Emotional Mindset for Job Seekers

I'm finding more and more that one of the biggest hurdles for job seekers involved in a prolonged search is finding new ways to stay motivated, optimistic and positive. No news there, right?

There is an interesting article in this Sunday's New York Times where the reporter checked in with job hunters he had interviewed a year ago. Many are still searching. The difference in their emotional mindset was glaring. Job hunters need to stay motivated, and as we know, this is easier said than done!

The glaring difference a year made was the emotional mindset of the interviewees. This is an area we don't address as much as we do the mechanics of the search  process.

In the year that past since last interviewed, these folks still have their skills, their education and their professionalism. And, they probably know even more about the ins and outs of the process. What has changed? The emotional mindset. The positivity, optimism and motivation we all need in our various pursuits.

Find ways to isolate the things in life that motivate and move you. Make sure you spend time on those. Schedule them in to your day. You deserve it.

What are some of the ways you keep going?

Be good to yourself.

Mark New

Career Plan "B"

I would highly recommend that while job seekers are looking for positions in their field, consider also spending part of each day preparing for a new career in the event a position in their present profession or industry is not readily attainable.

It may seem like a "long haul" to study or prepare for a "Plan B" career, but incremental steps taken each day will begin to add up and you will have the added sense that you are in control of at least part of your career journey. If the jobs are in, for example, Health Care or Education, consider moving in that direction.  Here is a recent article from the New York Times Sunday Business section which illustrates my point:

A Midstream Switch to Teaching


ALMOST three years ago, I started teaching seventh-grade English. Before that, I was an account manager in public relations in the Boston area.

Peter Wilson, 38, who previously worked in public relations, now teaches English in a middle school.

When people switch from business to teaching, they usually talk about the huge pay cut, then say how rewarding they find their new career. I agree. But it’s not as cut-and-dried as that, at least in my case. There are parts of my old job that I miss, and, as with any job, teaching isn’t all roses.

I was laid off from my previous job, so it’s not as if I had an epiphany and left because I had a burning desire to teach. But I had been in that job for 10 years and no longer found it fulfilling. Losing it forced me to examine what I wanted to do next.

I did some consulting and started job-hunting. But I wanted to talk to someone about my future, and the person who knows me best after my wife, Allyson, is my brother Ray. I called him to help me do some soul-searching.

Everyone who’s laid off should find someone they trust and sit down and talk. You can’t think things through by yourself, especially when you have a family. You have too much going on mentally. You need someone who cares enough to listen, but is not in the thick of it the way you are.

Over lunch with Ray, I brought up the idea of teaching. It was a possibility I had thought about occasionally, but had dismissed as financially unfeasible. I had a 2-year-old and planned to have another child in the near future. Ray told me to hold on, that we should discuss it. And with his help, in two hours I had a plan.

My wife and I sold our home and moved in with my mother so I could go to school and get certification. I found a program at Simmons College for a Master of Arts in teaching that I could complete in about a year. My wife works at the college.

I had been laid off at the end of January 2006, and by late spring that year I was enrolled in the program. I started student-teaching the next January at Masconomet Regional Middle School in Topsfield, Mass. I took two state teaching exams — a general one and one for prospective English teachers. An English teacher was retiring that June, and I was hired to take her place in September.

I love teaching, but I was surprised at the amount of planning it takes to keep lessons fresh. I also didn’t realize that you’re performing in the classroom, giving 45-minute presentations, almost all day. Then you do it again, day after day.

Keeping 12- and 13-year-old kids engaged is challenging. When a lesson works and you connect with them, it’s great, but when it doesn’t, it’s frustrating. Also, at the ages I teach, there can be different maturity levels within each class.

