One Tomato at a Time—Life After a Layoff

Parting Is Truly a Sweet Sorrow

2010-04-26T20:45:00.000-04:00

A little more than a year ago, I parted with a job I thought would last a long time, one more victim of a wave of recession-induced layoffs in this country.

The following year’s journey turned out to be active and productive for me, despite occasional moments of fear. Three months later I started this blog and launched full steam into social media. I managed to keep my financial head above water later in the summer by doing freelance writing, editing and marketing. It didn’t replace having a job with benefits, but it was a good bridge. I became so busy, though, that I had to cut my blog activity from five posts a week to two.

Now that I am back in the world of the mostly employed, my focus has shifted to the matters at hand in my job each day. And, with a 3-hour round-trip commute each day, the time available to contribute my thoughts and expertise, as well as marketing efforts, to this blog has dwindled down to almost none. So, now I must part from this wonderful excursion in the world of blogging for my fellow post-layoff travelers.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed ideas, comments, kudos or complaints since I started One Tomato at a Time in June 2009. You have been great.

Please look for me on LinkedIn if you would like to continue the conversation. One Tomato at a Time will not disappear, but rather go into a dormant stage, since the information remains relevant and is completely searchable. I invite you to share the link and individual posts you found most useful with friends and colleagues who are struggling through the process of picking up the pieces after a layoff.

My best wishes to all.

Springing Forward and Finding a Job

2010-04-17T15:17:00.000-04:00

It’s spring again, almost time to plant this year’s tomatoes and herbs. I might even pot up a pepper plant this time. Last year I planted tomatoes on my deck as self-therapy after being laid off without warning in the throes of a recession. This year it’s a celebration of renewal, as I see hope for the future of the job market, at least in the Washington, DC, area.

In the past few weeks, I have learned of several people who recently found jobs, not all in their original line of work, but nonetheless, jobs with salaries. These people, like me, had been out of work for months, if not more than a year.

Since starting this blog in June 2009, I have posted more than 110 entries. After writing about my tomatoes, the birds and chipmunk in my yard, and anything positive that came to my mind, I turned my lens on how to deal with life after a layoff. As I was working out the process for myself, I wanted to share what I’d learned from experts and my own experience as a hiring manager.

My goal was to get back on my feet and into a new job in the quickest, most efficient and painless way possible, and to help others along the way. Before letting panic set in—which, in light of gloomy media reports on the jobs market and a shaky time for my own profession of marketing, was a real threat—I decided it was better to be proactive and to stay active. I’m glad I did.

Along the way, I have found ways to keep my head above water. First, there were consulting and freelance jobs, then a small on-site contract job, and now a larger contract that could take me into the long run. It took me a year and a month to get where I am today, but persistence and a positive outlook helped me maintain momentum.

If I have one piece of advice for anyone who has been out of a job for a long time, it is: Never give up.

Interview Panic When You’re Rusty

2010-04-04T17:16:00.000-04:00

Has it been a long time since your last job interview? Months? Years? How will you handle it if now an employer asks you to come in for an interview tomorrow?

After a long gap, despite all you’ve heard and read about interviewing, a sense of panic can set in when there is little preparation time. Maybe you thought you’d never reach this crossroad again. You’re gulping, breathing a little harder or worried you won’t sleep tonight.

It’s time to quickly oil up the rusty pipes and get ready. There are some techniques to stave off panic while preparing to put on your best self and win the job.

Start by mapping out your day, and then sticking to your plan. Your day could look like this:

9:00-10:00 a.m.—Review the company’s website thoroughly and read the job description again, taking note of key words. Check online for the latest industry issues that may be affecting the company’s business.

10:00-Noon—Review and practice telling your best success stories and answering potential tough questions. (Didn’t write any success stories yet? Now’s the time to make some bulleted notes you can use as talking points.)

Noon-1:00 p.m.—Take a full lunch break away from your computer. Eat healthful foods that give you energy and a sense of well being.

1:00-3:00 p.m.—Print resumes and compile your portfolio or other visual materials. Write down the address where you’re going and the phone number. Organize what you will bring with you, review it once and then set it aside in a staging area for your departure.

3:00-4:00 p.m.—Time for some exercise or a fresh air walk. Don’t skip this in your day. It’s important for your whole being, especially your brain.

4:00-5:00 p.m.—Pick out your interview clothes. Press or shine anything that needs it. Assemble your complete outfit in a convenient spot so you have no clothing decisions to make before you leave for the interview.

5:00 p.m.—Call it a day. Relax over a good meal and light evening activities, such as reading.

Get to bed early. A full night’s sleep of 7-8 hours can make an important difference in your energy level.

If you methodically plot out your time this way, adjusting for what works best in your personal situation, you will have covered all the bases and be as ready as you can be to win over the recruiter or hiring manager…and get that job.

Do Your Homework Before Accepting a Job Offer

2010-03-30T21:11:00.000-04:00

It may seem counterintuitive in today’s tight job market to think of turning down a job offer, but what if you took a job and then found out you’d entered a lion’s den or a totally dysfunctional organization? It’s happened to many of us—everything seemed good on the surface, but inside it was another story.

You can increase your odds for job satisfaction, longevity and general happiness at work by doing some advance work—if not before applying, at least before accepting an offer.

Before you get to an interview, research the company or organization by searching on LinkedIn or Facebook for recently departed employees you can contact for an inside perspective. Use your network. Also, look for news items, S&P data, stock values and annual reports to see if the company is on good financial and ethical ground.

When you arrive for an interview, get to know the receptionist (if there is one) a bit. Notice how you are greeted. Use this opportunity, only possible when inside the building, to gather intelligence on various aspects of the company. Notice, for instance, how people relate to each other. Ask how long people you meet have worked there and what they like about being there. Observe body language and listen for oral clues to staff morale.

Try to ascertain how the company operates. Do departments operate in silos or are there functional, cross-departmental teams? How are employees evaluated—once a year or regularly, one way or 360, formally or informally?

Assemble your findings to create your own employer profile—not the one they publicize. Rate what you found against your own priorities. Then you can make at least a relatively informed decision that could make the difference between taking a job that will last or one that will disappear in a short time—or one that will be fulfilling compared to one that will make you miserable.

What Should You Bring to a Job Interview?

2010-03-23T21:13:00.002-04:00

When you arrive for an interview, you want to be prepared for all possibilities, especially probing questions. After all, the goal is to get the job you want. You should also bring a few items that will help you shine and leave a positive and indelible mark in the interviewer’s memory. This is your chance to beat out the competition—in person. What should you bring?

What you bring depends on your past or intended line of work and what’s relevant to the position being filled, and it also depends on who is interviewing you. Recruiters, unless they are specialized, probably won’t want to see a portfolio, but hiring managers will. Charts and graphs showing financial success could work in your favor in either situation. If writing samples are required, in most cases, you should plan to send them electronically.

If you bring a portfolio of work samples, such as design or project work, it is important to keep it simple. You don’t want to be encumbered by a pile of materials or shuffling papers around during the interview. The focus should be on you, not your stuff. You also don’t want to overwhelm the interviewer and take up too much time.

Here’s a brief list of the main items that you might need:

Portfolio or other recent, relevant documents—enough to use as talking points or visual demonstrations of your capabilities
Copies of your resume printed on quality paper—enough for each person you will meet (check ahead to be sure)
Pen and notepad or notebook—for taking notes for yourself and to show your interest (just don’t overdo it)
Calendar, if you carry one (but keep your Blackberry or cell phone on mute and out of view)
MOST IMPORTANT: A well rested and prepared YOU

For more, see these earlier posts on portfolios:

Portfolios for Creative Non-Creative Job Hunters
Your Portfolio Can Put You in the Spotlight…or Out

There’s No Magic Bullet for the Job Hunt

2010-03-18T09:47:00.000-04:00

Don’t you wish you could close your eyes, spin around, open them again and learn that you’ve been hired for your dream job? We all do, but it definitely doesn’t work that way. There is no magic bullet, no one answer to the “How do I get a job?” question. Unless you are very, very lucky and land a job quickly, or you give up hope and drop out (in which case you should seek counseling help right away), if you want to get a job you just have to keep going. Dropping out will get you nowhere.

Finding a new job after a layoff in a down economy takes hard work, ingenuity and persistence. You are competing with a vast sea of other laid-off professionals for a compressed bank of job openings. Seems depressing, doesn’t it? It could be, but with the right approach you can overcome the odds.

It is important to maintain a high level of energy and attention in order to achieve your goal in the shortest time possible. Eat healthy foods and exercise, take fresh air breaks, call a job search buddy, listen to music that inspires you and stay as positive as you can. Stay as organized as you can by establishing files and maintaining a calendar and expense records. Your attitude will pervade every meeting, letter, hand shake and phone call—so maintaining a realistically optimistic outlook should be part of your job search strategy.

Set aside up to six core hours a day for your job hunting activities. Overdo it and you could burn out. The secret lies not in the number of resumes you send out each day but rather in developing and following a strategy that fits today’s job market. That means using your connections, targeting companies, doing research, ferreting out the hidden jobs that never get listed, and staying current.

The job hunt process doesn’t have to cost you much. Email and electronic applications have reduced the expenses formerly associated with sending resumes. You can find low cost ways to network with local business leaders and peers in your field and conduct informational interviews. You can also network online and by phone. Friends and family may be able to help through people they know.

You could decide to go back to school and learn a new set of skills either to enhance your career chances in your previous line of work or to give you a shot at a new field where jobs are predicted to be more plentiful.

No, there’s no magic bullet, but to use a sports metaphor, you can’t win the game if you’re not in it.

It’s Tax Time—What Can You Deduct as a Laid-Off Jobseeker?

2010-03-16T12:20:00.000-04:00

The last thing we all want to deal with is taxes unless we expect a refund. Chances are that as a laid off worker, you will be eligible for a refund this year, if you played your cards right.

Hopefully, you’ve kept records and receipts since your layoff, because if you have been looking for a job in the same profession, many of your job search costs are deductible on your federal tax return. Also, if you’ve been collecting unemployment, hopefully you’ve had taxes deducted.

The IRS allows a few job search-related itemized deductions, including:

Employment agency or headhunter fees (if you pay them yourself and they are not later reimbursed).
Resume preparation, printing and postage (and faxing).
Long distance or cell phone charges related to your job search.
Career coaching fees, and travel or phone costs related to their services.
Local travel expenses. Mileage by car is reimbursed at 55 cents per mile, but you need to keep a log of your car travel, including local trips for job search purposes, including parking. If you travel by public transportation, be sure to keep track of your fares as well.
Unreimbursed out of town travel expenses for interviews, including meals, transportation (air, train, taxi, bus), lodging, parking and tolls.

If you didn’t do it in 2009, I recommend keeping an inexpensive travel log with you all the time this year and setting up a spreadsheet to record your travel and other expenses. That way when tax time comes around again, you’ll be ready.

This CNNMoney article is from last year, but it has many excellent tips for unemployed taxpayers that remain relevant.

Encore! Encore! Take a Bow for Your Encore Career

2010-03-12T15:25:00.000-05:00

Many people who lost their jobs in the current economic doldrums have decided to go back to school and learn new skills. Others have decided to shift their careers in new directions. These people will take the stage again in new roles, often in public service or with nonprofit organizations, and I applaud them. They obviously have faith in themselves and the determination to keep moving forward, two key ingredients for career success.

Earlier this month I participated as a judge in a marketing and publications awards competition among continuing education programs at private and public colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada, conducted by the University Continuing Education Association. Marketing professionals, graphic designers and writers formed two teams to evaluate hundreds of entries in seven hours. It was exhilarating to see some of the great programs created to give people a second go at a career. And, the experience showed me today's vast array of opportunities that are available to explore and master new fields by going back to school.

This week I talked with an enterprising woman who has been “in transition” since last April when she was laid off. She has used the last year to retool her skills by taking multiple courses in certificate programs and is completing a Masters degree in order to reshape her career and re-enter the job market.

You might think that with no income other than unemployment benefits, going back to school would be impossible for you, but there are options to check out. For instance, there are foundations and other organizations that provide scholarships and grants for adult students pursuing a degree as well as specifically for women, veterans and minority groups. Colleges and universities sometimes facilitate such funding. Before you rule it out, it’s worth your while to do a little online research, talk to your local community college or university counselors, and peruse your options.

The jobs that are available today are not the same jobs vacated by layoffs last year. Requirements have changed because of business needs and technological advances. How you use your “out-of-work” time could determine whether you will be able to get a job and how soon … and how much you will make. How will you re-enter the stage?

“Uh, Hi. Um, I’m here for an interview”—Are You Communicating Well?

2010-03-09T12:24:00.000-05:00

How well do you communicate in an interview? Do you hem and haw, add a few “ums” and leave “pregnant” pauses that leave you wondering afterward how you did? For people who are not public speakers or used to talking about themselves, an interview can be full of trepidation before, during and after they speak their first word.

There are various techniques for preparing for an interview that will help you overcome the heebie jeebies. First, you need to know yourself. Make notes and write up some of your recent best successes that show why you should be hired, ones that could easily translate into business success for your potential new employer. Be sure to include relevant, meaningful key words that suit your line of work. Keep in mind who’s going to be listening.

Then rehearse talking about these successes, either by yourself, with a friend, on video or in front of a mirror. There are plenty of lists of interview questions on the web that you can practice answering, including that proverbial one, "Tell me about yourself and why I should hire you."

You don’t want your answers to be over-rehearsed so they sound canned or inauthentic. You just want to be comfortable enough with talking about yourself, what you’ve done and what you offer an employer that you speak in smooth, clear and logical sentences. Think of it as telling your story in a conversational way.

Take notes, or have someone do it for you, of how many times you say “um” or “er” or the like, and of your eye contact. Try pausing briefly to breathe instead of inserting one of these non-words. If you are using a mirror, notice the expression on your face. Is it earnest, friendly, thoughtful, worried or intense? Try to adjust your facial expression to keep any anxiety from showing.

Then try it all over again, modifying what you did wrong before. And do it again, and again. In fact, you should practice until you can tell your story like it’s one you’ve been telling all your life and so it comes across as if you are telling it for the first time.

Here’s an interesting self-assessment tool from Mind Tools to evaluate your communication skills.

Text and word art: Copyright 2010, Cynthia C. Rosso

The Dreaded KSAs—Your Tickets to a Federal Job

2010-03-04T10:18:00.001-05:00

According to Karol Taylor, a guru on getting a government job who has many years in government HR behind her, KSAs are going to be changed. Speaking to a Washington, DC job hunters support organization in February, she said it’s in the works to replace KSAs with another assessment tool, but she said they will really just reappear in a new form with a new name. In the meantime, in order to land a federal job, you have to master the dreaded KSAs.

What the heck are KSAs?

K=Knowledge • S=Skills • A=Abilities

In up to 4,000-character answers to a series of questions specific to a job opening, you are asked to describe your successes to demonstrate these three attributes. Your answers are read by real people, who then score your response. If your KSA score combined with your application score is higher than 90, you are more likely to be asked to meet for an interview.

There are many keys to being one of those who rises to the top of the heap. Here are some resources to help you get started:

Washington Post online article by Derrick Dortch, career counselor: Common Mistakes in Applying for Federal Jobs

AARP Webinar: The Ins and Outs of Applying for a Federal Job

Tips on writing a KSA from Making the Difference

Downloadable PDF guide to writing KSAs from Our Public Service

Ten tips for applications from USA Jobs

• See a full report in a February post on Karol Taylor's presentation, including her many helpful tips on applying for a federal job.

Finding Your Passion Again After a Job Loss

2010-03-02T08:52:00.000-05:00

The other day I danced. It was around my livingroom, but I danced. I once dreamed of being a professional dancer on Broadway, but my reality and path in life led me into other creative directions for a career. I love dancing. It does something great for my soul. Whether it’s Ravel’s sultry Bolero, a lilting song by Judy Collins, Elton John’s rocking The One album or Pink Martini’s many styles, music makes me want to get up and move.

What makes you move, gives you a boost, charges your engines and makes you happy? Is there something you always wanted to do that you didn’t pursue? Is this your time, while you are between jobs, to try doing what makes your heart sing?

I met someone recently who is in his 50s and thinking of returning to dance, which he once pursued with passion. Now out of work and thinking of new options, he yearns to dance like he did when he was younger. I say, if the body is willing, why not?

