Why Should I Help You? Part 1

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.

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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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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?

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?

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

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.

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

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

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

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.