But to have a student return the next year and tell you how much you taught him is unbelievably gratifying. People entering teaching should expect to be fulfilled in ways they haven’t been before.
I make about half my former salary, and I don’t know exactly how my wife and I are managing. We left my mother’s after a year and bought a new house on the opposite side of Boston from where we were. We had done well on the sale of our house and saved money while at my mother’s, so we bought a bigger, house that’s more family-friendly. I sold my car and bought a smaller one to save gasoline. We don’t go out to eat much, and we buy generic brands.

You reach a certain age when money is not the primary driver of your life, especially when you have a child or two. Still, you have to decide what you can live with. If you enjoy what you’re doing, it helps compensate for a lower salary. I also lead an after-school activity: a discussion group about the television series “Lost.” I wanted the students who signed up to see how much deeper the show is than it might first appear to them. I like to think that it’s helping them with critical-thinking skills.

I miss the daily interaction with adults at my old job. I had dreaded business meetings that were held for no reason that I could see, but when meetings to pitch our agency to potential clients went well, that was a different story. When I told vice presidents or C.E.O.’s my ideas and they said they loved them, I felt great. But those moments were not a regular occurrence. It’s just the nature of the job.

I INTEND to work at this school the rest of my life if they’ll have me. I occasionally think about going into school administration because of my background, but I’m still trying to figure out what it means to be a good teacher. A management job may come later.

One of my former students, an eighth grader who wanted to attend a private high school, stopped by one day and told me he had just finished the application essay. He had to write about someone who inspired him, and he wrote about me. That will keep me going for the next three years.

There But for You Go I

The current “official” unemployment rate hovers around 8.5%, not counting those who are underemployed or have given up on their job search. So, roughly 91% of the workforce is employed in some fashion.

This post is directly aimed at the 91% of you. In many ways you are in a very powerful position whether you realize it or not. You can choose to lend support to those looking for work, or you decide not to afford an individual the opportunity to connect with you. You may be saying to yourself: “How can I help? I am not in a position to hire anyone” or “I’m trying to hold on to my own job. What can I do?” Well, as it turns out, there is plenty you can do.

If someone tries to network with you, be receptive. Don’t make that job seeker call or write to you several times before you reply. It is difficult enough for most people to ask for help. Their confidence has most likely already been shaken by the loss of a job. Meet the person for a cup of coffee. Don’t just mildly listen to the person, but really hear and understand what he is trying to ask or convey. Offer some guidance, support and hope. If you commit to circulating a resume, do so and give a date when he should check back with you. Think about whom else you may know that this person could network with.

If you hear of a neighbor or casual friend who has experienced a job loss, reach out to that person. It may sound like a potential intrusion, but trust me, as someone who has been in this position, it is often greatly appreciated. Even if you can’t help him professionally, invite him over for a visit or include him in the Saturday morning softball game. This gesture will most likely boost the person’s spirits immeasurably.

I know we are all busy and many of us barely have time to add anything to our daily agenda. Think again. Given the challenging economy and employment landscape these days, at any moment the tables could be turned and you could be asking this individual for assistance. I am a firm believer in “what goes around, comes around.” I have experienced this many times in my life. You probably have as well.

So, to the 91% of you. We’re all in this thing together and I can guarantee you that a kind gesture and helping hand will be repaid or reciprocated some day in some way. The lyric of the song “There But for You Go I”, by Alan Jay Lerner expresses these sentiments very well. We should all take it to heart.

I saw a man with his head bowed low.
His heart had no place to go.
I looked and I thought to myself with a sigh:
There but for you go I.
I saw a man walking by the sea,
Alone with the tide was he.
I looked and I thought as I watched him go by:
There but for you go I.

Keep Careering Today and Everyday.

Mark

Your Best Investment Strategy

There has never been a better investment strategy than investing in you. As we are acutely aware today, our finances go up and down, the value of our home rises and falls, and the Dow Jones has recently moved like a jet propelled elevator. There is only one on-going investment you can make that will pay long term dividends for you and your loved ones. That investment is in you.

