing and transportation. During this recession traditionally female-dominated occupations such as teaching, government and social service have been cut drastically.

During this recession, the “worm has turned”. While all industries have been affected, many male-dominated industries were the hardest hit by lay offs. These same industries have become the first industries to rebound. Female-dominated professions such as government (national, state and local), the non-profit sector, teaching and child-care have been much slower in recovery.

Pugh cites Stacy Ethun, president and CEO of MRINetwork who states that two trends limit women’s success with their job search: Lacking aggressiveness and professional networking.

It is true that some women lack in aggressive behavior, but many are proactive rather reactive when it comes to promoting themselves to current and future employers.

Women are natural networkers with family and friends. Networking with employers, however, appears to be more of a challenge. This hesitancy to interact for professional reasons can and will have a negative impact on women’s careers.

Please understand that my intention is not to bash males. I am simply reporting the challenges, as I know them. I would welcome comments (positive, negative or informative) on this topic.

Job Seekers: Do You Know How to Research Industries? Here’s How.

Dumont — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 12:00:37 +0000

Research on occupations and related industries is vital to the success of job seekers and career transitioners. To find industries related to occupations under your consideration, O*Net is a good starting point as it links occupations and related industries. (See the first two posts in this series for information on how to research occupations using free online government resources: A Career is a Moving Target. Use Free Research to Hit Your Personal Bull’s Eye and Career Research Rules! But Where and How do You Start?

Use O*Net, to research industries by selecting “Find Occupations” on the first page. In the drop down menu, click on “Bright Outlook” which will take you to the “Browse by industry” page. On this page, click the drop down menu to select an industrial cluster related to your targeted occupations. Industries can be sorted by percentage of workers employed, Standard Occupational Codes (SOC), occupations, and projected growth in the industry and related job openings.

You can find further information on specific industries at the Bureau of Labor Statistics Career Guide to Industries, and the CareerOneStop’s Clearinghouse.

This article is the third post of a three part series on how to conduct the research on occupations and industries essential to a successful job search or career transition. It is not an all-inclusive list of the types of research and related resources you will need for further investigation. Watch for future posts for more information on career-related research.

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

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Visit my website and blog, to download a free copy of “Five Secrets to Job Search Success” and receive juicy career tips and free offers.

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Career Research Rules! But Where and How do You Start?

Dumont — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 08:00:54 +0000

Virtually every career professional emphasizes the importance of research to career/life planning, career transitions and job search success. The question is where to start and how to proceed. This is the second installment of a series of informative articles on exploring occupational and industrial options using O*NET (the Occupational Information Network).

O*Net offers several options for career exploration. To explore occupations, go to O*NET and click on “Find Occupations” in the top menu bar. Here you can conduct searches by key words or SOC (Standard Occupational Codes), career clusters, industries, job zones, future outlook, green economy sector, job family and STEM Discipline:

Key Word Search or SOC Code. To find the SOC Code for a specific occupation, consult the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Identify SOC’s (Standard Occupational Codes) by entering the name of the occupation. The SOC codes can then be used on O*NET to search specific occupations and identify related occupations.
Career Cluster. Career Clusters group occupations in the same field that require similar skills. Career Clusters are often used for career planning by helping individuals prepare themselves with the necessary knowledge, competencies and training for success on a specific career path.
Industry. Industrial classifications group businesses and organizations in broad categories based on similarities in services, products and activities. To find a specific occupation, click on “Industry” and use the drop down menu to select your industry of choice. You will be able to explore industrial clusters along with the percentages of workers in the industry, and it’s projected growth and job openings.
Job Zone. Job zones group occupations into categories based on work qualifications and the educational preparation required to succeed in these professions.
Bright Outlook. This section allows the individual to search for occupations projected to experience rapid growth and job opportunities
Green Economy Sector. Search industries and related occupations in the growing green economy based on demand and required qualifications.
Job Family. Explore groups of occupations based on similar work, skills sets and other qualifications.
STEM Discipline. STEM disciplines are projected to be the occupations that will be most in demand in the future. They include occupations that will require advanced education in science, technology, engineering and math. This section will help you identify those disciplines.