Dance is only an example, and it may not be your passion, but don’t you have something you were pretty good at, something you always wanted to do besides what you ended up doing for a career? To get started, you could take a course or two, find a mentor, or do some informational interviews. Try whatever it is out for size. See if you can shift your career that’s been stalled by a layoff or other job loss in a new direction that makes you happier and pays the bills.

For me, writing filled the creative gap left after I stopped performing as a dancer. I’ve always loved to write anyway. Words have been the cornerstone of most of my career, and writing is a transferrable skill should I shift away from marketing and communications. The most important aspect of writing, however, is the passion I feel for it. If you can find that passion again, it can set your whole life on a path to greater happiness.

Capturing a Federal Job—Tips from an Expert

2010-02-25T08:57:00.001-05:00

On Monday, Karol Taylor, a career adviser with more than 28 years of federal service, told a standing-room-only crowd at 40Plus of Greater Washington that the federal government is likely to lose more than 60% of its aging workforce by 2019. The government is poised to hire about 273,000 mission-critical workers by 2013.

How do you apply for one of those jobs? Taylor offered many practical tips, including:

Check out the Partnership for Public Service 2009 Report. It shows the projected number of employees to be hired and by which agencies.
Federal jobs must be posted for at least three days but not necessarily on USA Jobs. So, be sure to check all the agencies that interest you, not just USA Jobs.
It takes on average 12 to 15 hours to complete a federal job application.
Follow directions exactly, or you are wasting your time.
Before you apply to a job, read these tips offered by USA Jobs.
Even with the federal government, networking is important. However, you need to get your resume on the desk of the hiring managers and have informational interviews before a job is even posted.
Be sure to put the same key words in your resume that are used to describe the job and qualification requirements. You need to include them only once. Taylor emphasized that if you do not meet 80% of the qualifications, you should not apply.
Your goal is to earn at least 95 rating points for your application package. Everything in your resume and application can potentially earn you points.
Maybe it’s been a while since you were in college, maybe not, but in your application you should list your relevant upper level undergraduate and graduate courses because they earn you points. Also list all the webinars, online courses, seminars, workshops, and other training that relate in some way to the job for which you are applying. Internships and volunteer activities and skills are also relevant to include.
As with any resume or application, numbers count, so quantify everything you can, using real or approximate data, percentages, frequency rates (daily, weekly, etc.), people (supervised, etc.).
The two-page standard for resumes doesn’t apply to government applications. They can be 3-5 pages and should cover as much relevant detail as you can supply.
Remember that what you write will be read initially by human resources personnel, not subject matter experts.
After applying, wait three weeks before making contact by phone or email with the hiring official to check on your status and how well you scored. Wait another three weeks before calling or writing again.
The hiring process takes 6 months on average, so don’t hold your breath. Keep looking, networking and applying.

Your Resume Is Never So Good It Can’t Be Improved

2010-02-23T16:24:00.000-05:00

Recently, after he sent me his, I sent my resume to a friend who had just been laid off. I gave him some unsolicited feedback on his resume, caught a couple of errors and suggested some formatting changes. He did the same for me. He noticed that my right justified dates were not all the same. He saw a missing word and made other suggestions. Fair game—and very helpful.

My resume has been reviewed many times by HR professionals, recruiters as well as peers. Each time I have emerged with a better document. But, obviously, after the repeated times I had changed, improved, updated and customized my resume over a year’s time, I subjected it to the possibility of new errors or missed details.

And, that’s why I value feedback at any time from anyone.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Tell Congress to Extend COBRA and Unemployment Benefits

2010-02-23T15:48:00.000-05:00

A CNN blog reports that “around 1.2 million Americans will run out of benefits after February 28.” A participant in yesterday morning’s 40 Plus of Greater Washington meeting announced that his Hill contacts said Congress has not been hearing a large outcry from the unemployed. Call your congressional representatives and senators today to tell them you want them to support extensions for COBRA and unemployment benefits.

10 R’s to Keep Your Job Search Alive When Winter Interferes

2010-02-18T07:33:00.001-05:00

You were going gangbusters at searching for a new job to replace the one you lost through a layoff or other job loss. Then winter hit with full force.

It’s frustrating waiting for roads to clear and the job market to get back into full swing after blizzards and other natural interferences. What can you do in the meantime? Here are a few suggestions:

Review your strategy and make adjustments. Are there avenues you haven’t explored yet?
Research companies online to find those that might be a good fit and build a plan for getting inside for informational interviews.
Read books, blogs and articles by recruiters and other HR experts on conducting an effective job search.
Revise or update your resume and online profile.
Reconnect with your networking circle, checking in to see how they are doing, share interesting articles and make future plans.
Reorganize your files and workspace.
Ready your wardrobe in case you are called for an interview.
Recharge your energy with some exercise and healthy eating.
Reminisce a bit about your past accomplishments and write up some success stories you can discuss in cover letters and at interviews.
Rehearse your 30-second elevator speech—or write the one you don’t have and practice it.

Climbing Out of Winter’s Job Search Black Hole

2010-02-16T08:55:00.000-05:00

Has your job search come to a screeching halt? If suddenly you find yourself in a winter black hole—a void with no new and interesting job listings, no responses to applications, no help from your connections, and a sinking feeling inside—it’s time to step back and assess what’s going on.

Sometimes nature takes control of our destiny. If you live on the east coast, say anywhere from Raleigh to New York, then you know how this winter’s cold, snowy onslaught has affected businesses and the government. The federal government in Washington, DC shut down for nearly a week because of two storms that dropped 3 feet of snow. Networking events were canceled. No one could get anywhere because of ice-bound, clogged streets and a public transit system that couldn’t operate for days. Just about everything got put on hold. Most other parts of the country have been hit by winter’s wrath too. Hey, that’s life…and it doesn’t last forever.

Take heart. Soon winter will stop its assault on your job search progress. Employers and recruiters will be back in full action, posting jobs, interviewing, networking and hiring.

Photo and text © 2010 Cynthia C. Rosso

Posting Your Resume on a Major Job Board—A Shot in the Dark?

2010-02-11T09:53:00.000-05:00

Job boards like Monster and its competitors have their detractors. Complaints include:

They’re too big and not targeted.
A large part of the jobs are lower-level positions.
Many jobs they include are already filled.
Employers will post jobs and then hire from within.
When you make your resume searchable, you lay yourself open to approaches from scams.

Despite the negative possibilities, you increase your odds by adding another layer to your search when you use a job board.

Here’s a recent real case in point:

After keeping her resume private on one major job board, one professional decided that she had nothing to lose a year after a layoff by opening access to all employers and recruiters and making it searchable.

Predictably, within days she started receiving emails from insurance companies and other “recruiters” offering her a great future if she only contacted them, took a course, or something else suspect. Because these were anonymous emails and obviously not targeted to her personally, she trashed them immediately. For a couple of companies, though, she took the time to check them out on the web—and found several results that associated the word “scam” with them. At that point, she could have changed her settings to block public access to her resume, but she persisted.

One afternoon a week later she received a phone call from a legitimate employer’s recruiter, who had found her through a resume search. The call led to an in-person interview with the recruiter and a planned second interview with the executive team.

The following week she received an email about a temp-to-perm job that called for the skills she offered, asking her to call if interested. The sender signed the email, but forgot to mention that a job board resume search was the source. Our subject called and learned that the job was a real lead offering good pay. The short phone call concluded with plans for follow-up by the recruiting firm and a pitch to the employer.

So, you decide.

Major Online Job Boards—Are They Worth It or Not?

2010-02-09T14:52:00.001-05:00

While online job boards, such as Monster or CareerBuilder, should not be your first line of attack in finding a new job, or even your second, they can be one piece of your overall strategy. Major ways to use them include:

Searching for jobs and applying to them on your own
Searching for jobs and applying via their own “Apply Now” feature
Posting your resume so it is searchable by recruiters and employers, or keeping it private to use only for applications
Setting up job agents so you receive likely matches by email
Reading advice articles and using other resource tools they offer, such as salary benchmarks
Letting them broadcast your resume to recruiters

Whether you apply for jobs through the job board’s mechanism or not is your choice, but I recommend researching each company and seeing who may be in your network from the company before submitting an application. Leverage your connections to learn more about the job or the organization. Then write a targeted cover letter to accompany your resume.

Keeping your resume private makes sense if you still have a job. To protect your personal privacy, be sure your posted resume does not include your home address, email or phone number. You can set your account to make all or none of your contact information available to employers and recruiters.

If you are out of work, however, you can increase your chances of being found by making your resume public. It’s a passive strategy, but it occasionally works. Keep in mind that your online resume should have all the relevant key words for your skills and job goals so that recruiter searches will land on your name.

Job agents are great, especially if you have chosen your key words well and set up a database friendly profile. They save you heaps of search time.

I have advocated against using resume broadcasting services, because they are too random, totally untargeted and generally unproductive. Many recruiters and hiring managers absolutely hate and ignore them. Such “robo-resumes” also eliminate the direct, personalized approach you should normally use, including your cover letter.

Large online job boards are a mixed bag. Used right they can be an asset, but they should rank low on your priority list of possible strategies. See last Thursday’s post on how job hunting expert Richard Nelson Bolles ranked them against other approaches.

Playing Your Job Hunt Cards Wisely—The Most and Least Successful Strategies

2010-02-04T08:23:00.000-05:00

In a September 2009 interview published in “Bottom Line Personal,” Richard Nelson Bolles, author of the seminal job hunter’s guide What Color Is Your Parachute? ranked today’s most and least successful job hunting strategies. His latest assessments are worth noting:

The Least Successful Strategies:

Mailing out unsolicited resumes/submitting or posting resumes online. Odds: 7%
(My note: Not your best use of time, and certainly not a good first line strategy.)

Responding to ads in professional or trade journals. Odds: 7% (Many require relocation.)
(My note: By the time you see the ads, they could be outdated.)

Responding to ads on Internet jobs sites. Odds: 10%

Responding to ads in the local newspapers. Odds: 5% - 24% (Most jobs listed are lower wage positions.)
(My note: If your local paper is like mine, there are so few ads, it’s not worth even looking at them. Even a recent “Mega Jobs” section in a major city paper was only six pages.)

Working with a private employment agency. Odds: 5% - 28% (Your odds increase if you are looking for an administrative position)

The Most Successful Strategies:

Networking for job leads. Odds: 33%
(My note: See earlier One Tomato at a Time posts on networking.)

Knocking on doors unannounced at employers of interest. Odds: 47%
(My note: This is a strategy that might surprise you!)

Calling companies of interest that are listed in the local Yellow Pages. Odds: 69%
(My note: Even more surprising!)

Partnering with other job hunters. Odds: 70%
(My note: Great idea, and it goes hand in hand with networking.)

Taking inventory of yourself then targeting the employers where you ought to be working. Odds: 86%
(My note: Yes. Yes. Yes. See an earlier post on this topic.)

There is no one strategy alone that will get you a job. You need to explore all the appropriate channels for your career path. I believe that networking, including partnering with other job hunters, is an important key to success, along with making sure your campaign is well targeted.

Resources:

Check out Bolles’ latest book The Job Hunter’s Survival Guide: How to Find Hope and Rewarding Work, Even When “There Are No Jobs. (His website: http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/)

General link to Bottom Line, a subscription based service.

Demons, Roadblocks and Pitfalls on the Way to a New Job—Part Two

2010-02-02T08:55:00.000-05:00

Last week I covered lethargy, fear, disorganization and email—common trip-ups to people unwillingly ensconced in searching for a new job after losing one to a layoff. But there are many more factors that could sabotage your chances of success, such as how you use your time. For instance:

Household chores—"I’ll just clean the garage before I get started today." "This load of laundry won’t take long."

Avoid letting your time be eaten away by chores just because “you have the time.” You don’t really. Set aside a window of time early in the morning or evening for some household work, but maintain a daily “work schedule” for your job hunting. Besides, you should be getting out and networking, not just staying at home.

Your dog or other pet—“Wag, wag, play with me.” You take out the leash and go for an extra walk, just because you can.

Your pet can be a great source of solace for your spirits, but you need to keep your play time to a minimum during your most productive daytime hours. Toss a ball once in a while, but try to avoid being sucked in by cuteness. Take that extra walk during your lunch break, or stick to the same schedule you would if you were still going off to a job each day.

TV watching—Now I can watch my soaps! Oprah’s on at 4! All day sports...wow!

If you have a favorite show you never got to watch because of your job, either record and watch it later or take your lunch break during the time of the show. And, turn the TV off once it’s over.

Lunch out—Your friend calls and says, “Hey, let’s get together for lunch at __!” The old gang invites you to meet for coffee and chat at a café.

Now that you are not working at a "job," many people will mistakenly think you have all the time in the world for social events during the day. Gauge these carefully in your job hunting strategy. An occasional totally social gathering is fine, if you can afford it. The most productive way to spend your going out dollars, though, is on lunch or coffee with someone who can help further your job search efforts.

Watch for Part Three of this series on demons, roadblocks and pitfalls next week. If you have suggestions for additions to the list (and solutions), please let me know at OneTomatoataTime@gmail.com.

Demons, Roadblocks and Pitfalls on the Way to a New Job—Part One

2010-01-28T13:39:00.004-05:00

You have probably already encountered one. Almost everyone who has been “put out on the street” by a layoff or job loss faces some demons, roadblocks and pitfalls that get in the way of an effective job search. Some can be overcome simply by focusing on them and making changes yourself. Others will take special effort or reaching out for professional help. Each requires a different strategy, but if you can block the following from railroading your job search, it will be smoother, and quite likely, faster:

Lethargy & Laziness—Not enough sleep. “Tomorrow is good enough.” “I’ll take this week off.” “Job hunting is so much work!”

The solution lies within you. You have to decide to get enough rest and to become focused and stay on task.

Fear & Panic—“No one will hire me now.” “I don’t know what to do.” “What if I can’t find a job and ____ (you fill in the blank) and a year goes by? Then what?”

If this is holding you back, get professional help. Talk to a career coach, your college career counselor, your best friend or spouse, your pastor, a psychiatrist…anyone who can help you get a grip and focus back on the task at hand.

Getting Overwhelmed by your own Disorganization—Can’t find anything. “Which resume was the last one I revised?”

Start now, early in the game, and you will be glad you did. Already deep into piles of unidentified papers and files? Dig in now and sort them out. Rename your computer files and put them into folders. Establish a naming convention for your documents and stick to it.

Falling in the Email Trap—Too much time spent checking, reading and responding. “Where did the day go?”

If your time is being eaten up by email, pick a couple of times a day and a certain length of time you’ll spend on emails. Delete or get off lists that fill your inbox with emails you never read.

Pressure (perceived or real)—“I am the sole support for my family.” “Everyone will think I’m a loser.”

Focus on the pressure you put on yourself, not what others think of you. If you are in danger of running out of funds and your unemployment has run out, take an interim job—anything you can get—whether in or out of your normal line of work. Set aside time daily for job hunting and enlist the help of friends, family and former colleagues. There’s nothing about being laid off that reflects on you. It’s not about you. So, redirect your energy to finding a new future.

Listening to Recruiters—Your LinkedIn Profile Is Important

2010-01-26T11:32:00.000-05:00

After hearing a recruiter give advice in a recent job hunter’s support session, I realized that the LinkedIn profile I had thought was so great could really use some revision if recruiters were going to find me. So, I have made a few already.

She had some other helpful insights as well. For instance, she told the group that recruiters at her firm, which specializes in filling creative, marketing and web-based positions, check LinkedIn more often than massive job boards such as Monster or CareerBuilder to identify and screen candidates. LinkedIn members, she noted, represent an overall higher caliber of professionals.

Here are some of her other tips for jobseekers who want to be noticed:

Add language to your title that tells people you are available, such as “Open to New Opportunities.”
Add your email address to your title or name, if you want people to contact you directly. This also implies you are an open networker, which you may or may not choose to be. If you do, it will lead to a larger network.
Make sure your profile summary tells visitors:

Who you are
What you do
Why you are on LinkedIn
How to contact you

Under Specialties, list as many key words as space allows so you will come up in more searches.
For descriptions in the Experience section, cut and paste from your resume, so they match. If you later change your resume, also change your LI profile.
In your Contact settings, include an email address, but make it a professional address via a current email provider, such as Gmail or Yahoo, rather than AOL or Earthlink. Because these latter providers are not mainstream anymore, they imply you are out of tune with today’s wired world.

