Job Search, Unemployment and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Posted by CathyG in career advice, job search, money management on 02 6th, 2010The New York Times posted a sobering article on what happens when people finally find jobs after 6 to 12 months of unemployment. You can read the article here.
The bottom line is that the newly hired experience emotions that the Times stops short of calling “PTSD.” Before they can enjoy being back on the payroll, they have to pay off debts and maybe deal with a lower credit rating. The children may be in a new school. Their friends may have changed or disappeared altogether. The word “job” even takes on new meaning. One woman said she’ll never throw herself into a job again. The rewards just aren’t there.
What can you do?
– Don’t wait to get some kind of income coming in, even if it’s lower and less prestigious than what you had. Often kids can get part-time jobs that include babysitting, simple dog walking, lawn moving and more. I once hired a high school student to shovel my steps when I lived in a snowy region. I made sure to ask the parentse if it was okay, but I paid something like $8-10 an hour.
– If you know your job is going away, use your health care benefits to find a licensed, qualified therapist. Consider getting this kind of help when you are back on a payroll. The stress you experience is as real as losing a loved one.
– If you can afford an hour or two with a career coach, you may find the investment worthwhile. Any investment in services will be a gamble; clients tell me they get frustrated even with licensed therapists. On the upside, sometimes a lot of decisions get made in a matter of minutes on a one-to-one call, saving days and weeks of frustration. Nobody can guarantee results, but if you spend $1000 with a coach and then get back on a payroll one week earlier, you are ahead of the game if you make $50,000 or more: you get benefits and start accuring vacation time in addition to the salary, plus you spend less money out of savings.
– Cut back on expenses before you have to and live below your means. I realize this is easier said than done, especially if you have children. However, today’s financial planners and money coaches often find creative ways to help you save money. It’s worth a try.
– Moving to a new location can be rewarding or can lead to even more challenges.
You’ll notice that I recommend investing in advice. I wouldn’t have made these suggestions ten years ago. However, the world has gotten much more complicated. Job loss is something most people have never experienced. I’m always amazed when people who think nothing of hiring a planner for weddings, parties, and bar mitzvahs balk at spending a few hundred dollars to get help with planning relocation or career change. Sure, some planners are completely worthless, but usually you get at least some benefit that justifies what you’ve invested and makes it easier to create a positive outcome.
What’s your view? How will you survive and thrive in today’s uncertain economy?
read comments (0)How Your Job Search Gets Derailed When You’re a Great Candidate
Posted by CathyG in career advice, job search on 02 3rd, 2010Five ways a job search gets de-railed (and you may not know it), with some personal, politically incorrect humor.
(1) Make sure you haven’t posted inappropriate photos and information online, anywhere. Expect recruiters and employers to google your name. If you want to post personal photos of yourself, create a secret group and admit only your most trusted family members and close friends. Be sure to remove them from the group if you anticipate any conflict, as they can download your photos and post on their sites. They may be malicious or they may not realize the damage they are doing.
(2) Respect recruiters and their rules. A recruiter who invests many hours setting up a placement will be furious when, at the last minute, she realizes you are working with a competing recruiter so she doesn’t get commission. Accepting a position and changing your mind also hurts the recruiter, who could have spent the time with someone else. Unfortunately, they do not regard this lost income as just “cost of doing business.”
(3) Be professional and operate from strength. Sending out multiple resumes to managers in a single firm or calling back repeatedly to check on the status of your application can send out a signal that you are needy. Whether in business or corporate life, desperation sends a negative signal that actually drives away your most promising prospects.
(4) Falsifying information on a resume can backfire. Once I was talking to another career consultant. I pointed out that with advanced degrees, including a doctorate, I couldn’t get past the first screening for most jobs. She said seriously, “You can dumb down your resume.”
I’m opposed to “dumbing down.” First, you might get caught and you would be blacklisted or embarrassed. Second, you have to account for all those years. How do you transform “studying and teaching” to “working as a Starbucks barista?”
inally, if you do manage to fool a hiring manager, you’ll go crazy and so will they. One manager told me about hiring someone who had dumbed down his resume in desperation. She finally confronted him. “You’re not responding the way people in your position usually do. You know things people in your job usually don’t know. What’s up?”
Fortunately, she was a compassionate manager who also realized that this man could be a valuable employee. She found him a higher level job in the company, where he soon was recognized and rewarded. Everybody won. The manager has a lifetime ally. The employee has a good job. And the company gained some talent that would be hard to find in the open job market.
(5) Sadly, jokes can derail your job search. I just read about a candidate who made a joke about taking a drug test: “Sure, give me six days notice.” He was blacklisted. Ironically, only a non-user would even consider making a joke like that. (It’s also against the law to joke at airports. But would a real terrorist be making jokes about bombs? I suspect not.)