We are all trying to cut back expenses these days out of necessity, desire and/or fear. In addition, many are trying to save money and cut credit card use for the first time in many years. As a result, almost every industry has seen a downturn. Home and auto purchases, travel, clothing, dining out, home furnishings and others expenses are being cut back by consumers and those industries are suffering as a result of diminished consumption.

But some areas seem to be doing modestly well when compared to others. One is Education. Why? People are seeking additional training, new careers or brushing up on their skills at record levels. The community colleges and trade schools are busy, public colleges have no shortage of applicants, and many private colleges and universities report a better than expected number of applicants, although securing loans is a challenge given the current tight credit markets.

If you are unemployed, concerned about finances or living on a strict budget, try to find offerings in your community to learn new skills or enhance your current skill set. Join the local Toastmasters club to enhance your public speaking and presentation skills. Go to networking or civic group meetings in your community. Avail yourself of the resources at your town or county library. Check out a consignment shop to update your interview wardrobe. Use the community park to exercise and get fresh air and enjoy the scenery to relax you. You get the idea.

For those of you who are working or for those not working but not in financial straits, commit to dedicating time, energy and resources to enhance your skills. This can be stronger skills in your current field, new skills for a new career, a computer skills upgrade or developing your so-called “soft skills” such as public speaking, presentation skills or interviewing. And, be certain to mention these activities to prospective employers. They love candidates who are motivated to find ways to grow and development both professionally or personally.

As I said, finances and wealth will go up and down, often for reasons outside of your control. There is an ebb and flow throughout most of our adult lives. But one investment is certainly within your power and will pay the greatest dividends and the best return on the investment. And that investment is in Yourself.

Always Be Careering.

Mark

The Job Fair Fairy

I’m struck by the reports I have seen on the news about the volume of the unemployed workers attending job fairs. As a career recruiter, with the exception of college job fairs for new grads, my experience with job fairs has been mixed at best. And, that was during better economic times with a less severe unemployment picture.

To get a job through a job fair these days, you literally need a job fairy or perhaps an angel looking out for you such as the one assigned to Jimmy Stewart in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The volume of candidates is too great, the process too rushed and the likelihood of making a lasting impression on the overwhelmed recruiters too unlikely. This is especially true if you may not be a traditional fit for a particular job (a “square-peg-in-a-round-hole” scenario).

I think the best positive outcome in attending a job fair is you will feel as if you have taken a tangible, positive step in your job search, made contact with companies that have alluded you, and met other people in the same boat with whom to commiserate. But actually landing a job? You may want to take the company brochures you pick up at the fair, put it under your pillow before going to bed, and hope the Job Fair Fairy leaves an offer letter for you when you awake.

I hate to sound so cynical, but I have your best interest at heart. Go to the job fairs if it makes you feel productive, but level set your expectations. Trust me, I am only interested in your well-being.

A better use of your time? Take the list of companies planning to attend the job fair, go to LinkedIn or other social media sites and start networking.

Keep on Careering Today and Everyday!

Mark

Location! Location! Location!

In today’s tight job market, job seekers must consider every reasonable option available to them. Some options may be less desirable than others, or even unthinkable during better economic times. Now is the time to weigh every alternative and be as flexible and resilient as possible in order to land a job.

How about relocating to an area with a stronger job market than yours? This may be a particularly good option if you are in an area that is unlikely to experience an economic resurgence anytime soon. For example, if you are a laid-off autoworker living in Lansing or Flint, Michigan, you are going to have a much more difficult time than if you lived in an area with job growth. Even if you were to seek a lower paying job in your current location, chances are there will be lots of competition from others in your predicament.

It is obviously not easy to pick up and move to another place, to leave friends and family. And, being unemployed is when we often rely on the emotional support of family, friends and community. But one way to look at it is that it does not have to be permanent, and if the job situation improves in your original locale, or you develop a skill or trade that is marketable back home, you can move back. Who knows, you may come to like your new area and the fresh start it provides to you.