If you are not on LinkedIn or have done little with your profile, check the LinkedIn Learning Center to discover the basics to making it a proactive tool in your career, whether you are a jobseeker or currently employed.

What Do Recruiters Say? Retool Your Job Search Strategy

2010-01-21T09:54:00.000-05:00

“For every quality job you see listed, there are probably between 5-7 qualified applicants competing for it. You need to focus on being the top person for that job.” These words were spoken by a recruiter, who specializes in IT and finance jobs, at a Northern Virginia job search support group session last week.

He added: “One of the biggest mistakes people make is to rely on just one job strategy. You need multiple strategies. The Internet is an incredibly powerful tool, but only 25% of people get jobs through the Internet. So you need to use a balanced approach. Use the Internet as your after-hours strategy or while you are watching a football game. Don’t make it your only strategy.”

At another presentation last week, a Washington, DC-based recruiter said she wants to see one- or two-paragraph cover letters—nothing longer. She and other recruiters can’t afford the time to read more—and often don’t read cover letters at all, especially longer ones. But, if you want yours noticed and read, your cover letter should directly address the requirements of the job, which you can accomplish in 3-4 bullet points.

Resumes are paramount, she said, and they must have all the most important information on the first page, near the top. That’s a good reason, she added, to limit the amount of personal data you put at the top so it doesn’t take so long to get to what makes you different and valuable. Instead, skip your mailing address and include only one phone number and your email. Including your LinkedIn profile link is okay, if you have a well developed, complete profile. The recruiter also noted that your resume should not have blocks of prose to summarize each job—they will go unread—but rather concise bullet points of your major accomplishments and responsibilities. Wordiness won’t win you a job.

There are no universal answers or magic keys to unlock the way to getting hired, but recruiters like these have a better pulse than jobseekers on what goes on in the job market. They are often the gatekeepers between you and a hiring manager. Maybe it’s time to listen.

Finding the Right Job Fair for You

2010-01-19T12:21:00.000-05:00

There are job fairs happening everywhere in the U.S., especially in urban areas, and some of them are very specialized. Some are entirely online. If you are thinking of attending a job fair, finding the right one for you will take some research. Here is a list to get you started, but also check your local newspaper for locally sponsored events.

Career Expo for People With Disabilities (http://www.eop.com/careerfair.html) is the website of an award winning recruitment magazine for people with disabilities.

ClearedJobs.net (http://www.clearedjobs.net/) offers the cleared professional opportunities to meet employers with cleared positions across the nation and overseas.

CorporateGray.com (http://www.corporate-gray.com/) lists military career fairs.

Careernet.4jobs.com (http://www.careernet.4jobs.com/) offers the State of Maryland’s offerings such as career fairs at the county level.

CareerFairs.com (http://careerfairs.com/) gives current listings of national career fairs and job listings.

CFG Career Fairs (http://cfg-inc.com/) offers career fairs for IT, MIS, Engineering, Sales, Management and Business Professionals.

IntelligenceCareers.com (http://intelligencecareers.com/) produces job expos calling for experienced individuals with security clearances.

Nonprofit Career Network (http://www.nonprofitcareer.com/) lists jobs and career fairs across the country.

TechExpoUSA.com (http://www.techexpousa.com/) produces job fairs and corporate open houses calling for experienced individuals with active security clearances. Check their website for Career Fairs in California, Colorado, and the East Coast in addition to the metro DC area.

TransitionCareers.com (http://www.transitioncareers.com/) is a relative new site focusing on the military, usually offering the career fairs on military installations but not always.

Women JobFairs (http://www.womenjobfairs.com/) is a site focused on job fairs for women to meet with registered employers in the public, private and nonprofit worlds.

And a few more:

American Job Fairs (http://www.jobexpo.com/)
Career Fairs & Job Fairs (http://jobsearch.about.com/od/jobfairs/Job_Fairs.htm)
DiversityJobFairs (http://www.diversityjobfairs.com/)
Hire Quest Job Fairs (http://hirequest.com)
International IT Career Events (http://www.it-careernet.com/)
Lucas Group Hiring Conferences (http://www.bradley-morris.com/)
National Job Fairs (http://www.nationaljobfairs.com/)
PSI Job Fairs (http://www.psijobfair.com/)

See the January 14 One Tomato at a Time posting for further information on job and career fairs.

Are Career or Job Fairs Worth Your Time?

2010-01-14T09:09:00.002-05:00

It depends.

Marketing guru and blogger, Seth Godin, earlier this week wrote, “Planning a career at a career fair is a little like looking for a soulmate at a singles' bar.” He thinks that employers are there to fill “average” jobs with “average” people, which he points out don’t really exist. I’m not average, are you?

A 2009 Northern Virginia job fair drew about 3,000 hopeful jobseekers, most of whom waited for hours in the rain to enter the building and talk with a handful of employers, mostly from the federal government. These agencies, it turns out, were looking to fill lower level jobs and sending people to the Web to apply. One attendee reported that the real value for her in this otherwise uncomfortable experience was the networking she did with the others standing in line.

Alison Doyle, who writes for About.com, likens career fairs to ‘“one stop shopping’ at the mall.” She concedes they “can be overwhelming with many people waiting to see the same employer, one-the-spot interviewing, noise and sometimes confusion.” But, she sees their value as providing a unique opportunity to meet one-to-one with representatives from several employers, which you can’t easily do any other way.

For a career or job fair to be a worthwhile experience, it takes advance research and preparation, a lot of energy (and willingness to stand in lines), and a winning attitude. It takes all that plus a little luck.

Checking out what employers will be there and what jobs are open ahead of time will tell you if a particular event holds some promise for you. You can’t do anything about the weather or how many other jobseekers show up. You can arrive early, though, to minimize your waiting time, and you can be prepared.
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This You Tube video by Patra Frame of Strategies for Human Resources offers helpful tips on making your job fair experience more successful.

Making 2010 All That 2009 Wasn’t for Jobseekers

2010-01-12T11:39:00.001-05:00

As a jobseeker, this is a good time to take what you learned in 2009 and fine tune it to create a new future for yourself in 2010.

2009 was certainly a year of lessons. We learned not to take anything for granted, not our jobs, our assets or ourselves. We learned that we had to set new goals, meet new people, gain new skills, and find a new job or even a new career path. Many of us learned how to live on less and developed new survival skills we never knew we’d need.

If you were new to the job market or re-entering after a long time, you were introduced to networking, even speed networking, and you probably delivered your first “elevator speech.” Did you even have one before?

Social media—from FaceBook to LinkedIn, Plaxo, Bing, Twitter and blogs—more than likely took root in your career plan. These newer communication tools connected you with the wider professional arena in your field of expertise or interest.

2009 gave us new tools for taking 2010 by the horns, seizing the reigns of what we can control—ourselves. Now it’s time to use all that learning, improve upon it, and make 2010 all that 2009 wasn’t.

Back in the Job Market After a Long Time?

2010-01-07T11:17:00.001-05:00

If you were laid off from a job you’d had for many years, as many people have been, you probably had a rude awakening when you realized that job hunting had changed dramatically since your last foray into it. Here’s what you found:

Newspaper listings were nearly extinct.
Online listings were overwhelming.
Jobs were scarcer and more competitive than ever.
New security measures blocked the possibility of knocking on company doors.
Your old chronological resume was out of touch with today’s requirements.
Job fairs drew thousands of hopefuls who stood in lines for hours.
Networking had become the way to find jobs.
Online networking (LinkedIn, FaceBook, etc.) had become mainstream.

It probably seemed daunting. The question is what did you do about it?

Many people turn to helpful organizations such as 40Plus, a Washington D.C. support group for the older, experienced jobseeker. 40Plus provides free weekly speaker sessions on job hunting topics and a set of courses for those who pay, followed by ongoing peer support. Others turned to their alma maters or professional associations for advice. Career coaches, a fairly new cadre of professional advisors, offer one-to-one as well as group support. These are good places to start your reentry process.

With predictions of a better jobs outlook this year, being ready is paramount if you are going to be successful. Reaching out to learn how the new job market works lays the foundation for your new personal campaign.

Ageism in the Job Market—What You Can Do

2010-01-05T11:35:00.000-05:00

We all know that despite their being illegal, hidden prejudices against older workers exist in the business world. However, there are measures you can take if you are 50 or older that can invalidate any internal company push to hire younger, less experienced employees.

I’m not talking here about altering your resume, dyeing your hair or having a facelift. Instead, I’m proposing four real actions you can take to stay vital and fully engaged in the work world.

Energy—Do you get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly? Of course, we all want to look trim and beautiful, but staying in shape will energize you to thrive even through long days facing tough challenges on the job. Your energy level shows in your writing, on the phone and in person. Arriving at an interview full of energy and maintaining it throughout the meeting will demonstrate that, with you, age is not a valid factor in being able to keep up with younger workers.

Technology—You may not love all the technologies that have come to dominate the business world: cell phones; laptops; iPods; blogs; webinars; Blackberries; social media, and the list goes on. Even so, you need to embrace those that are now integral to your line of work, whatever that may be. If the employer is using them, you need to be already using them or ready to adopt them and learn quickly. Ask someone to show you the ropes, if needed. Keep up with what’s new in your field by reading, attending learning programs and practicing.

Flexibility—One worry among employers is that an older worker will be inflexible and potentially difficult in a team setting. Be sure to demonstrate in your cover letter and other communications with employers that you are open minded and able to shift gears when needed. Make your point by relating success stories that show you as an engaged team member who can move in new directions when needed.

Salary—What you earned in your last job may no longer be relevant. Times have changed. Budgets are tighter. Be prepared to take less now and work your way back up again as the economy improves. Make it clear to employers that salary is not everything to you and that you understand the challenges of today’s economic turmoil. Stress how important helping an employer accomplish its mission is to you—and be sure to know what the mission is. Matching your values with theirs will make you a more attractive candidate.

Leaving Behind the Muddy Tracks of 2009—Here Comes 2010

2009-12-29T13:33:00.002-05:00

All the hard-learned lessons and trials of 2009 may be caked to your boots, but it’s time to leave the muddy tracks behind you. We’re entering a new year and a new decade. On Sunday, December 20, the Washington Post’s Kiplinger Personal Finance column started off with: “In 2010, look for a sign of prosperity that we haven’t seen in years. It reads ‘Now Hiring.’”

What shape this hopeful turn takes and how many new jobs will open up, and when, remain to be seen, but 2010 holds promise for opportunities for the more than 7 million who lost their jobs in 2009. The Post added a caveat to its cheery employment outlook—that a “full recovery is far off”—but that’s nothing new. Economic recoveries are never fast, and they tend to be different from region to region, depending on what makes local economies tick.

Whether the new job opportunities turn out to be permanent or temporary, full-time or part-time, freelance or contracted, they will be competitive. Salaries may not match what they were in 2008, but it is better to be back in the market at a somewhat reduced income level than living on memories. As the economy grows, your salary will also rise again, but you have to be part of it for that to happen.

If you are unemployed—possibly since months ago or even longer—or underemployed, now is the time to recharge your job hunting batteries. Make sure your resume is current, get back in touch with your network, connect with agencies, refresh your online profile, and be ahead of the rest of the contenders for the jobs that do open up.

Good-bye mud. Hello new decade. Happy New Year!

One Tomato at a Time will resume two posts a week on January 5.

Holiday Cheer When You’re Out of Work—Keeping It Simple

2009-12-22T11:25:00.000-05:00

The holidays put many people in a frenzy of decorating, shopping, wrapping, cooking, eating and reveling. For some, it’s a time of reflection, and for others, a time to party. Whatever your usual approach to December’s holidays, when you are out of work your perspective changes.
Instead of buying new decorations, you bring out your old favorites. Rather than shopping and spending in your usual fashion, you may make some gifts in your kitchen—or if you are crafts minded—by hand, improvising from what you already own. You may decorate your homemade gifts with recycled paper and ribbons. Holiday gatherings can take on a festive air with music and games that draw everyone into the fun.

Another way to spend part of the holidays is helping others who are less fortunate than you are, contributing your time and energy to feed and help the homeless. Bringing cheer and warmth to others by sharing your holiday can instill the same feelings in you.

By keeping your holiday plans simple, you can find the peace that is the essence of the season. By focusing on simple pleasures, like being with friends and family or helping others, you can do a lot more than “get through” an otherwise often stressful December. You can find joy.

I wish you much joy and peace.

The “Gifts” of 2009

2009-12-18T10:23:00.000-05:00

As the holidays approach, the out-of-work jobseeker could easily fall into a gloomy cloud in the midst of the festivities. If you see yourself sinking into this mood, stop now and look back on the gifts, small or large, that you have received and given in the past year. “Gifts?” you ask. “Is she crazy?”

Well, maybe, but I know that since my own layoff I have learned a lot and met many great people I probably never would have known. For one thing, I became an active social media participant and a blogger, now with more than 80 blog entries posted. My professional community grew because I participated in LinkedIn groups and local organizations, attended countless networking events, and tweeted. This year, through webinars, seminars and workshops, I expanded my knowledge on such topics as web analytics and search-engine optimization. I volunteered my expertise as a judge in a professional awards program and as a career advisor. To bring in some cash, I began freelancing as a writer, editor and marketing pro and spent the last four months filling in part-time for someone out on parental leave, learning a whole new field for me—international development—and gaining new friends.

Sure, I’ve had my moments of fear for the future, but learning, growing and sharing have lifted me so that I can look ahead with hope rather than back with regrets.

My suggestion to you is to make your own list of “gifts” during 2009. Everyone’s list will be different, but, unless you have totally isolated yourself, you are likely to be surprised by all that you have gained this year, even if you lost your job. The gifts can be prizes as small as a hug or a phone call or as large as learning a new skill. They can be family-based or in your wider professional community.

Special Note: During the holidays, I will post two more entries on this blog before launching head first into 2010. You’ll find these on December 22 and December 29.

Taking Stock—What Do You Really Want to Do?

2009-12-15T14:24:00.001-05:00

We’re approaching the end of the year. A lot of people take this time to make resolutions for the next year. If you are out of work, and the months have been ticking away without a hot job lead or an offer, the holiday season is a great time to stop and consider what you really want to be doing. Here are some things to ponder:

Do you really want a full-time office job like the one you had before or would you like to try something new—maybe two part-time jobs?
Would you enjoy more flexibility in your work life, possibly working from home most or all of the time?
Have you considered working independently as a contractor or freelancer?
Would starting your own business be your dream come true?
Is there another line of work you can pursue that also fits your talents and today’s job market?
Do you have skills, knowledge or talents that can transfer to a totally new field, such as the in-demand alternative energy industry or health care?
What’s most important to you: benefits, salary, interesting work, flexibility, etc.?

How you answer these, and the many other questions you can pose for yourself, should drive the direction you take as you move forward in your career path.

Sometimes, jobseekers feel so driven by a sense of duty to those who rely on them for support, they overlook this important introspective step. Taking it now could make your search for gainful employment in 2010 more productive and rewarding.

Waiting to Hear if You Got the Job? You’re Not Alone

2009-12-11T09:43:00.000-05:00

To receive a rejection notice at all these days is remarkable, so don’t take it to heart if you don’t. Once upon a time, employers would send a short note to all applicants cut in the first review to let them know they were out of the running. That practice has all but disappeared.
If you receive a rejection note after making the first cut, even a sterile “Thank you for applying,” consider yourself lucky. It doesn’t happen often.

This omission is probably a result of the massive number of applications submitted today for every job opening. In fact, one employer recently received more than 1,500 applications for a set of five openings. The prospect of having to send notices to even one-tenth of the applicants would be daunting. However, they did send rejection emails to all who were not chosen after undergoing a stringent audition, and they were written in a positive, almost personal tone. Such a rarity!

Anyone would rather receive a rejection letter than to never hear from an employer, especially after one or two interviews, but that happens more often than not these days. The worst rejections are the ones you never receive or you learn about when you meet by chance the person who did get the job.

If there is one lesson to learn from this change in how applicants are treated, it is that you should not take it personally. Nearly everyone is having the same experience you are.