Conducting thorough research is essential to making career choices/transitions or succeeding at your job search. O*NET is just one of many resources available to you. Stay tuned for future columns about how to research your way to career success!

References: O*NET, Bureau of Labor Statistics, O*NET Resource Center

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.

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Visit my website and blog, to download a free copy of “Five Secrets to Job Search Success” and receive juicy career tips and free offers.

A Career is a Moving Target. Use Free Research to Hit Your Personal Bull’s Eye

Dumont — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 07:49:43 +0000

The key to a life-long career that ignites your passions, maximizes your skills and is personally rewarding is to commit yourself to a lifetime of learning and reinvention. The average worker will hold from three to seven careers over his or her work life. With this is mind, it is important to know the fundamental resources for researching occupational and industrial requirements along with their related qualifications, interests, and values.

One of the most essential research tools available to individuals investigating career opportunities or considering a career transition is O*NET (The Occupational Information Network). O*NET is a free source of occupational information developed under the sponsorship of the US Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Its occupational database contains information on hundreds of standardized and occupation-specific descriptors and it forms the heart of O*NET OnLine, an interactive application for exploring and searching occupations.

The O*NET Content Model embodies a view that reflects the characteristics of occupations and individuals. Occupational information is organized into six major domains, which enable the user to focus on areas of information that specify the key attributes and characteristics of workers and occupations in these domains:

Worker Characteristics — enduring characteristics that may influence both work performance and the capacity to acquire knowledge and skills required for effective work performance.
Worker Requirements — descriptors referring to work-related attributes acquired and/or developed through experience and education.
Experience Requirements — requirements related to previous work activities and explicitly linked to certain types of work activities.
Occupation-Specific Information — variables or other Content Model elements workers may use for optimal functioning in a high performance workplace.
Workforce Characteristics — variables that define and describe the general characteristics of occupations that may influence occupational requirements.
Labor Market Information — Current labor force characteristics of occupations.
Occupational Outlook — Future labor force characteristics of occupations.
Occupational Requirements — a comprehensive set of variables or detailed elements that describe what various occupations require.

O*NET is one of the most powerful information sources for researching personal career choices and/or transitions. Like many research sources, however, it can be complicated to navigate effectively. Watch this blog for future information on how to use O*NET and other free research resources for planning and advancing your career.

References: O*NET

Did you get the Interview but Not the Job? Why?

Dumont — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:13:21 +0000

Here are a few interview ‘gaffs’ that can cost you the job.

You didn’t ask for the job. Recruiters are looking for enthusiasm for their job and organization. It’s not just about your qualifications. Employers want employees who will deliver on assignments and fit into the culture of the organization.

You didn’t do your research.

- You weren’t clear on your authentic self (Research this through formal assessments and feedback from job search buddies, family and friends in your targeted career/industry or career professionals.
- You didn’t research the career field, organization, their competitors and/or vendors. Dig deep. Go further than just checking out their website.

You didn’t have a convincing elevator speech or you don’t use is effectively.

You didn’t back up your resume with specific examples such as SMART stories that demonstrated you qualifications in a concrete and measurable way.

You arrived too early and conveyed an a appearance anxiety.

You didn’t know when to stop. Answer the specific question and then “shut up”.

You forgot to follow-up immediately and failed to keep in contact with the hiring decision maker to reinforce your interest.

You lied about your qualifications. It will come back to haunt you.

You blamed previous employers or employees for your mistakes. Instead concentrate on what you learned.

You didn’t use your contacts to research what the job really entails…not just the ad.

Remember that each interview is a learning experience. Write down every thing that took place and analyze your performance. Learn your lessons and use what you learned in your next interview. Practice, practice, practice rehearsing your answers. Nothing builds confidence like knowing that you are well prepared.

Are you Just Networking or Paving Your Way to a New Career?

Dumont — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:25:25 +0000

A client recently asked me “What is networking”? In terms of a job search, networking can be defined as a system of meeting people to make connections with those who can put you in touch with the decision maker in your targeted careers or organizations. The primary “rule” to remember is that networking starts with “what I can do for you” not “what you can do for me.” Offering your help is the best way to establish and maintain your network.