In my opinion, drug tests are degrading and useless. The closest I came was when I applied for a telecommute position and was asked to sign a statement that I would not use drugs. I was also asked to fill out a complex form that would take many hours, so I politely wrote back to say that I was about 1500 miles from the company and therefore was not likely to bring drugs (or anything else) to the location. However, I would take special precautions to keep catnip out of my work area when the cats were there. Of course, it was a fun way (for me) to say, “Thanks but no thanks” to the job.
What do you think? Please comment below on your own beliefs and experiences about job search. Your email will not be displayed and you can use a pseudonym or just a first name if you prefer.
7 Steps To Your Mid-Life Career Job Search
Posted by CathyG in career advice, job search on 12 28th, 2009With the dicey economic climate these days, some of you are asking, “How do I get ready for a job search?” Maybe you’ve been thinking about a move. Or maybe you want to get ready in case you need to work your Plan B.
Here are 7 steps and 3 resources, from my job search guide.
I just found this ebook – a very good guide to escaping corporate life to start your own business.
Don’t be put off by this title – I really like The Career Coward’s Guide to Interviewing.
And I’ve got several low-cost fast downloads, including guides to dealing with layoffs, interviews and answering want ads.
Career Strategy: Invest in Career Insurance To Minimize Impact of Job Loss
Posted by CathyG in career advice, job loss, job search on 12 23rd, 2009Here’s an article with the title of Five Rules for Job Security from the CBS Moneywatch site.
But in fact they are not about giving you job security. Nobody can do that. Instead, they are about
- mitigating the effects of job loss and
- protecting your financial security in the event of job loss.
The distinction is important. These days you can’t count on job security, although it makes a great headline. The story opens with an anecdote about a marketing executive who was unexpectedly laid off. Fortunately, he had already started a part-time Internet business. He was able to bring in enough revenue to keep paying the bills till he found another job.
What the article doesn’t add is that having this financial security probably gave this man an edge when he applied fora new job. Employers tend to hire people who are confident. I like to think that getting a job is like getting a bank loan. It’s easier when you don’t need it.
This man’s approach, along witih the other techniques proposed in the article, seem to suggest creating a form of career insurance. By way of analogy, when someone steals a precious possession, your insurance allows you to replace it. Nothing guarantees that your object won’t be lost stolen. But insurance can mitigate the damage.
I’d be happy to talk to you about ways to develop your own career insurance. Click on my coaching page to learn more about my services.Ca
Most Common Executive Job Search Question? “Many interviews, no job”
Posted by CathyG in job search, job stress on 11 7th, 2009An executive job search can be challenging regardless of the economy. Even during boom times, career consultants often get asked, “Why are my interviews going nowhere?” This question arises when you have no trouble getting invited to interviews but then there is no follow
-up.
Of course, I recommend that you consider a consultation with a professional career consultant. Here is a checklist for you:
(1) Are you applying for jobs in fields where you are not qualified? When your industry dies, you may have to find a new place to search. But you also need t update your resume and prepare answers to interview questions.
(2) Are you honestly overqualfied for jobs you seek? You may think you are willing to learn but employers realize it’s difficult to downsize your aspirations. I discourage my own clients from taking a step backward. In my experience, this option leads to nothing but frustration.
(3) Are you explaining too much? Questions like, “Why did you leave your last job?” call for a prepared sound bite answer.
(4) Are you illustrating your experience with stories of success? When asked, “What is your strength?” do you give an example of how your strength helped you carry out a project and achieve results?
(5) Are you focusing on yor employer’s perspective, rather than your own? For example, do you talk about wanting a challenge and personal growth? Or do you relate all your answers to the employer’s bottom line?
For more tips on job search: http://www.midlifecareerstrategy.com/searchbk.html
To Ace Your Job Interview, Banish These Ghosts Forever
Posted by CathyG in job interview, job loss, job search on 10 31st, 2009A job interview can be scary and stressful. After all, just getting to the interview meant you had to jump through hoops. You might be one of six interviewees chosen from over 300 applicants. But getting past the other five can be a minefield.
One challenge clients often raise is, “What about my problems with my boss in the job I just left?”
or
“What if my new boss is an acquaintance of my old boss?”
For instance, one career changer told me, “I’ve been job hunting for a long time. My past boss was abusive and he didn’t like me. It’s a small world. What should I do?”
Relax. Chances are your old boss is just a ghost who will never materialize in daylight. Your old and new boss probably don’t know each other. The odds of your name coming up are quite small. Of course, if your new employer calls your former boss for an off-the-record chat, there’s nothing you can do. You won’t even know about it, since those chats probably violate company policy. Still, the odds are in your favor. Bosses know they will look bad when they insult a former employee, unless they have straightforward factual information.
During your interview, you don’t need to bring up the past, recent or distant. If you are asked directly about your previous job, focus on enjoying a positive experience. Focus on what you learned, not what went wrong.