However, as I wrote in my last blog post, Don’t Hold Your Breath—Be a Proactive Jobseeker, you can break the deafening silence yourself rather than waiting for notification from an employer.

Don’t Hold Your Breath—Be a Proactive Jobseeker

2009-12-09T14:33:00.000-05:00

Suppose you submitted an application, made it through the first cut, had a phone interview and went on to an in-person interview. You are a success story already, even if it doesn’t feel that way yet. Every time you make it to the next level, you have achieved a goal.
Suppose you’ve even had two interviews, having made it to the finalist level, maybe even the top two. What should you expect next? Assuming the interview went well, your hopes are high for an offer.

You go home, write and send your thank-you note, and wait. How long should you wait? What is your strategy?

It is kosher and advisable to ask at the interview, if it hasn’t already been stated, what the time line and decision process will be.

However, don’t hold your breath. If a long time passes and you haven’t heard, there are a couple of likely scenarios. One is they have decided to delay making a decision or they are just slow—in other words, no offer has been made yet. The other is that you didn’t get the job.

No matter which scenario may be at play, take the initiative yourself to make a call or write an email to the lead interviewer, recruiter or hiring manager. Use this contact as an opportunity to restate your interest in the position. If it has not been filled yet, you increase your odds another notch by being proactive. If the job went to someone else, you will have closure so you can stop hoping this one will come through and put it behind you.

Hiring Decisions--How Do They Do It?

2009-12-03T10:49:00.000-05:00

Recently, an online employer located in the Washington, DC area that was seeking to fill five lateral positions received more than 1,500 applications. As a hiring manager, I can’t imagine what a daunting job it must have been to sort through them, but they did. I say “they” because it must have been a team. I recall receiving 150 or more for one opening many years ago and thinking I’d never get through them…but I did.

Before applications went almost entirely electronic, I would create three piles. As I whittled the stack of letters and resumes down, I tossed all that lacked required information, had gross errors, or were obviously done in haste or addressed to the wrong organization, straight into the NO pile. Why waste time? My other two piles—MAYBE and PROBABLY—were trickier. The PROBABLY category was for those whose experience most closely matched the requirements and who wrote convincing, well crafted cover letters. This never turned out to be a large pile, but it had depth in quality. The MAYBEs were all the rest that had some qualifications but weren’t shoe-ins. Since the process went electronic, the physical piles have disappeared, but the general approach is often still the same, and it’s not easy.

Imagine yourself as a hiring manager or recruiter with 1,500 applications to review for those five positions. If you saw your own application among them, how would you do? Which pile would yours land in?

Keep this in mind when you write your next cover letter or fill out an application. Staying out of the NO pile is largely in your control. All you have to do is apply to jobs that are appropriate and pay attention to details. And, by targeting the right jobs—ones for which you are truly qualified—and writing compelling cover letters, you can also avoid the MAYBE designation. Landing in the PROBABLY pile is success and will likely lead to a phone call.

Rejected for a Job?—Get Over It

2009-12-01T11:25:00.000-05:00

Rejection is part of the process of applying for jobs. There are only two possible outcomes for each application—you get hired or you don’t. How qualified you are for a job is no longer an issue, once you have been rejected. For each position, only one applicant can win out. But does rejection make you a loser? No, not at all.

The main thing to remember is that being rejected for a job is not about you. Companies have a wide range of reasons for the decisions they make that have nothing to do with you personally. They may hire internally after an open search, find another candidate whose experience is a dead-on match for the job description, or decide to delay filling the position for economic reasons. The scenarios are innumerable, but they are not about you.

It is important to not internalize rejections. If you do, they will eat you up—and suck the life out of your job hunt. And, the longer you are on the market, the more rejections you will have. Sure, they are disappointments, but it’s unproductive to let them hang you up. The best advice is to get over them quickly, brush off and move ahead.

Shoes—A Detail That Can Affect Your Job Chances

2009-11-24T14:27:00.001-05:00

In the past two weeks, I have focused my attention—while commuting by subway into the city—on feet. It started when I glanced across the aisle at a professionally dressed traveler who neglected (or chose not) to wear socks in his shiny loafers. Either way, he seemed unfinished.

There have been many interesting pairs of feet in the stations and trains. Some are shabbily shod with worn down heels, thin spots, dulled and scuffed leather, and even worse. Then there are the flip flops (even on cold days), humongous furry boots (even on warm days) and enormously long-pointed, needle-heeled showy shoes that make my feet hurt looking at them. Most others are wearing walking shoes for the commute, presumably because they have shoes at the office reserved for wearing at work only.

If you are a job seeker, your footwear decisions can be very important. Shoes can offer a lot of clues about you. Reportedly, many recruiters and hiring managers take notice of what’s on your feet the moment you walk into the interview room. And more often than not, first impressions can determine your fate. Within seconds, assumptions are being made as to whether you will fit in to the company culture.

Clean, polished, sensible but stylish shoes that complement your outfit, preferably a tailored suit in a neutral color, send a clear message that you pay attention to detail and want to make a good presentation. They mean you want the job. Paying attention to such a seemingly small detail will also take the interviewer’s focus off your feet and bring it back to you, where it belongs.

Approaching Your Job Search with an Entrepreneurial Spirit

2009-11-18T17:16:00.001-05:00

Taking an entrepreneurial approach to your job hunt is a way to stand out in the masses of jobseekers now on the market. People have been known to stand on the sidewalk hawking their availability with sandwich boards or to buy billboard space. These people reached a point at which they will do anything to get a job…and their tactics reek of desperation.

What are some ways to show your enterprising spirit without seeming weird and crazy? Here are some ideas to jump-start your thinking:

Make your 30-second “elevator speech” less conventional. Spotlight a remarkable success you had rather than your laundry list of skills or jobs.
Create unusual business cards. They could be a unique shape, have a fold-over flap, come in an electronic format…use your imagination.
Start a blog and submit articles as a guest blogger—use every online opportunity to promote your blog (and you), without being pushy.
Become an active blog commenter on popular, influential blogs in your field. Get noticed by sharing your expertise.

Instead of your resume, prepare a Qualifications Statement as if you are a consultant for hire and send it to the companies where you would most like to work. Sometimes you can get in the door full time after showing off your skills as a consultant.

Since this is Global Entrepreneurship Week, use the occasion to launch your own branded, entrepreneurial job search. Within professional parameters, you can have fun with it and demonstrate your creativity. It can’t hurt!

Get a New Job— Entrepreneur

2009-11-17T10:38:00.000-05:00

This week is Global Entrepreneurship Week, focused on encouraging people around the world to bring new ideas and services to the marketplace. If you are looking for alternatives to solving your unemployment dilemma, becoming an entrepreneur may be the route for you. If you are a freelancer or have taken on contract work that you arranged yourself, you already qualify as an enterprising individual.

An entrepreneur is defined by Merriam Webster's as “One who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise,” but what it takes to be entrepreneurial goes beyond this generic description.

All the same skills and attributes you need to apply to job hunting are basic to starting a business: market research; believing in your idea and yourself; having a goal; building a plan; networking; marketing; persistence; and a base of knowledge. But, is this a good time to be an entrepreneur, with the economy still weak? Opinions differ, but if your risk level is low and you need little capital to get started, it just might be the best time to start a business. Before taking the plunge, though, do your research, get some advice and check your own finances.

There are many free and low cost local resources for prospective and active entrepreneurs throughout the U.S., especially through the Small Business Administration, SCORE, and your local government’s small business development agency. Because these groups want businesses to succeed, they offer training classes to get you started as well as ongoing advice and support.

Entrepreneurship may not be for you—it requires hard work, attention to detail, long hours and sometimes low self pay until the business is sustainable—but with a solid plan and mentoring, you may find that being your own boss is right for you.

See these articles for commentary on whether a recession is a good time to start a new business:

Five reasons why a recession is a good time to start a company

Is Now a Good Time to Start Up?

Starting a Business in a Downturn

Preparing Ahead for Curveball Job Interview Questions

2009-11-11T16:57:00.001-05:00

If you have a spotless background—never made a single error—then hats off to you. You are a rarity. As humans, it is normal to commit gaffs on the job such as misjudgments, hasty decisions, misspoken words, overlooked details, and so on at some time in our careers. Since not everything goes perfectly all the time, you need to think ahead how you would handle a curveball question.

It’s the curveball questions that can trip you up, especially if you are not ready for them. Try answering one of these without any preparation:

1. Tell me about a decision you have made that turned out to be wrong.

2. Describe an incident where you disagreed with an executive decision.

3. We all make mistakes. Tell me about one of your worst.

4. What was the worst job you ever had?

5. In what area are you weakest?

The list could go on, and I suggest that you make your own list of questions. Include the questions you’d rather not have to answer, ones that might point to embarrassing events or your own errors.

Then, as an exercise, privately write out your answers truthfully, laying out the worst details in no more than a paragraph. Next take a look at what you’ve written and think about how you resolved these situations when you were under fire, in a tight spot, or just plain wrong. Did you learn anything from these experiences? Did they influence how you acted later to ward off the same kinds of ill events?

Whatever actions you took during or after a mishap—the ones that fixed the problem, saved the company unneeded expenses or embarrassment, or kept you from repeating the unfortunate situation—those are the ones you want to focus on during an interview. By demonstrating that you can step up to the plate to solve problems, learn from your errors and shoot for positive outcomes, you will show how you can handle any pitch, even a curveball.

The Curveball Interview Question—Don’t Let It Toss You Out

2009-11-10T08:50:00.001-05:00

“So, tell me about your worst campaign,” asked the interviewer. The candidate, an experienced but young association professional, wasn’t ready for this question.

The “worst case” question is the proverbial curveball, thrown at the candidate to see if she can think quickly, solve problems and learn from mistakes.

Three scenarios came quickly to her mind:

An assistant neglected to match the names on letters with the addressed envelopes for a large mailing.
The applicant herself inserted the wrong year on a renewal form.
A temporary helper hired to fold letters and stuff envelopes, who reported for duty wearing 3-inch fake fingernails, wound up getting her blood red nail polish on the letters.

Given these three stories as my options, I like the fingernail story, because it injects a bit of humor into a serious answer, while giving her a chance to show how she addressed the problem. Perhaps she noticed the red marks on the letters early on and thus staved off a costly disaster. She may have called the agency to ask for a new temp after seeing what was happening. There are many possible approaches, but ultimately, she needs to demonstrate for the interviewer how she took charge of the situation and turned it around. Did she supervise temp staff more closely after that event? Did she change agencies? Did the mailing end up going out on time despite having to reprint some letters? Did it affect the bottom line for the campaign?

Of course, if the scene was a true disaster, she shouldn’t bring it up at an interview.

When asked to describe a negative event, job candidates should shape their answers in terms of positive outcomes, lessons learned and what they did the next time.

Watch for my next post on planning ahead for curveball questions.

Pinching Pennies & Spending Effectively After a Layoff

2009-11-04T17:33:00.000-05:00

Face it, one of your first worries after a layoff, or any job loss, is money. In this economic environment we are all watching what we spend, but when there are no more paychecks or unemployment benefits are all you have to live on, spending decisions are critical.

Your main goal is to find a new job as quickly as possible, but to make sure your money covers your needs and expenses, your spending choices need to be strategic. Consider first what you absolutely have to spend on for your job hunt—things like Internet access, cell phone bills, business cards, transportation and a few office supplies. If you need professional help with your resume or job hunting techniques to get you started, especially if you have been out of the job market for a while, seek recommendations from friends and price out your options. Put your money where you will gain what you really need.

Networking is a necessity. Not every penny you spend will bring you actionable results, but every connection can lead to another. There are plenty of low cost networking options, where $10-30 will get you in the door if you register ahead.

Consolidate your events or meetings to economize on travel costs and time. If you have to drive to networking events, try carpooling with a friend or job hunting buddy, trading off on who drives each time. If you are going into the city for a meeting or an interview, take public transportation and make it a day. Set up additional informational interviews in the same area. Meet someone for lunch and maybe someone else for coffee.

Print your own business cards or use one of the low cost or free online business card printers. Printing you own will allow you to customize your cards to specific scenarios, which is helpful if you are looking at more than one career path.

Stretching your job hunting budget is possible if you make wise decisions.

The Old Fashioned Thank-you—Your Post Interview Spotlight

2009-11-03T11:44:00.001-05:00

People like to be thanked for gifts or attention. It’s human nature. The same principle applies in the job hunting process.

After an interview, there is nothing better than a formal, personally written thank-you note from you to solidify you in your interviewer’s memory. It also shows your attention to detail and follow-up. Saying thank-you is done all too seldom, so your note of gratitude will make you stand out. It’s like shining a spotlight on yourself.

Prepare ahead by purchasing a set of simple thank-you cards and postage stamps, and do this before you even send out resumes. Consider them a necessary staple in your job hunting toolbox.

Why not just send an email? Emails these days are ordinary and easy to lose in the mass of other emails everyone receives. A note on card stock in a small envelope, written in your own handwriting (printing is also fine) will emerge as unique in the office mail.

Here is what your note should include:

The date
A formal greeting, such as “Dear Mr. Jones,” unless you are writing to an old friend, in which case you can use the first name
Your personal statement of appreciation for their time, information and interest in you
A brief mention of something about the job or company discussed during the interview.
A reiteration of what you offer that will be of most value to the employer.
A restatement of your interest in the job and working with them.
A professional closing, such as “Sincerely” or “Best regards”
Your full signature

The note should be short and friendly but professional, and enthusiastic but not gushy. Because it will be hand written, draft your note on the computer or a separate piece of paper. That way you can edit and improve it before transcribing it onto your purchased note card.

Mail your note the same day as the interview or at least the next morning. In today’s competitive job market, being first and being timely are highly important.

Networking—Compassion or Competition?

2009-10-30T09:33:00.005-04:00

Fellow jobless people you meet through networking can become part of your community of connections or they can be competitors. The distinction is really up to you. However, choosing the compassionate route can have short- and long-term rewards.

Even those who may be competing for the same jobs hold some promise as connections, because if they find a job before you do, they are suddenly on the inside track again and able to help you more. The wider you cast your net, the more options you give yourself. If you shut off those who might “take jobs away” from you, you also shut off the potential leads and support they can offer.

Just as with not burning bridges with past employers (see the last post), being open minded in your networking could lead to a job opportunity you never imagined existed.

The keys to success in networking with other jobseekers are sharing and caring. You can:

Share interesting articles, papers or news items with your connections.
Add them to your online network on LinkedIn or other social media.
Offer support by listening.
Notify them about new networking opportunities.
Invite them to join you to hear an interesting speaker.
Ask them to come along to a professional meeting, exposition or other event.
Introduce your contacts to others in your network.
Send links to resources on job hunting or their profession.
Check in periodically to see how they are doing.
Get together one-to-one over coffee.

Turning Anger into Positive Energy after Job Loss

2009-10-27T09:23:00.004-04:00

When you leave a job, especially under unhappy circumstances such as a layoff or separation, it is wise to leave with as much style as you can muster—staying calm and professional. And, to stay that way, no matter how angry you are. Throwing epithets or trashing your former employer will only do you harm.

In a town like DC where a lot of people know a lot of people, word can get around. You may tell people what happened to you in “confidence,” but in another context your tale of woes may just be another bit in their memory bank, and it may be reaching the ears of possible future employers or coworkers. It might even reach your previous boss, which could hurt your chances if he or she is called by your next potential employer for a reference. Additionally, people shy away from complainers. If you are networking, you’ll do better if you park your personal issues at home.

However, I’m not suggesting that you ignore how you feel or suppress your initial anger. What I am suggesting is that you deal with it to get over it, so you can start on a positive path towards finding new employment. If you deal with your anger in constructive ways, whether it’s writing in a personal journal (not a blog), talking it out privately at home or with a professional counselor, or taking it out in exercise, you are taking charge of it rather than letting it consume you and infect what you do and say.

Employers are looking for upbeat attitudes, and burning bridges has never been the route to success. Working through your feelings will help you find the positive energy you need to move on.

After the Networking Event—What’s Next?

2009-10-22T15:57:00.009-04:00

When networking, you will likely meet people who are looking for jobs like yourself, some just laid off and others who have been on the market for months or longer. You will encounter others who are well connected in the DC business community, sales persons or business owners looking to gain a customer, and career coaches and recruiters. Any of these individuals could turn out to be good connections for you to make.