Effective networking is like effective sales. They both start with good listening. Networking requires showing an interest in others and learning their needs in order to build the trust that is the cornerstone of establishing any effective relationship. Just as with selling a product to a potential client, a contact may tune you out before you’ve made it through your pitch.

I’m reminded of an incident that happened when I was shopping for my first car. I had my heart set on a used Mustang convertible. The salesman had a different idea. Rather than listen to what I really wanted, he was determined to sell me a brand new Mustang. When his pitch failed to get me into a new car, he said that he needed my keys to move my own car. (OK, I was dumb to let him take the keys. Like I said this was my first car.) After that, the dealership blocked my car until I insisted that they move it. Not only did they not make a sale, I never went back to that dealership again. First impressions really do count!

Networking is not about meeting as many people as you can and collecting business cards. Effective networking requires listening to the other person and concentrating solely on what they are saying. It is the key to converting a contact to a champion for your candidacy. Successful networking is relationship-based. A relationship is not built over night. It takes time and tenacity to keep in touch with your network in order to build trust over time. The only way to build that trust is to ask questions and listen to the answers. You need to reflect your interest in your audience.

By identifying your listener’s needs, you can offer relevant responses. Be prepared with a few thoughtful questions that produce meaningful results. If you can offer helpful suggestions you will pave the way for your response. When you create a positive impression by responding to others sincerely, it can be the beginning of a long-term relationship. Blowing it by jumping in to early with your own agenda can lose you that contact forever.

A relationship takes time and tenacity to build and maintain. Networking is just your first step…but it’s a big one. Just remember to keep in touch with helpful suggestions, news about your progress and information on any contacts your new acquaintance may provide. Remember: Listen and respond before your elevator pitch. The effort is worth the benefits.

The Five Stages of Grief Related to Unemployment

Dumont — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 12:00:25 +0000

According to Wikipedia, The Kübler-Ross model, commonly known as the five stages of grief, was first introduced by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her 1969 book, On Death and Dying. It describes, in five stages, a process by which people deal with grief and catastrophic loss.

Reactions to unemployment often follow similar steps to the 5 steps of grieving described by Kubler-Ross.

Denial & isolation: Denial often starts before job loss. Despite observable signs of separation, employed workers often fail to recognize and act on them. For unemployed workers it’s important to not only acknowledge what has happened but also to recognize their loss. Denial is usually only a temporary defense for the individual.
Many of us regard our work colleagues as our friends and support system. During times of unemployment or career transition experience we tend to self- isolate. It’s vitally important that we go out of our way to make new contacts and friends. This can be done through volunteering, seeking fellow job seekers or strengthening ties with family and friends who have always been supportive. The point is to get out of the house to meet and associate and friends.
Anger – (and resentment) can lose you a potential job. If you’re still carrying anger about people or past experiences, you are sabotaging yourself. Anger and resentment towards people and employers takes up time and space. When you release the negativity, you make space for positive energy to flow through your body. You can make better use of your time during your job search or career transition if you release that negative energy. Remember, holding on to the past is only harming you. Your past employers are probably not focused on you, so why are you carrying it around?
Depression. According to David B. Burns in his book Feeling Good, the New Mood Therapy, “…sadness and depression are not the same thing. Either depression or sadness can develop after a loss or failure in your effort to meet a goal of personal importance. Sadness comes, however, without distortion and loss of self- esteem.Depression is frozen – it tends to persist or recur indefinitely and always involves loss of self-esteem. It has no adaptive function whatsoever, and represents one of the worst forms of suffering. Sadness is a natural reaction to job loss and passes with time. Depression can be ongoing and may need treatment from a trained mental health professional.
Acceptance. It’s hard to accept sudden unemployment or the need for a career transition. Acceptance, however, releases that negative flow of energy and replaces it with the positive energy to continue your career goals and dreams.

Knowing the stages of grief over long-term unemployment provides an understanding of yourself and the permission to pursue that special job.

Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D.