Your interviewer is not your therapist. She wants the answer to one question: “How will you contribute to the organization, department and mission? How will you make her look good?” Regardless of what you are asked, imagine framing your answer as, “The way I will contribute is…”
One surefire tip to banish ghosts: Make a list of all the ghosts that could possibly appear to embarrass you. For example:
Ghost #1: You’ve been out of work for eight months. You might be asked, “What have you been doing?”
Ghost #2: “Why did you leave your job? Why aren’t you working again?”
Think of every possible awkward or difficult question. Write out the answer as a soundbite that focuses on your contribution. Consider reviewing your responses with a career consultant or coach.
And I invite you to learn more:
Irrevent Guide to Mid-Career Job Search: Click here.
Consulting and Coaching (Often just an hour will make a huge difference): Click here.
Job Search On A Budget: Some good info, some misleading info
Posted by CathyG in job search on 09 25th, 2009An interesting article about job search on a budget: Click here.
Just don’t believe the suggested investments in coaching and resume writing. Career coaches charge $150-$300 an hour (although an hour usually includes services that go beyond the hour). Lower-end coaches won’t be as experienced.
They advise paying $200 for a resume. If you’ve got a simple resume, you might get away with this amount. A senior executive will need to pay $500-$1000.
Just don’t pay attention to services promising to not only write yor resume but also distribute it to thousands of potential employers. These are scams. They can actually hurt your career. One of my clients realized she needed expert help when a business acquaintance called her. “Why are you applying for a job with my company?” he asked. “Your background has no relation to our openings.”
Job Search: Being bold rarely works, even today…
Posted by CathyG in career advice, job search on 09 1st, 2009Good article in the WSJ about over-eager job searchers.
Some career books tell you to jump in with both feet. No answer to an email or snail mail resume? Just show up in person.
But as this article points out, companies evaluate you on whether you will be a good team member. If you’re showing up without an appointment, will you barge into someone else’s office uninvited? If you send a gift to a manager in hopes of getting an interview, will you try to buy your way to get what you want from the corporation?
Job search for your mid-life career: Relating to the Hiring Decision-Makers
Posted by CathyG in job loss, job search on 08 31st, 2009When I work with clients or create ebooks, I typically advise, “When an interview is over, it’s done.” I do recommend a certain amount of follow-up. Perhaps you could write a note or call to say something, “I just wanted to know where you are in your process.”
These days, when so much business is conducted by email, your application can be lost. In fact, I tell my own readers and prospective clients, “If you don’t hear from me in a day or two, please try again.” But I discourage seeking feedback from potential employers. They’ll rarely be honest because (a) they’re afraid of lawsuits, (b) they don’t know themselves or (c) they can’t tell you the real reason they didn’t hire you is that somebody’s nephew gets priority.
But one laid-off senior executive seems to be using a request for feedback as a reason to get in touch with a hiring decision-maker. This mid-life career changer turned a no-response into a consulting assignment. He obviously has strong communication skills: no surprise because he has a stellar track record. Read the full story here.
This story, from the WSJ’s career section, deserves notice because it comes from a WSJ blog of laid-off executives with stellar credentials, living proof that an Ivy League degree doesn’t make anyone bullet-proof.
For my own resources on job hunting, visit my list of Special Reports and my coaching opportunities.
http://blogs.wsj.com/laidoff/2009/08/31/after-several-interviews-patiently-waiting-for-answers/?mod=rss_WSJBlog
Why You *Really* Blew The Interview
Posted by CathyG in job interview, job search on 08 27th, 2009OK, you’ve read all the guides rules and advice on job interviews…and you still blew it. You said the wrong thing. Maybe you said a LOT of wrong things and felt like the basketball player who scored a point in the opponent’s side of the court. What happened?
Probably…
You really didn’t want the job. Deep down, you knew it was all wrong for you. In her book, Find Your Own North Star, Martha Beck wrote about a woman who was asked why she wanted a job in banking. The woman said, “I really don’t like banking.” Since she was interviewing with a bank (like, duh!) the interview rapidly went south.
Martha Beck advised the woman to forget about banking jobs. “Your body is telling you something,” she said. “You don’t belong there.”
I had a similar experience when I interviewed for a job in one of the midwestern “I” states. As soon as I got off the plane I knew I was in trouble. Everything felt wrong. My skirt was too short (yes, I wore nice suits in those days, especially to interviews). I couldn’t get excited about the special lunch at the Holiday Inn with a choice between jello and macaroni salads.
And I still feel slightly guilty as I look back. The people were nice. They meant well. I was intrigued by the salary and many aspects of the opportunity. It just wasn’t right for me.
I didn’t know the job was all wrong for me. But my intuition did. And somehow my inner senses hijacked my brain and the rest is history. I took a job in Florida instead.
Learn more about how your intuition can help you reach your career and business goals. Other Special Reports available here.
