#126 - Are you in a period of Transition?

In earlier days, being out of work was referred to as being laid off, downsized, unemployed or the dreaded - fired. Since there are so many of us who have lost jobs today, someone looked for a more palatable term to allow us to explain our current state of unemployment. The latest terminology for conveying this career status is “in transition.”

Webster’s dictionary defines transition as “a movement, development, or evolution from one form, stage, or style to another.” Many have written that the whole concept of employment is changing – permanently. On that basis, the term transition really makes sense.

With that in mind, if you would describe your current situation as “in transition,” consider what you are doing with your time. If you are focused on replacing a job you had with one very nearly the same, that might work out for you, but it’s not a transition.

I’m not picking on anyone for not complying with Webster’s. What I would ask is that we all wake up to the reality that the demand for many positions is not about to come back to pre-2008 levels – possibly ever. This means competition will be stiffer, compensation will be lower, and the time to land a new job will be longer. Are you prepared?

Let me ask a better question. Did you really love that old job? I mean “wake up in the morning and can’t wait to get to it” love it? Right, I didn’t think so.

Kevin Cashman tells a story in the book Leadership from the Inside Out about making choices. He asks readers to imagine being stranded in a snowstorm and missing an important meeting. Do we rant about it and let it raise our blood pressure? Or, do we realize that one of the things we would really love is a few hours alone - just to think? Do we let a single event derail us or, do we choose to see it as a wish granted? The choice is ours.

You can also choose to live the definition of transition during challenging times. Instead of just another job search, engage in your own transition. Reinvent yourself. Learn.

A number of publications discuss common ideas that may help us connect better to our internal motivations. Three ideas are mentioned quite often. They revolve around seeking autonomy, mastery, and purpose.

Autonomy: Rather than submitting hundreds of resumes blindly and hoping for a call back, look take a look around. What problems could you solve for a friend starting a new business? She might need the professionalism you offer but never thought she could afford your price tag. So, help her out. Help her first and let the finances work themselves out (they will, trust me).

Volunteer for charitable organizations or struggling non-profits. If you can make a difference, then people will notice. People you have helped will look for ways to help you. You won’t be going in, hat in hand, asking for a referral. You will gain an ally who has seen you in action and is happy to recommend you.

Don’t even think of saying you don’t have time. If you want to do the traditional job search, it’s going to take 6 – 9 months to find a job you don’t really like. Consider transition activities to be your part-time job for now and, more importantly, part of your journey to fulfillment.

Mastery: For the new role you would really love to have, you might need to master new skills. Let’s say your friend with that new business can afford to pay you half of what you were used to. If you can learn a new skill at the same time, you 'll save the cost of tuition to a business college, meaning you're not taking a pay cut at all.

Join groups and pay attention to the events they host. Many are low or no-cost events. Offer to help with planning. Being a planner is like having a backstage pass. You may be able to meet a knowledgeable or influential keynote speaker in the field you want. How much would that be worth to you?

Purpose: Having a purpose is uniquely human. Finding it isn’t a journey you make alone. Your coaches might be right in front of you. Instead of asking people how they can help you find a job, ask them if they know their purpose. When you find others who know their purpose, ask them how they learned what it was.

Find out who you are and what you are here to do. Learn which skills you need to master to fulfill your purpose.

Taking ownership doesn’t mean going solo. Seeking guidance is an important step in transition. Not transition as a euphemism for joblessness, but transition as Webster defined it.

Day 71 - The most important resource for any job seeker

Most job-seekers mistakenly spend too much time online looking at job postings and sending in résumés. In many cases, these attempts lead nowhere. These same postings might be better utilized to provide insight into who is hiring and for what positions.

In addition to job boards and resources like Monster.com, LinkedIn and CareerBuilder, recent grads, especially those with some work experience under their belts (like most non-traditionals), should also take a close look at the actual websites of companies they like. Be sure to read every page and check every link on those corporate websites to learn more about the companies themselves, their leaders, competitive positions and their corporate cultures.

Get to know the Company
Reviewing potential openings that a company posts may give you a clue to its overall requirements for hiring, but the corporate website and the social media it maintains, like Facebook Fan Pages or an actual online community, can provide more valuable clues about the potential opportunities available. There are other online resources that can help expand your list of employment possibilities. Online databases can help locate companies that meet your criteria. They can also automatically generate lists that contain any number of "hidden companies" you may not find on your own. One of the best resources I’ve found is Hoover's, a business information site that contains free (and paid) research on companies.

Online research is certainly a great place to start a job search, but implementing a multichannel approach that targets and markets you is even better, especially if you want to find opportunities at companies that may be lesser known in the marketplace. Experts at New York’s Best Fit Forward, recommend you spend less than 40 percent of job search time online. The face-to-face meeting or interview is still the most important part of the process, so continue to work on those interpersonal skills. While the fastest growing demographic of users on Facebook and Twitter may be over 30, old-fashioned [face-to-face] networking still beats an online job board as one of the quickest ways to get hired.