Each time I attend a networking opportunity, I leave with several business cards and connections that could lead either to freelance, contract or permanent work, or new friends, or even guest bloggers. These are just quick meetings, nothing definite, but bearing potential. So, what’s next?

Without follow-up, all these networking connections are just noise. It’s up to you to make the music. On the same or next day after a networking event, you should:

Make sure the notes* you jotted on the business cards you collected are meaningful, while you can still remember enough about the people and what they said. I recommend that for later reference you also date the cards and add the name of the event or organization.
Sort your cards (and your memories) into: A. those with true long-term potential; B. those with peripheral common interests; and C. those who are probably not going to be part of your immediate circle.
Start contacting your A group first. Invite them to join your online network (LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.) or set up a time to meet over coffee.
Write short greetings to your B group, and if you are so inclined, to your C group. After all, this latter group may have connections to other people you’d like to know.

Now you have begun the networking process—and it definitely doesn’t end here.

*See the October 20 post.

Making a Networking Event Worth Your While

2009-10-20T09:57:00.006-04:00

Networking is more than meeting people, elevator speeches and a stack of business cards. It’s about building relationships.

At a “networking” event, such as those given by the groups mentioned in my Oct. 19 posting or by a professional organization in your field, you will shake hands with many people, exchange short conversations and trade business cards.

Here are a few tips for making attending such an event more successful and meaningful:

If the name badges are “do-it-yourself” stickers, write your name neatly and large for easy recognition.
Attach your name badge on your right side so when you shake hands, those you are meeting can easily read it.
Arrive early before the full crowd has assembled. It’s a good chance to have fuller conversations when the room is quieter.
Hold back on the drinks, even if there is an open bar or drink specials. A tipsy networker is not a pretty picture.
If there is food, have yours early on so you can greet people without a mouthful.
Practice name recall by making introductions. The more you use a name, the better you remember it and the stronger the connection will be.
Do not make the mistake of discounting the value of fellow jobseekers, who may prove to be your best advocates and scouts. These linkages can prove to be mutually beneficial and long-lasting.
Do not ask for jobs, but rather listen to what people talk about, what their concerns are and what they are looking for.
Make notes on the backs of business cards you gather to help you remember specifics about the people who gave them to you. Jot down their interests, goals, specialties or other notable facts.

Armed with a handful of cards, what do you do now? I will address that in my next post. Also, see these earlier posts on networking.

Call Me an Optimist—Jobs Are Like Tomatoes?

2009-10-14T12:51:00.011-04:00

One of my two “girls,” a tall productive yellow cherry tomato plan, bit the dust in early September. Her offspring were delicious. The sister plant with its plump red cherry tomatoes is nearing its demise. Both plants lived fruitful lives, enjoying the sun, enduring storms and cold nights, and delivering 100s of wonderful little tomatoes.

We popped them in our mouths raw right off the plant, we added them to vegetable and pasta dishes, and we sautéed them with leaves from our basil plants. They joined our stir fry meals and topped fish fillets.

As the two plants aged, they developed leaf spots and hosted spiders who strung their webs from stem to stem. They stopped being pretty. At one point, my husband pointed to them and declared they were done. No more of the little green gems were going to turn to red or yellow, he thought. “Time to cut them down.”

Call me an optimist. I wasn’t ready to give up (seems to be a lifelong trait of mine)…and it turned out I was right. We had at least a dozen more ripening tomatoes after the initial death sentence.

Now that their season is nearly finished, I look forward to planting their cousins in the spring. We had a good run together. It’s been great.

In a way, it's similar to leaving or losing a job you liked. It was a good run, but now it's time to move on.

[If you’re new to One Tomato at a Time, please check out these earlier posts on planting and tending my “girls.”]

Signs of the Season, Networking Opportunities Are Everywhere

2009-10-12T10:37:00.010-04:00

Trees are starting to show their fall colors, and networking opportunities are abundant in the DC area. Organized groups, from professional associations to local meet-ups and interest groups, are hosting gatherings at a wide range of venues. If you are looking for a job, this is prime time for making connections. Summer is over. Everyone is back in action.

Here are a couple of affordable, very active groups that sponsor area networking opportunities jobseekers should check out.

Washington Network Group—WNG is a membership group, but you don’t have to join to attend. Over time it will make sense to join so you can participate in networking at the nominal member rate of $20. Food is included at these evening events, and there is a cash bar. The group holds events specifically for professionals in government affairs, business, communications, technology and international fields, but they also hold events that bring them all together. Go to http://www.washingtonnetworkgroup.com/ for more information. WNG also offers an extensive online list of organizations for further networking.

Washington DC Connections—This is a group spawned on LinkedIn last April that has mushroomed into a network of more than 11,000 DC area professionals. It has 13 special interest subgroups as well. There are no membership dues, and events cost $20. Since it is part of LinkedIn, there is also an active online community, where members often post information for jobseekers. Go to the group’s LinkedIn pages for more details.

The general wisdom for jobseekers is that you won’t find a job sitting at home. So take advantage of all the opportunities around you to get out to meet new people, connect with those you’ve met before, and potentially open a niche for yourself that leads to a new job.

Chipmunk Cheeks—Never Giving Up

2009-10-08T18:10:00.003-04:00

While writing for this blog, I often see a small brown flash in the corner of my right eye as a chipmunk—cheeks full of acorns—dashes across the top step outside my back door. Sometimes it will sit there for a while on its haunches, looking around, totally oblivious to my presence. We regularly share a space on this planet, only a few feet apart. It’s one of the small pleasures of working at home.

My chipmunk friend, like millions of others, is preparing for the winter. Even I have begun my preparations for colder weather by extracting my long-sleeved shirts and sweaters from a cedar-lined storage box in my closet.

As the seasons come and go, we all make small and large adjustments to our lives. As jobs come and go, we move on too. Sometimes the effort and changes such transitions require are large, but taking each step One Tomato at a Time (so to speak), we get closer to where we want to be.

My friend the chipmunk makes countless trips to transport a few acorns from their source to a hiding spot, never giving up because the task is too large.

I think there is a lot we can learn from chipmunks.

Passing Unemployment Milestones and Focusing on the Future

2009-10-06T10:33:00.008-04:00

Many who were laid off earlier this year or before are still on the market for a job. There’s no denying that job hunting in today’s environment is more challenging than when the economy was booming. You can’t change historical facts, but you can change your future reality.

If you are passing an unemployment milestone, say six months or more, maybe it is time to take stock of your accomplishments to date.

Have you:

Sought advice from friends and experts?
Lined up your references?
Had your resume professionally critiqued?
Regularly updated your online profile?
Networked at every opportunity?
Followed up on leads given to you by friends and former colleagues?
Shared job leads with fellow jobseekers?
Developed or participated in a support network?
Contacted recruiters?
Attended workshops and seminars to keep your skills up?
Enrolled with temporary agencies?
Kept in touch with your contacts?
Volunteered anywhere?
Joined Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn groups?
Conducted informational interviews?
Updated your portfolio?
Started a blog or your own website?

While these are great steps to take, especially if you have done them all, you might respond, “Yeah, but,” because so far they haven’t landed you a permanent job. However, at this juncture in your quest for re-employment, it’s okay to congratulate yourself for what you have accomplished…for a moment…and then move forward.

Rather than sagging into the dumps, now is the time to try new angles and ramp up your efforts. Instead of losing steam because of the time passed, energize yourself and get going.

Portfolios for Creative Non-Creative Job Hunters

2009-10-01T17:35:00.004-04:00

You may not design beautiful brochures or websites, but I’ll bet you have put together a report or two, maybe with graphs or charts. Maybe you wrote a portion or all of an investor report or contributed to last year’s annual report. Can you show critical path and milestones for a project you managed in a Gantt chart? How about SOPs you wrote or an executive summary?

There are lots of creative ways to demonstrate your abilities with visual effects even if your work itself is not in the creative arts. Portfolios are not just for writers or graphic designers. When you walk into an interview, it creates more impact if you have something visual that you can show while you discuss your role and the outcomes of your contribution.

Fill a portfolio with your best recent examples, including PDFs, web pages or other documents (printed in color) that graphically demonstrate your business skills (without divulging proprietary or confidential information) in developing such initiatives as:

proposals

plans

programs

policies

profits

problem solving

positive results

When the interviewer says, “So, tell me about yourself,” you’ll be ready to talk about your accomplishments in a novel way. In today’s highly competitive market, it should make you a standout candidate who will get the job.

10+ Portfolio Tips for Creative Professionals

2009-09-29T10:35:00.006-04:00

If you’ve been out of the job market for a while—now thrust into it by a layoff or other job loss—your portfolio has likely been languishing on a shelf. Hopefully, you’ve been saving samples of your work in your recent jobs in case you needed them someday. Now is the time to dust off or replace your old presentation binder and start all over with a winning portfolio. Here are some tips to help you make your portfolio a tool for job hunting success:

If your presentation binder is old and worn, buy a new one. Look for an attractive, professional one that will be durable, flexible and easy to carry.
Research the types of materials produced by the employer. Ask in the phone interview what types of pieces they would like to see.
Customize your portfolio to the organization’s needs and the job description.
Make sure your portfolio contents are fresh, bright and interesting with no torn or spotted pieces.
Organize your pieces by type or by employer, whichever seems most logical for your presentation.
Put your award winners, if any, up front.
If your work is online, do screen captures and print them. Explain what your role was and the outcome.
Inquire ahead if you want the option of showing your portfolio in presentation slides or online, to make sure the employer’s office is equipped, particularly if you are interviewing with a group. Test your electronic presentation at home before arriving for the interview. Technical glitches can be spoilers.
Time your presentation to no more than 10-15 minutes. Practice by showing it to a friend or family member.
Talk about your work as you show it, relating how it fit into the business plan, what your role was and what the results were.
Highlight any comprehensive projects you had and how you managed them.

Your Portfolio Can Put You in the Spotlight…or Out

2009-09-23T16:37:00.003-04:00

Standing out in the crowd is harder when the crowd is bigger, as it is in today’s job market, but there are ways to make yourself a true standout, and among them are your portfolio and how you present it.

If you do any type of creative work, whether it’s writing, design, web development, signage, art or making presentation slides, to name a few, a portfolio is a must. However, it can take a lot of different shapes. Let me tell you about three portfolios I have seen.

Worst: A candidate showed me samples in his portfolio that were completely off the mark from the type of work I needed, although once I noted it, he said he had those back at home. It was already too late. The image was set. The portfolio should have been reset ahead of time to match the job, showing similar pieces done for other groups. In addition, the presenter should be enthusiastic about his or her own work. This one showed no excitement, no real sense of pride. I was left cold.

Bad: One portfolio that scored low with me had obviously been sitting on the shelf a while. A graphic designer was showing it to me, pulling out piece after piece from a faded presentation binder. Before the meeting, I expected to be dazzled by the design. Instead, the portfolio was disorderly and the samples were old and stale. There was nothing that said “hire me” in any of the work.

Best: The best portfolio I have ever seen was not only targeted, but it was delivered with panache and a bonus. The candidate arrived for the interview with a binder that showcased her recent writing and project management experience, both for print and online media, organized with tabs for different types of projects. The cover was personalized for me and my organization, and when she left she gave it to me. She had clearly done her homework, too. We had talked about a planned overhaul of a publication during our phone interview, so, inside the binder cover, she included a three-page thoughtful proposal for how the project could proceed. It didn’t matter that not everything in it was actionable. What mattered is the research and effort she put into it. I was sold.

Yes, Volunteer Work Can Go on Your Resume

2009-09-21T17:52:00.005-04:00

If you choose to do substantive professional volunteer work or participate in a charitable action group, such as Habitat for Humanity, it’s fair game to include it on your resume. If you’ve been laid off, as time passes, your resume will show a gap that may raise questions for a hiring manager or recruiter. One way to fill that gap is with volunteer work.

Here are some ways you can leverage your experience for the benefit of others as well as your resume:

Become a volunteer leader in a professional organization.
Judge a competition that uses your skills and expertise.
Teach a class at your community center or local adult education program.
Tutor a high school or community college student.
Teach English to non-English speaking adults.
Get involved in planning a local event, such as an arts fair or charity auction.

Reader Janet Falk recommended the following additions to the list of volunteer sites I posted earlier in No Pay, But the Rewards Are Many:

She added this one for readers living in New York City: www.nycservice.org.

I invite you to suggest additional volunteer resources and activities.

Donate Your Talent When Job Loss Leaves You Short on Dollars to Give

2009-09-17T12:33:00.003-04:00

After a layoff or other job loss, you may not be able to donate money, but there are a lot of ways to volunteer your time and talents.

Volunteering brings multiple benefits. It’s an outlet for you to think outside of yourself and do something good for others. It’s also a way to network, depending on where you focus your volunteer energy.

Here are some ways to volunteer:

Help organize a community event, such as a park clean-up or neighborhood barbecue.
Make your hobby the focus of your volunteer time. For instance, if you like the outdoors, join a hiking club and become active in the group’s leadership.
Organize a group visit to a nursing home to bring cheer to the residents.
Get politically involved in local, state or national actions or groups.
Read to children in daycare programs or at the local library.
Deliver meals on wheels to homebound seniors.

While you’re doing your volunteer work, get to know your fellow volunteers or coordinators. Collegially, let them know who you are, what you offer and where you want to be. Share ideas and jump in to get things done. The rewards are immeasurable.

That Important Fleeting Moment: Your elevator speech

2009-09-15T10:55:00.007-04:00

Have you been in a professional networking situation and participated in a round robin, only to realize—after you’ve given a brief, dull “here’s who I am and what I do” statement and others have taken the floor with a flourish—that you missed out on something?

Once you passed on the baton, your moment in the spotlight was over and gone. What happened, and how can you make sure this misstep doesn’t occur again?

First, be clear to yourself who you are and where you want to be going. As a jobseeker this is vital anyway, so now you need to articulate it in a value statement—the statement usually referred to as your elevator speech because it’s short and to the point.

Brainstorm key words that especially apply to you. Your statement needs to sound natural, not like a canned speech using generic terms. Write out several versions and test them aloud to yourself. How do the words roll off your tongue? Can you state your case in 30 seconds? Edit and rewrite until you have something that works for you.

Second, get some practice. You have a fleeting moment to let people know that you are knowledgeable in your field, experienced, passionate and goal oriented. These are not words that will slip off your tongue at a moment’s notice in a coherent, impelling fashion. So, unless you are one of the extremely rare birds who can speak eloquently off the cuff, practice with family or friends before you try it in a professional setting.

Next, go to a networking event and give it a go. Remember, you don’t want it to sound like you memorized it, and each time you speak to a new person, the one you just spoke to may overhear you, so mix up the words. This is not the time to sound like a parrot. Stay calm and keep talking, but keep it short. Blather on and people will stop listening.

The more you network, the more you will become comfortable sharing your value statement, and the more people will listen...and remember you.

Seems Like a No Brainer, Doesn’t It?—Read the instructions

2009-09-09T18:11:00.004-04:00

Let my error be your knowledge gained.

I thought I had it nailed. I’m normally a very detail-oriented person, priding myself on not missing anything.

An especially interesting federal government job opened up, but the application period was fairly short and during a very busy time for me. Offline, I prepared my resume, making sure, as instructed, that the references were there to support the numerous essays that I needed to write. After spending considerable time over several days getting ready, it was time for the submission.

On the final application day, after about two hours entering my data, reviewing it, and then checking it again, I took the plunge and submitted my application. However, the next step—submitting required documentation—was yet to be completed and had to be done by midnight the same day. My cursory review early on indicated to me that I wouldn’t need any such paperwork, but the final instructions pointed to a request for my college transcripts. Uh, oh.

I’ve been out of school long enough that my transcripts are truly irrelevant, and I’ve never been asked for them before—not in more than 30 years. At this point I have no idea if I have them or in what box they might be deteriorating. My experience should speak to my qualifications, in my humble opinion, but the federal government (and I’m sure, other employers) requires transcripts.

Transcripts do not materialize in a few hours. It may take a week or more to receive them after your request, depending on your college or university. And, you may need other documentation, especially if you have a military background. So, even though I missed the deadline for this job, I drove to a local shop that same day and faxed the request to my alma mater. If another job arises, I’ll be ready.