Where to Go?
There are plenty of resources offering statistics on job growth regions. The March 9th Fortune magazine contained an article highlighting the Manpower, Inc., quarterly report on the current best and worst locations for hiring. In addition, a recent CNN report listed the following areas as experiencing the most robust hiring: The Northwest states such as Washington for high technology related jobs, Southern states such as Florida and the Carolinas due to hiring in health care related jobs and the influx or retiring baby boomers who will require care, and the Washington, DC/Virginia area due to jobs being created in association with the new Administration’s policies and programs. Also, check the government website tracking jobs being created as a result of the new Stimulus Plan. Even if you do not have specific skills in the jobs you associate with high technology, government or health care, robust hiring spurs the local economy and as a result often creates other opportunities.

We are living in extraordinary times which for many of us will require short-term sacrifices for the long-term well-being for ourselves and our loved one. Relocating to a new area may be one of those sacrifices. As the late, great, acerbic comedian and former preacher Sam Kinison used to say: “If you are experiencing famine, move to where the food is.”

Please let us hear from you on this or other employment related issues. We would love to know what you think. All the best to you.

Keep Careering Today and Everyday!

Mark

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

In these difficult times, we see the news filled with announcements of layoffs and dramatic increases in the numbers of the un- and underemployed growing as the stock market continues to nosedive. Scary stuff.

As a result, there is great focus in the media, and deservedly so, on those who are or will soon be unemployed. However, not as much attention is being paid to what is going through the minds of the employees remaining at these shrinking organizations. The employee population and other resources may be dwindling, but the work that needs to be done has not.

If you are one of the “corporate survivors,” you are probably groping for answers to one or more of the following questions, in no particular order:

• Why was I selected to stay?


• Will the “next shoe drop,” and if so, will my position be eliminated?


• Who will absorb the work left behind by the departed employees, and how much of it will be assigned to me?


• How will I be able to do a good job if my workload increases and/or available resources to do my job decreases?


• Should I stay or should I start looking?

Unfortunately, in these challenging times there are no clear cut answers and the challenges and decisions are complex. And, even with all the professional advice in the world at your fingertips, you are in the best position to answer these questions for yourself. However, as if you already did not have enough to think about, permit me to share a few thoughts.

From my daily contacts in my executive search and career transition work, I am gathering that most of you in the “survivor” positions are falling in one of two categories: (1) the more “risk averse” are hunkering down and staying put for now. That is the “devil that you know is better than the devil you don’t know” strategy; (2) the more “risk tolerant” (excuse the Wall Street jargon -- I know it is not in favor!) may wish to see if the “grass is greener on the other side” and want to at least “stick their toe” in the job market to see just what’s out there, if anything. Neither is a bad strategy if done for the right reasons, given your individual situation.

Thrivival Tips
Whatever path you chose, keep in mind the following:

• If you decide to stay, take every opportunity to build your skill set to include new or enhance your skill set. Pay particular attention to skills that will make you even more valuable to your current employer or ones that are sought after in the job marketplace.


• Take advantage of opportunities to volunteer for meaningful projects or join teams at work. It will make you that much more valuable, increase your skills, and be seen as someone who is meeting the challenges of a difficult environment. You don’t want to overload yourself, so do so when it is manageable.


• Project as positive and “glass half full” demeanor as you can muster. It will say a lot about you and who you are.

Regardless of what choice you make, be certain to consult with your mentor if you have one and your loved ones. Your family has a vested interest in your decisions and a concern for you. And, do your best to stay healthy during this stressful time. I’m not your doctor or your mother, but eat well, try to get plenty of sleep and exercise. Try yoga, meditation or just going for long walks. Again, I’m not your mother or doctor, but for your own well-being, “bundle up. It’s cold out there!”

As my coach used to say to me about keeping difficult times in perspective, “This too shall pass.” Be well and Keep Careering Today and Everyday!

Mark