Seek out local leads
Stepping away from the computer and conducting some face-to-face research through networking is also critical in cultivating a target company list. An ExecuNet report recently found that combining referrals with research and face-to-face meetings builds the strongest foundation. That translates into finding the right job for you.

Read community newspapers and follow the websites of local organizations, even the ones you're not planning to apply to. This will help you identify local companies and understand the specific challenges they may be facing. If you can come up with potential solutions to someone's problem, you’ve got a real shot at being hired. Learn all you can about a company’s history, business performance, product offerings, organizational structure, personality and challenges before you approach. Another great way to identify local companies is by attending meetings and events in town – join a charitable committee, the Chamber of Commerce, volunteer for a cause. Don’t ignore local 'lifestyle' groups. Sometimes, the best information can be found at a child’s soccer game, in a church group or at a local gathering.

Start your list early
If you’ll be looking for work in the next couple of years, start building that target company list now to gain a stronger focus on your particular job search. Remember, you're not alone. Many recent grads don't know how to identify "backyard" opportunities. Find out what is happening today within any company you have an interest in. Get to know the lay of the land. Think about what you bring to the table for any company you want to work for. Don’t be surprised if your past efforts don’t translate to instant worth; most companies are seeking someone who can prove their worth today.

Many people are unsure about how to approach a job search in the current economic environment. Begin with strategy then move on to tactics. A critical component of any marketing plan is identifying the target audience. Gaining a clearer understanding of who we are and where we want to go must come before we can decide how we want to get there.

Day 53 - Career advice for job seekers (of all ages)

...Another gorgeous day in Murray, KY.

Today, I attended Murray State University's Fall Career Fair. As a non-traditional student, I admit that I almost talked myself out of this one. Thankfully, I gathered my courage and went ahead. It's one case where being older did feel intimidating - to me. I assumed I would be the only student in my age range at the event - and I was not wrong. But my thinking was all wrong, since my age was a completely unimportant issue. I also worried the exhibitors might be interested in only talking to undergrads seeking entry level careers. I was wrong again. Despite my initial misgivings, I made some valuable connections. Lesson learned: Attend any event that garners you professional exposure and networking opportunities.

Employers are looking for talent, knowledge and self-confidence - in every instance. Regardless of your age or experience - whether you are a grad student or undergrad, 20-something or 40-something, seasoned professional or neophyte - you can benefit by making a trial run at an event like a job expo or career fair. It's a terrific opportunity to network, get a refresher for writing your best resume or practice interview techniques. The recruiters at these events are there to provide you with information. It's their job!

MSU's career day was well attended by both students and potential employers. In just over an hour, I found six companies and spoke with representatives. I chose to leave resumes with three of the potentials. That may sound like a small number to some, but keep in mind that I am purposely being picky about my unique situation. (For any fellow students who attended the MSU event, note that it is also a good idea to follow up with thank you notes or emails to the people you met with. Hint. Hint.)

Since we've established a theme here, I've also included some suggestions of websites to assist in the search for potential employers (or careers). There are so many sites online now! If you're not job hunting at the moment, you probably know someone who is. Feel free to share the post.

Sites for Employment and Career Assistance:

1. Career Info Net (http://www.careerinfonet.org) This site helps you to explore career opportunities and to make informed employment and education choices. The website features user-friendly occupation and industry information, salary data, career videos, education resources, self-assessment tools, career exploration assistance, and other resources.
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov). Is the principal fact-finding agency for the Federal Government as it relates to economics and statistics. Type in any career or job title on this site and you can learn everything about that job including the nature of the work, educational requirements, training, advancement and other qualifications, employment, job outlook, projections, earnings and other related careers. This is a great tool to use to learn if the type of career you are interested in really offers a strong future.
3. Projections Central (http://www.projectionscentral.com/default.aspx) This site gives projections of occupational employment growth for all States and the nation as a whole. Individuals can use these projections to help them make informed career decisions. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among States. It also allows projected employment growth among occupations to be compared within one State.
4. Career Voyages (http://www.careervoyages.gov/about-main.cfm) This web site is a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Education. It is designed to provide information on in-demand occupations along with the skills and education needed to attain those jobs.

No matter what route you take when selecting potential employers, consider your personality, skills, likes and dislikes. Talk to people who work at the company you are interested in and get an idea of what the work day is like. Research company websites and explore all the other opportunities. Be honest with yourself about what is important to you. If making a lot of money is important, then look for a job with growth potential.

Educate yourself. I can't stress this enough. If you have chosen a career that does not make you happy, then change it! I am here specifically to share the myriad benefits of going back to school. If college is too daunting a prospect, then enroll in a weekend seminar or take a local adult ed class. There is no downside to increasing your knowledge and expertise.

Consider this saying, "A bend in the road is not the end of the road—unless you fail to make the turn." Let me assure you that making a few turns in your career path is not only likely, but perfectly acceptable.