Lesson learned: Read all the instructions well in advance and plan ahead. If you miss an important detail, you have thrown away valuable time and effort.

Day After Labor Day Pep Talk for the Jobless

2009-09-08T17:42:00.004-04:00

It already feels a bit like fall. Children have all returned to school. Vacation time is over. Put away your summer attitude and get down to brass tacks. It’s time to refocus on where you need to be—gainfully employed.

The jobless rate was reported at 9.7% on Friday, a slight gain over the previous month, and it is likely to climb again. You could let that get you down. It would be easy to get down in light of unhappy statistics.

However, there is an undercurrent in which jobs are beginning to appear. Capitol Communicator reported last week “that things are starting to heat up on the business front” for DC area communications agencies. As I see it, new business leads to job opportunities. Also, the federal government, according to the Washington Post last week, will need to replace more than 270,000 retiring workers for “mission-critical” positions in the upcoming 3 years. More temporary jobs are starting to emerge as organizations find they need extra help for annual events or to replace people out on special leave, such as maternity.

Yes, most employers are back from vacations and refocused on business, and jobs may be slowly opening up, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t continue trying just as hard as you did right after losing your last job, whether because of a layoff or other reason. Or, that you don’t stand a chance in a highly competitive job market. You need to do whatever it takes to stand out, show off your strengths and offer employers what they need, and do it better than anyone else competing for the same jobs.

It’s a new season. Let’s get going.

Why Should I Help You? Part 3

2009-09-04T09:26:00.011-04:00

Networking is not just about you
by Linda Franklin, guest blogger

Not everyone can reply to every message all the time, but a little courtesy goes a long way toward helping maintain a bridge or build a connection that can lead to something down the line. But for those who see themselves in the scenarios described in Why Should I Help You?—Part 2; Lessons from real life, remember:

Networking is not about building your count on LinkedIn. Networking isn’t just about you; it’s about building and strengthening your relationships with others and keeping that two-way communication going. You never know with whom you will work or who may be a referral or reference for you, or—ultimately—your hiring manager.

So, the next time someone agrees to provide you with a referral, offers to meet for coffee or look over your resume, take a few minutes and make sure you thank them. Better still, ask them how you can help them. After all, your high priority (to get a job) may not be their priority; they’re taking some valuable time to help you, so in the grand scheme of things, you’re incurring a debt you need to recognize. Those who do follow up stand out—and, you never know, one day the person you thank may be in a position to recommend you for a job.
________________________________

Thank you, Linda Franklin, for your good advice this week. And, to all my U.S. readers, have a great Labor Day weekend, and to everyone else, I wish you beautiful days. One Tomato at a Time will be back in action next Tuesday.

Why Should I Help You? Part 2

2009-09-01T16:02:00.004-04:00

Lessons from real life
by Linda Franklin, guest blogger

I am more than happy to provide a connection or referral when appropriate. We all want that jump start to our next career move. Imagine my surprise, then, when I have experiences like these:

A former colleague contacted me to see about having coffee, but never confirmed. Then, a month later I received an email asking me to be a reference. It turned out I was to be a reference for an interview THAT SAME DAY for a potential job I knew nothing about. I foolishly agreed, and looking back, I can’t say I’d do it again. I have no idea what happened, since I never heard any follow up or even received so much as a thank-you.

Another former colleague is actively looking in a specific career niche. When I saw a relevant function coming up, I forwarded the notice immediately. No response.

If you are reaching out to someone for a referral, always be considerate of other’s time. And even if a lead doesn’t fit, always send a quick thanks to someone for thinking of you. A little courtesy can go a long way.
________________________________
See Linda Franklin's previous post for a brief bio and contact info.

Why Should I Help You? Part 1

2009-08-31T11:37:00.006-04:00

Reaching out to others
by Linda Franklin, guest blogger

Last year I became another statistic filing for unemployment. My story was not unlike many others: With a company for 7 years, I thought I would be there for my career. When my notice came, I went through the usual shock and disappointment (“WHAT?!?!?”).

And then came the “What do I do now?” I began reaching out to everyone I knew and began meeting new business contacts at professional networking functions. LinkedIn became my new best friend.

While networking I quickly realized an important lesson: those who had themselves been laid off or experienced similar job ups and downs were the ones most likely to lend a helping hand. They understood the pain and frustration of the job search, and they regularly went that extra step to get my resume in front of the right person.

It was easy then for me to decide that, once I was employed again, I would make sure to reach out to help others in my network going through a layoff/job search. Not just by getting their business cards, but learning more about their background, experiences and their goals so that I could refer them to others or job postings that would be a good match.

_____________________________________

Linda Franklin, who has survived the bruises of 2 layoffs, is happy to be working again as Marketing Manager of WiseChoice.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/lfranklin99
http://www.twitter.com/LindaFrank123
http://us.mc518.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Linda.Frank123@yahoo.com

Networking Is a Door Opener

2009-08-30T12:06:00.004-04:00

If you are a regular reader of One Tomato at a Time, you may have noticed a gap between posts this past week. I’m not quitting the blog, and I haven’t been ill or lazy. I actually found some work that pays, and it has consumed my days and some of my evenings.

For part of the week, I’m on contract with an organization to cover marketing and communications while the director is on maternity leave. This means commuting two days a week and working at home part of another day. The remaining time is now devoted to writing, proofreading and editing marketing materials for a large D.C. client as well as making courtesy phone calls to members on behalf of a healthcare association.

My week is now diverse, I’m working with interesting people and stimulating topics, and I am using the best of my skills to do fulfilling work. I’m not back to where I was before I was laid off almost six months ago, and I still need to find a permanent, full-time position, but this is certainly an improvement.

What led to two weeks of interviews, meetings, a temporary job and freelance assignments?

Networking. Networking. Networking.

Attending professional and networking events, meeting and connecting with new people, staying in touch with friends and past associates, participating in email list groups, checking in periodically with a contract placement agency—all of these actions have been keys to opening up opportunities for me. They can be for you too.

See these other relevant posts:
To Temp or Not to Temp—That Is Sometimes the Question
Thoughtful Persistence Can Lead to Temp or Contract Work
Put on a Smile and Get out the Door

Play the Match Game When Applying for Jobs

2009-08-26T14:53:00.002-04:00

There are tons of employment options in the D.C. area, even in today’s fractured job market, but where are you putting your attention? Are you going for those that offer you the chance to do what you know best? Are you following a career path or just going for a “job” to earn a paycheck?

It’s easy to justify to yourself sending out hundreds of resumes, following every remotely possible opportunity. You are actively job hunting, right? Wrong. You are just doing stuff rather than focusing on jobs that truly suit your abilities and experience or that offer career growth. Going for jobs that are not right for you are a waste of time and energy, and if you do land a job for which you are not really qualified, you could be setting yourself up for failure.

Success is the goal. Finding a job that you may not like and may not really know how to do at any salary, for any employer, won’t get you there and may be short lived. Finding a position that allows you to shine while being paid a fair market rate (or better) to provide vital services to an employer is my definition of success and is most likely to lead to long-time employment.

Making the right match and focusing on a realistic target are game winning strategies.

No Job, Little Sleep, Getting Frazzled?

2009-08-24T10:45:00.002-04:00

A lot has been written about the stress associated with job loss. What are you doing to maintain your equilibrium in light of your own dilemma?

If you are getting down or finding it difficult to get to sleep or stay asleep, leaving you short on energy in the morning, it is time to take some measures for change. There are steps you can take that don’t add cost to your budget but should help:

1. Get some exercise every day. Walk, run, bike…whatever suits you best.
2. Breathe some fresh air. Enjoy a local park’s gardens and natural vistas or tend to your own yard. When the weather is nice enough, find a place to sit outside and eat your lunch.
3. Cook simple, healthy meals. Stay away from sugary or fatty “comfort foods,” sodas, caffeine and excessive alcohol, especially in the evening. Nourish your body and brain with important nutrients.
4. Minimize your before-bed stimuli. Take some time to slow down before you lie down. Have a cup of chamomile tea, read a magazine or listen to quiet music. Television and intense reading can activate your brain instead of putting it to sleep.

Here are some online articles and websites that offer more tips:
Job Losses Carry High 'Stress Tag'
Advice from U.C. Berkeley
Dealing with Job Loss, from CareerOneStop
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Agency
Overcoming Job Loss Depression from eHow.com
Tips on Budget Eating & Job Loss
USDA Food Pyramid

Get Your Foot in the Door with Consulting

2009-08-21T10:24:00.003-04:00

Daria Akers, a web quality assurance tester, lost her job in January. It was a crushing experience for her because she enjoyed working for the company and would miss her colleagues. Seeing a dearth of job openings in her field in the D.C. area market, she didn’t know where to turn.

A friend who owns a web development company, Sonjara, asked her if she was willing to do some part-time consulting for a while. The 10-20 hours a week would put a little cash in Daria’s pocketbook, add something to her resume and help her feel productive again. Consulting was new to her, but she decided it give it a go.

Her client knew she was looking for a job, so Daria assured her she would give ample notice and even continue on after finding a permanent position if she needed her. After about a month of consulting, however, the client offered Daria a full-time job because of the quality of her work. She had made an impression.

She recalled, “Now I have my dream job... flex time, a virtual office and work that matches my values. Who could ask for anything more?” As a result, Daria advises anyone laid off or otherwise out of work to consider consulting. “It helps you get your foot in the door and minimizes the gaps on your resume.”

A Sudden Cloudburst on Your Way to the Interview

2009-08-19T17:02:00.005-04:00

Here’s a scenario for you:

When you leave home the weather is sunny and bright and forecast to remain so. It’s a great day for an interview. You are dressed in your best—sharp looking and ready to present yourself as a professional. Your hair looks great; your shoes are polished. You feel confident.

You step off the Metro train a few blocks from your destination, go through the turnstile and ride up the escalator to the street. The sun is completely gone, and it’s pouring cats and dogs! Puddles are everywhere, and you have blocks to walk without an umbrella.

What would you do?
1. Panic
2. Resign yourself to looking (and feeling) awful
3. Use your imagination

If you pick 1 or 2, your interview is probably doomed. If you choose to use your imagination, you can grab a free newspaper or apartment guide from the machines that surround Metro entrances and hold it over your head while you run for cover along your walking route. You could also quickly buy an umbrella in a nearby shop or from a street vendor. If you planned ahead well enough, you might be early enough that you can slip into a coffee shop to wait out the downburst, because in D.C. such storms usually quit as quickly as they start.

And, if you get to your interview a little disheveled, with hair out of place and a few water spots on your shoulders, legs and shoes, who will care? Only you. So, visit the rest room to comb your hair, pat yourself dry and reenergize that confident air you left home with. Approach your interview with hand outstretched to say hello, and smile. It’s your day no matter what the weather is doing.

Thoughtful Persistence Can Lead to Temp or Contract Work

2009-08-18T15:20:00.002-04:00

There is a point at which repeatedly contacting someone about contract or temporary work is too much and will only hurt your chances. Certainly a phone call every day would be ridiculous, and every week could be overkill too. But staying in touch on a periodic basis—say, every couple of weeks or once a month—with your contacts at agencies where you are registered will give you an edge over others who are not so proactive.

It’s your job to help agents remember you in a favorable way when temporary positions begin to materialize. And, the word is that they are starting to appear. You want to be first on their call list for the best jobs. So, pick up the phone and call to say “Hi.” Indicate that you are still available and provide a quick update on what you have been doing to stay marketable.

This kind of thoughtful persistence can only work in your favor.

[You may also want to read this related post: To Temp or Not to Temp—That Is Sometimes the Question]

Title Soup and Your Resume

2009-08-17T10:33:00.005-04:00

I have gone through a roller coaster of titles—Director to VP to Manager to Sr. Director—and have decided that, for me, titles are not paramount. My satisfaction with the job itself is. However, an employer looking at my resume might wonder why I was a VP and later a Manager.

The truth is that titles mean different things in different organizations. A VP position in a small association may not be the same in a large corporation. A Director in some organizations is tantamount to a Manager in others. It’s all in the details.

It is important to show prospective employers the progression of responsibility in your career, whether through titles or descriptions. Also, your accomplishments demonstrate your impact on outcomes, which also speak to your level of influence. Your management of programs and people are testimony to your level of responsibility.

Maybe your title was Specialist or Analyst or Coordinator, but your responsibilities were beyond the usual scope for these titles. Be sure to make this clear on your resume. One technique I have seen suggested is to insert a descriptive phrase above the job title (or in parentheses) on your resume, if the title you had doesn't truly fit the job. Also, be sure to accurately explain what you did in that job, including accomplishments attributable to your own efforts.

One Tomato at a Time? What’s That About?

2009-08-14T12:06:00.004-04:00

About six weeks after I was laid off in March, I decided it would be therapeutic to grow some tomatoes on my deck. Having something to focus on besides myself, something that would grow and be productive, seemed like a good way to channel any negative feelings I was having into something positive. Nearly 100 tomatoes later, I’m happy I did this.

The challenge was to nurture two plants to maturity using organic methods to avoid pesticides or other chemicals so I could visit my deck, pick a tomato and pop it in my mouth without having to wash it. With a couple of applications of organic plant food, companion plants to ward off insects, and daily attention, my two “girls,” as I named them, grew into 4-foot bundles of little yellow and red cherry tomatoes, sweet and ready to eat like candy.

The yellow tomato plant is done, unfortunately stricken by some kind of blight, but it had a good, highly productive life. As you can see in the photo above, the red tomatoes are still abundant, with more ready to ripen soon.

While it’s great having all these delicious orbs, the real point of growing them was to think outside of myself and take life one day (or tomato) at a time. It has been a coping mechanism for me. Some people knit or build things. I grow tomatoes.

To Temp or Not to Temp—That Is Sometimes the Question

2009-08-13T14:12:00.006-04:00

One of the first things I did after being laid off was contact major temporary contract placement firms in my field (marketing and communications) in the Washington, D.C. area market. One of them was a firm that helped me get my foot in the door of a previous employer through a temp-to-perm contract and that I later used to find temp help for a conference. Three other agencies have also signed me on as a “talent in waiting.”

That was four months ago. The temporary job market has been slow, even downright dry since then. I’ve stayed in touch with the agencies, however, periodically checking in to say “Hi” so that I am still on their radar screen. I even heard from one a few weeks ago about a job that disappeared as fast as it arose, but it raised my hopes. Employers are starting to fill the gaps in projects and programs—gaps made by layoffs or other changes such as maternity leave. It’s a good sign.

Margaret Zollars, who specializes in marketing placements for Aquent, said yesterday that she’s beginning to see an uptick in contract opportunities at the senior level as well as for mid-level professionals. She’s seen three new positions in D.C. just this week, and as summer wraps up, she pointed out, there will likely be more. For contract work, she said, “it’s a matter of having flexibility” regarding hours (PT vs. FT) and location, but you gain “a. exposure to an industry or interesting project” and the chance to “b. keep up your skills.”

Temporary or contract work can help fill the financial gaps after a layoff, since the pay rate is generally good. Some agencies offer benefits such as health insurance after you have been working with them for a while. If you land a part-time assignment, it will leave you some time for your job hunt, networking and interviews. Keep in mind that an assignment could last weeks or months when signing a contract.

You may also want to read this follow-up post: Thoughtful Persistence Can Lead to Temp or Contract Work

Who’s a Loser? Not Me, Not You

2009-08-12T15:31:00.003-04:00

So what if you were laid off? It’s happened to so many people these days that it is not a badge of shame. It may hurt at first, but if you look at the bigger picture, you’ll see that it’s not about you or anything you’ve done.

There are a lot of ways you could view your situation:

1. “I can’t hold a job anymore. I might as well give up.”
2. “The job market is bad. I’ll never find a job.”
3. “What will people think of me? I want to hide.”
4. “I wasn’t wild about my job anyway, so now I can find another better one.”
5. “People are losing their jobs everywhere, so I’m not alone in this.

Nothing will take away your financial worries, but you will solve them sooner if you can overcome grief or shame quickly after a layoff. To have some of those feelings is natural. To let them hold you down is unproductive. This is a time to reach out and move ahead, not to withdraw.

For more on this topic, see Lying Low After a Layoff by Annie Gowen in today’s Washington Post.

How Does Your Writing Sound?

2009-08-11T15:26:00.011-04:00

Yes, sound.

The best way to find out if your cover letter makes sense, flows well and is grammatically correct is to read it aloud.

This may feel stupid to you, reading aloud what you could just lay your eyes on. However, it’s a technique that will open your eyes to things you wouldn't find otherwise.

When you read out loud, the phrasing and the stops are different than when you read silently. Also, the words you choose make a difference in how well your sentences and thoughts flow. When I read my own writing aloud, I root out duplicated words and misplaced commas and find the flaws that hinder the message I want to convey. The result is language that is more conversational, and, hopefully, more influential.

So, try it. A few minutes of quality control will enhance your message, your image and, ultimately, your results.

Will an Error Loose (sic) You the Job?

2009-08-10T16:54:00.004-04:00

Without a doubt! Don’t lose out on a job because you are loose with your spelling and grammar standards. Take the time to follow these steps before sending out a resume, email or letter:

1. Use spell check. It will catch the most obvious errors, but don’t stop there.
2. Read it through word for word. Spell check can’t tell whether “lose” or “loose” is the correct word. Same thing goes for words like “their” and “there” and many others.
3. Reread after making your corrections…to make sure you did them right.
4. If you are not detail-oriented or you are prone to overlooking small errors, ask a friend or family member to read your letter or resume for you.

Also, if you followed my previous recommendation to customize your resume and cover letter to the specifications in the job announcement, you should take extra measures to check for errors you may have introduced along the way. Never assume that your last version was perfect.

Avoid a negative outcome by being positive that what you send an employer is spotless.

When Fridays Are Not Like Other Fridays

2009-08-07T14:51:00.002-04:00

Fridays are not the same if you are unemployed. For that matter, no days are the same now as when you had a routine like you did when you were up and going off to an office each weekday morning. Time has an altogether different meaning to you now.

A job loss or layoff is life changing, leaving you with a new job—to find a job—that will consume much of your waking hours, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t occasionally take a day off to do something for yourself.

Until Monday…

Guest Posting: On the Road Again! What It Takes for a Successful Job Search Journey.

2009-08-06T13:36:00.009-04:00

By Pegotty Cooper

The idea of the open road and the freedom to explore new territory feels like a great adventure. All you need is to keep your gas tank full and your tires fully inflated. Keep your eyes on the road and pay attention to your GPS to keep you on track – moving in a direction that will get you to where you want to go!

So on this journey called Job Search, those same basics apply.

You can keep your tires fully inflated with support from a variety of sources – friends, family, former colleagues, bosses, neighbors, association colleagues and strangers with a variety of backgrounds. They can all be your eyes and ears on the ground, watching out for the opportunity for you to use the skills, experience and unique attributes that make you the ideal person for the job!

The gas tank provides the energy for you to reflect, connect and serve others as well as yourself every day of this journey. Are you running on fumes or do you regularly take a break, and regenerate yourself? Eat right, exercise, spend some quiet time each day celebrating the successes you have had and being grateful for the support you got yesterday. And, slow down so that you can be aware of what is going on around you, take the time to connect with people, and look for signs of opportunity along the way!

And most importantly, set your GPS on a destination that is worth your time and effort, and stay on track in the pursuit of that goal! It is easy to get derailed, but the rewards are found when you keep up the search for that opportunity that will allow you to share your strengths, to be appreciated for your gifts, and to replenish your energy supplies every day!

Pegotty Cooper is a Leadership & Career Strategy Coach who regularly coaches association professionals at the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Annual Meeting. Click here for more information about coaching available in Toronto mid-August. You can reach her through www.leadershipsoundingboard.com.

Yell When You Need Help

2009-08-05T21:53:00.002-04:00

How many times have friends or colleagues said to you, “Call me if you need any help” since you lost your job? The kindness of friends and strangers will never cease to surprise you, and usually they really mean it.

They may just have an ear to lend for your trials and tribulations, but they may also want to stay connected, offer advice or leads, and share in your experience. Often tips and leads come from the most surprising sources, like your realtor or your banker. It’s in their interest for you to be re-employed, for sure, but these are well-meaning people, and you are in a time of need.

And if you truly are out on a limb by yourself, there are professionals equipped to help guide you back onto a positive course of action. For instance, when I was between jobs a few years ago, a professional organization that I belonged to waived my renewal fees so I could have access to its career resources, including a free session with a life/career coach at an event in D.C. This introduction led to a series of phone consultations that piloted my job search in the right direction.

Whether it’s to friends, family, former colleagues or a coach, it’s okay to yell when you need help. You don’t have to go it alone.

Resume No-No’s

2009-08-05T09:37:00.007-04:00

There are some things that should not go in a resume—ever—and there are others that you may include if they apply specifically to the job description. Here’s a little list to keep handy:

Never Include:
· Your age
· Your religion (unless it applies to the job)
· Your politics (again, unless it applies to the job)
· Your height or weight
· Your marital status
· Your sexual preference
· Anything about your health or physical disabilities/deformities
· Information about family members, including children
· Specifics about your personal interests or hobbies (be general, if you include these at all, and mention only those that are relevant to your career)
· Salaries and salary requirements (provide this later or in a cover letter, if you must, but not in your resume)
· References (provide these separately later on in the process, after an interview)
· Every course you ever took, award you won or conference/seminar you attended (summarize these and list only the most recent, if you think they’re relevant)

If you’ve been in the work world for a few years, you can also omit references to jobs you had while you were in school, especially part-time, non-professional jobs.

Here are a couple of online resources on what not to include:
http://www.bestresumewriting.com/writing-a-good-resume/your-education-and-credits/not-to-put-on-your-resume.html
http://www.resume-cover-letter.info/whatnottoput.asp

An A for Effort—The Customized Resume Rises to the Top

2009-08-03T17:12:00.007-04:00

Think like a recruiter or hiring official just the way a marketer tries to think like a customer. Would you want to look through a pile of generic (boring) resumes or would your eyes light up if you saw a resume that directly addresses the key components of the job description?

It’s basic in marketing to target your message to your audience. When you are job hunting, your audience is your ticket to getting in the door for an interview. The person receiving and reading your resume is your customer. You need to show that above all others you are the right one for the job. Even the federal government requires you to target your resume to a specific job’s requirements, so why not do the same in the private sector too?

It’s so easy to create a resume and use it over and over…but will it get you results? Why not take the time—yes, it takes time—to customize your resume and increase your chances of making it to the top of the heap? It’s time well spent.

How Many Pages Should a Resume Have?

2009-07-31T13:18:00.005-04:00

Here’s another question that has more than one answer. If you are new to the work world, your resume is likely to fit nicely on one page. If you are an academic, your curriculum vita will include more detail than most resumes, including your research papers and published articles. Such a resume could run several pages.

However, like most of us, if you have a few years of experience in a business setting already under your belt, whether for-profit or non-profit, how long is too long? What is the right length for a resume to be your best sales agent? You want to tell your story and grab attention so your resume lands at the top of the pile.

I have seen resumes of all types over the years, as a hiring manager and as a volunteer reviewer for friends, family and colleagues and at job fairs. What I’ve observed is that jobseekers sometimes forget that, like any other marketing piece, their resume has only seconds to capture the interest of recruiters or hiring managers. Also, with hundreds of resumes to read and time at a premium, if you haven’t intrigued them by page 2, you’re probably toast.

You’ve heard the phrase, “Keep it simple, stupid.” I’ll add to that (and remove the "stupid"): Keep it simple, professional, organized, concise and targeted. And stick to no more than two pages. You can do this with bullets, phrases and groupings that make your resume easy to scan and to the point.

A couple of resources for you:

A video by D.C. area human resources expert Patra Frame with her resume tips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl-H2s9lwpk
An article that addresses the IT market: http://www.itworld.com/ITW3485

Blast Your Resume to the Moon or Target Your Mark?

2009-07-30T11:30:00.005-04:00

If you do what all the large job banks and resume distributors suggest, you’ll upload your resume on their sites so they can blast your resume to all the jobs in their database that fit your profile, according to information you provide. Get your resume in front of 100s or 1,000s of employers, they’ll tell you.

But, I’ve heard from recruiters themselves, as recently as this week, that they receive too many resumes that are totally inappropriate or that come with a generic cover letter. That tells them instantly that these candidates didn’t target them and they didn’t do any research about the employer or the job.

You might as well blast your resume to the moon!

When I was in a hiring position, I often received well over 100 resumes for a job in my department. Here is how I sorted them out:

Instant Trash Bin Candidates:
Resumes with generic cover letters, no cover letter at all or letters addressed to the wrong employer
Resumes with errors

The Maybe Pile:
Resumes with some potential but maybe not quite on the mark

The Yes, I Need to Read These Again Pile:
Resumes that show relevant experience and accomplishments
Resumes with cover letters that address the job description and my organization

Robo resumes are about as popular with recruiters and hiring managers as robo calls are with voters, and they are probably less productive, if they do you any good at all. My advice is: don't do it.

Resumes Are Shape Shifters

2009-07-29T17:26:00.004-04:00

There are many schools of thought on how many versions of your resume you should create.

There are those who declare that one version is all you need. Others say you should have one to three well-written, accurate resumes that are targeted to the types of job you are seeking, if they have different requirements. Still others propose that you create multiple resumes, especially if you are attending job fairs or posting your resume on searchable job boards—to be ready for anything that comes up.

But I’ve heard it straight from two local D.C. HR professionals that in order to stand out today, you should customize for each job application. In other words, make your resume fit the job. Naturally, that doesn’t mean to make things up. What it does mean is:

1. Read the job description carefully.
2. Find the key words that describe the requirements and responsibilities of the position.
3. Insert those key words where they belong in your resume (and also your cover letter).
4. Highlight specifically what you offer that the employer is seeking.

Here are a couple of articles on the topic of resumes and versions:
http://marketing.theladders.com/career-advice/how-many-resume-versions-too-many
http://career-advice.monster.com/resumes-cover-letters/Resume-Writing-Tips/Resume-Tips-for-Job-Fairs/article.aspx

Business Casual for Networking—What Exactly Does That Mean?

2009-07-28T17:00:00.007-04:00

You’re getting ready to attend a networking event. It’s time to make a positive first impression on prospective employers and others who may lead you to one. The announced dress code is “business casual.” What the heck does that mean?

For one thing, it may depend on your city or area whether business casual really means dressy but not cocktail party wear or it means a nice pair of khaki’s and a clean dress shirt with no tie. A career advisor told a group session I attended that Washington, D.C. is a conservative city, so wear a nice business suit (with a tie, for men) or dress (and heels). But there are times when that is not necessarily true and a dressy shirt with nice slacks for either gender would be just fine.

You want to be noticed, but in a positive way, and you want to be remembered not for your clothes, but for who you are and what you say. For sure, however, business casual in a networking environment is not jeans, tank tops, short skirts or other revealing clothing. And, you definitely don’t want to make your appearance wearing flip flops.

Here are some sites with tips on business casual attire that may be helpful. http://www.ehow.com/how_49_dress-business-casual.html
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_business_casual_attire_for_women
http://www.career.vt.edu/Jobsearc/BusCasual.htm

Personally, if I am not sure about an event, my approach is to arrive slightly overdressed rather than too casual.

Put on a Smile and Get out the Door

2009-07-27T17:35:00.004-04:00

After too many days in a row in the house at the computer and phone, searching for and applying for jobs, it’s so easy to distance yourself from the real world. It’s time to get out the door and go to places and events where you can make connections, meet recruiters and hiring managers, and add to your knowledge. There are tons of ways to do this in the D.C. area (see my posting on building your network for some).

If you haven’t ventured into the networking arena, it’s time to start, because it’s a crucial part of finding a job. Here are a few tips:

1. Print some professional-looking business cards that include enough information about you to spur interest in staying in touch with you. They should include contact information at the least, but it’s also good to put your own URL or blog address, Twitter name and LinkedIn profile address.

2. Practice a confident handshake and your elevator speech. Be prepared to look people in the eye and tell them quickly, in a noisy environment, who you are and what you are looking for.

3. Pick clothes that will impress, shave off the “I’m not going anywhere today” stubble or fix up your hair, and put on a smile. Check your image, head to toe, in a mirror before you leave the house.

4. Follow up. This is probably the most important part of networking—what you do after the event. Invite them to link with you on social networks and share information, tips and ideas with them. Then, stay in touch periodically.

The Washing Machine Wins

2009-07-24T11:41:00.003-04:00

If you saw my July 8 posting Problem Solving with Persistence--Life with an Errant Washing Machine, then you know I have a quirky machine. It has almost all new parts, but it continues to knock and rock its way through the spin cycle. This machine has been quite an interruption to my job search because I’ve had to reserve several four-hour windows for a repairman to return.

I prepared for this visit by starting a load of odds and ends as soon as the automated phone call came to tell me that I was next in line for a service call. When the machine reached the point where it would refill for the final rinse, I paused it.

Aha, I’ll show him, I thought. He’ll nod and say, “Wow. I see what you mean!” Just the day before, when I ran it, the machine sounded like it was going to take off for the moon, so I was confident that Bob, the repairman, who I had previously found to be a nice guy and very competent, would agree that this loco washer should be replaced.

But, of course, it didn’t perform. Just like the toothache that goes away the moment you sit in the dentist’s chair, the machine silently laughed at me while it spun the load. That day it sounded quiet as a kitten. So, the beat goes on.

Staying Positive When Time Drags On

2009-07-23T11:46:00.003-04:00

Let’s face it, the economy is way down and news reports tell us every day how bad the outlook is. Unemployment is up here and there (although reportedly not quite so bad in the D.C. area as in many other U.S. regions). Companies are doubling up the workload on the employees they kept after laying off others and hiring fewer temps. I could go on and on.

It’s easy to get sucked into the gloom and doom scene, which can drag you down so that your job search becomes a perceived exercise in futility. Once that happens, your low mood will sabotage your efforts and show on your face and in your voice. I know. I’ve had a few days since my March layoff when the job hunt seemed hopeless, but it’s not. For example, I heard from a recruiter the other day that he’s seeing some action on the hiring front. Things are beginning to stir.

Also, if you get out and meet people in and out of your own field at local networking or learning events, you will find a great community of helpful professionals, willing to offer tips, support, leads and comfort. The main thing is to stay active in your professional arena. You may be on the outside now, but it could be your door to getting back inside. For me, it has been a lifeline to keeping a positive outlook and continuing on.

After a Layoff—Which Comes First?

2009-07-22T15:39:00.005-04:00

Today I took a look at Patra Frame’s video on You Tube, entitled “The Worst Mistake in a Job Search.” Patra is a management consultant, speaker and author in the Washington, D.C. area (Strategies for Human Resources). Her series of videos for jobseekers includes this one, in which she offers advice on what to do first when you lose a job…and it’s not quite the same as I suggested in my July 9 posting, although not totally opposed to it.

On July 16, I suggested that after being laid off, you should contact everyone you know to tell them of your new situation and then gather your resources, including your resume, before doing anything else. Next, I said, you should take stock of yourself. Patra reverses the order, and she may be right about that. How can you write a resume if you don’t really know what direction you are going?

Job Hunting With a Point of View

2009-07-20T16:11:00.004-04:00

As Lois Kelly writes in her book on marketing in today’s social world, Beyond Buzz: The Next Generation of Word-of-Mouth Marketing, some of the most successful companies identify a point of view that defines how they will operate. Taking this one step further, what is your point of view about your career?

What do I mean by this? Your vision addresses the characteristics of a career move, but your point of view is all about who you are. Here’s a brief example of a point of view:

I want work that I can deeply support and enjoy—something that I can be passionate about. I get a charge from challenges and working with people. I believe in getting the job done, doing it on time and doing it well. Words are my friend.

This point-of-view statement applies to someone who cares about mission because of her own values. She also knows the environmental factors that are important to her and what she likes to do. Now it’s up to her to find and target the organizations/companies that offer the mission, challenge, environment and work mode she wants.

If you have your own career point of view, you are welcome to share it as a comment.

(See the previous post for discussion of defining your vision.)

A Vision for Your Future—Where Are You Going?

2009-07-18T16:03:00.009-04:00

In my last posting, I talked about building your own job hunt strategic plan, starting with defining a vision of what you will be doing and in what environment. By taking time to think through your vision, you will give yourself a direction and a starting point. It’s true that in today’s job market, even in the Washington, D.C. area, you may feel lucky just to find any employment, but without some kind of vision for your professional future, your job search could become randomized and prove frustrating and possibly fruitless.

By targeting yourself, you will be better equipped to construct a strategy for finding the jobs that fit your goal. You can apply for hundreds of jobs at random, but unless there is a good match on both sides, yours and the employer’s, you are probably wasting your time. Better instead, target only jobs that either lead to or fit your vision.

What does a jobseeker’s vision statement look like? Here’s mine as an example:

My Vision:
I will work for a national association or a for-profit company in a marketing or communications leadership role. The organization will have a mission that complements my values and serves the public good. I will spend my days strategizing, collaborating and communicating. There will be much variety in what I do, and I will work with diverse individuals. I will be the go-to person for all external messaging and be the brand guru.

Here are some questions that you can answer to help you think about and build your own vision statement. They were compiled by Susan Silverman on her blog searching for a job in washington, dc when she was between jobs:

What am I good at?
What do I hate doing?
If I could have any job in the world, what would it be?
If I could work anywhere, where would I work?
What are some key competencies that I can use to describe myself?
When was I happiest personally and professionally?

What’s Your Plan—What’s Next?

2009-07-16T09:28:00.007-04:00

Before you start your search for new employment after a layoff, it’s a good idea to take stock of yourself. Think about it. Yes, you want to earn a paycheck again, but first, who are you professionally and what do you want to be doing when you go back to work?

After I had updated my resume, notified everyone I knew and updated my online profiles, I took a little time to develop my own strategic marketing plan—where I wanted to be and how I planned to present myself. My inspiration was a book I was reading, called Beyond Buzz: The Next Generation of Word-of-Mouth Marketing, by Lois Kelly (see My Blog List to the left). Reading her book reminded me that the conventional approach to a strategic plan is to define:

• Vision
• Mission
• Values
• Value Proposition
• Messaging (including an elevator speech)

All of these are helpful in defining yourself and creating your personal strategic marketing plan. But Kelly goes one step further by proposing that companies—and I suggest this for jobseekers too—identify their “point of view,” which she defines as:

“Beliefs and ideas that help build understanding, provoke conversation—and are something a person would actually say.”

Conventional strategic planning produces a one-way message in buzz word language, in the same way a resume can. Kelly says, however, that the most effective marketing today is done by “making meaning” rather than “creating buzz” and through creative conversations. In my thinking, the same approach should work for the job hunter.

What are your thoughts on applying this new approach to the job hunt?

No Pay, But the Rewards Are Many

2009-07-14T16:57:00.014-04:00

People who are out of work after being laid off can start to lose their steam after the first rush to find a new job. One way to energize yourself, help others and build professional equity at the same time is to volunteer.

Arsha Jones writes: “…what has helped me when I wanted more experience, I volunteer(ed). It looks great on your resume and you actually can learn some stuff for free. And, keeping up to date with current trends in your profession keeps you marketable.” [Arsha is owner of Brand It! Domains - Domains & Web Hosting for Beginners]

Here are some sites that offer to help you find volunteer opportunities in the Washington, D.C. area:
http://www.volunteermatch.org/
http://www.charitablechoices.org/default.asp
http://www.dc-cares.org/
http://www.onebrick.org/index.asp
http://www.some.org/
http://www.capitolletters.org/

Build Your Network…and Your Knowledge

2009-07-14T13:34:00.006-04:00

You may feel tossed on the street after a layoff, but getting on your feet quickly after you dust yourself off is a good idea. Instead of concentrating on the painful aspects of your new condition, start making connections, and update your knowledge while you’re at it. Here are a few ways to get started:

LEVERAGE YOUR PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS: In the Washington, D.C. area there are myriads of professional organizations, local and national, that offer networking happy hours, brown bag lunches and other low-cost events. Attend every free or low-cost business networking event you can. Also, almost every group has a job board, so check them out. If you do not have any memberships now, it’s a good time to establish at least one. Some groups are free or low-cost to join, especially those that are D.C. based rather than national. One active networking resource I recommend is the Washington Network Group. The dues are $90, but they offer a lot for it.

CHECK OUT LINKEDIN GROUPS: For instance, Washington DC Connections is a business networking group started just this spring by an enterprising local financial advisor, Andrew Meringoff. It already has almost 6,000 members from a wide range of professional fields and now has subgroups for more focused networking. After launching with three very successful breakfast networking events at La Madeleine restaurants in Maryland and Virginia, plans are underway for much more, including happy hours and educational events. So far, the only cost has been for the food you buy.

BUILD YOUR SKILLS: Learn and meet people at the same time. Sheila, a reader of this blog suggested Toastmasters as a way to mingle with people who are still employed. Great idea. Also, check out MeetUp groups that focus on areas that will expand your professional knowledge. Take a course or start work on a certification that will enhance your resume.

BUDDY UP: Find a job hunt buddy, preferably someone in a field related to yours who is not a direct competitor for the same jobs. Review each other’s resumes and check in with each other regularly. Send each other occasional leads or ideas. Stay connected.

For some tips on how to network, see this short video by Patricia A. Frame, management consultant, speaker and author, of Strategies for Human Resources.

Marketing Yourself—Your Public Image

2009-07-13T12:24:00.001-04:00

You want to be found. And, when you are found, you want to impress. That means there are a few steps you should take as soon as possible after you rejoin the job market.

UPDATE YOUR ONLINE PROFILE—Update your online profile on LinkedIn, Plaxo or Twitter, or all of them. Anywhere you are part of a social/business network, you need to be promoting yourself. If you are not on any of these networks, get on now, but keep your content and your connections professional. Be sure to post a recent photograph (a headshot is preferable) showing you looking professional and approachable.

POST RECOMMENDATIONS—Ask your references and other colleagues to post short recommendations of your work and your work style on your online profile. Recruiters do check them, according to two HR professionals who spoke at a workshop for out-of-work D.C. professionals that I attended this spring.

MAKE AN EMAIL UPDATE—If you use AOL for email, consider using an alternate provider for your job search, such as gmail or Yahoo. Pick a professional account name, such as your own name, to use for your job search communications, especially since it will appear on your resume. The word on the street is that if you use AOL, you are probably older and not tech savvy. I’ve heard this from recruiters and seen it in multiple articles.

SPREAD THE WORD—Tell everyone you know that you are unemployed and what kind of job you are seeking. Friends, former colleagues, neighbors and family can be great resources for support and networking. Even tell the grocery store clerk or your bank manager. It’s not a time to hide your situation, especially since you are definitely not alone and, in today’s economic climate, there is no shame in being on the job market because of a layoff.

My online profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiarosso

Marketing Yourself for a Job—Gather Your Playing Cards

2009-07-09T12:04:00.008-04:00

There are resources you should gather right away after a layoff. And, if you still have a job, make this a “just-in-case” preparation measure.

RESUME—Your resume is the most obvious resource, and it is one that should be addressed quickly and updated constantly, even when you are still employed. Seek out some expert advice on your resume content and format, and make sure it has not one single error in it.

SUCCESSES—Have you thought about your achievements, i.e. what you have done that you can call a success? Write up short success stories while you can still remember the details. Be sure to include data, if you can quantify your accomplishments. Being able to tell “your story” will come in handy in letters and interviews. Highlighting your achievements on your resume will draw attention to the value you offer.

KUDOS—Save any congratulatory messages or recognition that you may have received for successful projects or outcomes. Have them ready and at your fingertips when you write a cover letter or prepare for an interview.

AWARDS—Won any in recent years? If so, add them to your resume and your online profile.

PORTFOLIO—Depending on your career line, a portfolio may take different forms. In any case, it should be visual, showing documents, products or charts and graphs that showcase your skills and best efforts. You can post your portfolio on a personal website, but you should also have PDFs ready. (Recently, I saw a job announcement that specified “no links” for writing samples submitted with resumes.) In other words, keep your options open.

These resources will be covered in more detail in upcoming posts.

Marketing Yourself—Getting Started Again

2009-07-09T11:57:00.003-04:00

Layoffs happen—these days a lot of layoffs happen. So, it’s wise to prepare. I wish I had seen it coming. Rather than being blind-sided by an unexpected layoff that put me suddenly on the street without a job, I should have planned ahead.

If you have already been laid off, it’s okay to give yourself a short recovery time—no more than a few days—but then you need to get to work on your marketing plan. In my case, I took no time off and began contacting everyone I knew the next morning.

A marketing pro myself, I see the job hunt as a campaign. I am marketing myself, which requires strategy rather than a hit or miss approach. For instance, blasting hundreds of employers with resumes is probably a waste of time and effort. Targeting specific employers and networking in their realm is likely to be more productive.

The job market today is a totally new game. Everything about it has changed, from resumes to networking to the hiring process. In upcoming posts, I will be sharing what I have learned from friends, former colleagues, jobseeker support groups, HR professionals, a life coach, employers, articles, workshops and my own experiences.

Problem Solving with Persistence--Life with an Errant Washing Machine

2009-07-08T10:48:00.004-04:00

In the past few weeks, I have rearranged my life around washing machine repair schedules. Add to that now our refrigerator. When we moved into our house in early 2007, we fitted it with fairly high-end, name-brand appliances and purchased extended service contracts that go into 2011. Everything was just great for the first two years.

It wasn’t easy to fit one of today’s washing machines into the closet-like space in our upstairs hallway. Those jazzy front-loaders were out of the question because the bi-fold doors that close off the space blocked the machine’s doors. Also, because of the way they are constructed, they are too deep for the space. So, we bought a standard top-loading washer that was billed as super quiet and offering plenty of cycle options. We loved it, until one day in April it started banging like a drum with every revolution during the spin cycle…so loudly you could hear it two floors down.

That began a string of visits from the maker’s repair team, covered by our service contract and arranged by phone with very accommodating, helpful customer service representatives. They couldn’t have been nicer, but we still haven’t solved the problem after four completed service calls.

Visit one was to explore and identify the problem. The repairman, who was very diligent and friendly, said he was amazed our machine lasted so long without this happening, because the model we bought usually broke down before one year. He also said that our contract should cover any repair needed. He left, ordered a new motor and gear gizmo, and returned a week later to install them. Boom, everything done. Should be fine now.

Nope. When we did our next wash, we discovered the machine was still making wild banging noises. I called again. Our first repairman was on vacation, so they’d send a substitute to check it out, who turned out to be a really nice guy who spent time with us trying different cycles and listening. His solution: replace the agitator. So, he left, ordered a new part, which arrived on our doorstep two days later, and returned on his next available date two weeks later to install the new part. Well that should fix it!

Not at all, we discovered later. I called again and arranged another service visit. This time they sent a third person, who arrived with a surly attitude and zero patience. After a few minutes of waiting for the machine to perform its noisy problem and not hearing it yet, he decided there was no problem, and left, but only after I had him look at our refrigerator (which was supposed to also be on his job ticket, but wasn’t). Both door latches were broken. Little plastic doodads that hold the two French doors closed tightly on our expensive stainless steel fridge—both dangling and inoperable. Egad. We left it that he would have the latches ordered and sent to me, and then I was to arrange another service call.

I waited for over a week through the July 4 holiday and beyond, but no latches arrived. And the washer was sounding worse than ever. Time for new action.

On my last call to the company, I asked about the latch order. I heard: My, we don’t have a record of that. I’ll be glad to order them for you and set up a new service visit. And, we did so, but I made it clear it better not be the one with the attitude again.

Today was the day, but the latches still haven’t arrived. Bob, repairman number two who we liked, called this morning to ask if I had received them and indicated there was nothing in any of the computer records that showed they had been ordered. He offered to order them himself and scheduled a day next week to install them.

As for the washer, after trying numerous cycle combinations and staying close by to listen the machine’s nuances, we have pinned down the problem to the final spin of the regular cycle. Not one of the three men who have come to check our machine believed it could happen in one spin cycle but not another. They'd say: The computer that controls the machine would never do that.

Now we know it’s true, though, and we are ready to demonstrate it for him when Bob comes next week for our sixth scheduled service call.

This nightmare will end one day soon. I know it will. Persistence…

Have you had an appliance nightmare?

Isn’t It Tweet?

2009-07-07T11:38:00.005-04:00

Recently, I joined the Twitter world as a beginner, and in the smallest way possible. I had been putting it off, since I currently don’t own a laptop or a texting account on my cell phone. But the time had come to jump into the game.

At a blogging primer session in late June, I heard that one important, cost-free way to promote traffic to your blog is to tweet to your followers. So, now I tweet after each posting.

At the same time, two virtual groups I belong to were gathering Twitter account information from members. Once the lists were shared, I quickly had more followers.

And, I’ve heard from former colleagues and at several professional events that communicators are using Twitter as an additional way to keep the media and others updated on what their organizations are doing. Although the jury is still out on whether time spent on Twitter brings positive returns, it obviously has some value as a communications tool. It depends on how you use it and what you expect from it.

My personal view of Twitter has been that of a skeptic. Tweeting several times a day didn’t seem much different to me than incessant personal cell phone calls by people who seem addicted to it. Can they really have anything of value to say so often and for so long, day after day? What can I say on Twitter that isn’t wasting people’s time to read? What will add to their knowledge or build a bond that I wouldn’t put in an email instead? Should I tweet for the sake of tweeting?

These are all things I am contemplating. What do you think?

It’s a Bloggerful World

2009-07-06T13:57:00.003-04:00

Some factoids I heard last week in D.C. at a Blogging 101 session hosted by the Ad Council and Google blew me away and some just make sense.

First, there are 1.5 million new blogs created every week and about one million posts per day. While close to half of the population is said to visit the same blogs regularly and a third reportedly reads one each day, only 8% of Americans have a blog. That makes me feel really special!

Also, about 95 % of the top U.S. newspapers have reporter blogs. With what’s happening to the newspaper industry today—losing print subscribers and advertisers—this seems an inevitable evolutionary shift. They are going to have to reinvent themselves, even those papers that continue being printed, in order to compete as news services.

As a small fish in a very large blogosphere, I have joined a purportedly male-dominated arena. That surprised me. Why should gender be a factor?

[The data sources cited by speaker Jenni Brand of Bastille Marketing in her introductory presentation included Technorati, Pew Internet and American Life Project, and Synovate.]

Blog School at Google D.C.

2009-07-01T16:45:00.008-04:00

I’ve had three occasions in the past month to attend events and presentations at Google’s Washington, D.C. office. It’s a pretty cool space on the second floor of a downtown glass-fronted building. There are lots of different seating and group discussion areas scattered around the office. The atmosphere is industrial, casual and brightly decorated in bold solid colors, and they have their own chef who prepares breakfast and lunch every day for the staff. (See a video tour.)

The first time I visited was the second week of June for an all-day “unconference” planned by the Environmental Defense Fund and sponsored by Ashoka, a Rosslyn-based group that fosters innovation for social change. The event, focused on Green Innovation for Business, used a large portion of Google’s meeting spaces. There were no speakers. Instead, it was a large group think session which was the first of four such events to be held across the U.S. Very invigorating.

My next visit to the New York Avenue office was for an evening DC Web Women presentation later in June on using Google Analytics. It was informative and prompted me to get started.

And just this week I went back to Google for Blogging 101, a two-hour quick course on the basics of blogging as well as how to make your blog successful, presented by a panel of top experts. After a primer on what blogging is and can be, we heard tips from bloggers at Google, The Nature Conservancy and TSA, as well as what they have done to overcome obstacles to getting started and operating smoothly. I will be sharing some highlights in an upcoming post.

What sticks in my mind most of everything I heard at these Google events is that I am just one of 133 million bloggers. So, I’ve joined the throngs. Now I need to stand out.

Chipmunk Time in Potomac Falls

2009-07-01T15:19:00.001-04:00

My resident chipmunk now sits on his haunches just outside his probably very deep hole in the yard near my back door. He seems to be casing out the area. All I can see is his head. Occasionally, he runs back and forth across the top step just outside from where I work. Earlier he came right up to the glass on the sliding doors, but raced off when he saw me move. Busy little bugger…and too fast to catch on camera. I see him there every day. He’s very cute.