Overqualified but happy to have a job

That was the title of a recent New York Times article. You can read it here.

The gist of the article is this: In today’s tight job market, companies can attract talent they’d ordinarily never see. And despite conventional wisdom, many of these overqualified hires are working out.

Here’s what I think (and please add your own comments below):

First, these jobs seem to work out when the company feels pleased and excited to get this talent bonus. If a company has reservations about the new hire, these feelings will carry over.

Second, you have to be honest with yourself. Some people have no problem working in downsized jobs. Others won’t. If you’re in the latter category, you may have to find a way to earn a living, perhaps by starting your own business.

Many people find it easier to take a step back when they are either self-employed or moving to a new career field. That’s why many qualified professionals begin an online career as Virtual Assistants: they’re actually running a business and they can fire their bosses anytime.

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Free Resume Service Found On Twitter

Somehow I got invited to connected with the folks behind http://www.HelpMyResume.org

This website promises free resume service. They are careful to say that you must be an unemployed US citizen to qualify and you must have a resume draft to send them.

What’s the difference between free and paid?

I have no idea what they do. When I work with clients, we review their work histories. We don’t just tweak what’s there. We identify strengths and accomplishments. This process takes time and energy.

I would also be aware that this type of service may be targeting a different level of work than the one you enjoy. Their job board lists customer service center positions; if you are a senior manager or vice president, you may not benefit from any of their services.

If you do use the service, or any other free or discounted service, please let me know. You can email me at midlifecareerstrategy (a) gmail.com OR you can make a comment below.

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“To get happy employees, fire the unhappy ones.”

That was the subject of a New  York Times article today. If you read this article, you will see many comments.

The author, a company owner, says he has a simple solution to finding good employees. If they’re not happy, out they go!

On the one hand, he’s got a point. If you are not a fit with a company, you have to go. But what happens if the compapny culture changes, so maybe you once were a fit but now you are not? What if your manager is being abusive or neglectful? What if there’s a situation that management needs to know about…but people are afraid to say something?

What do you think? Read the article and comment below.

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Job Search, Unemployment and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The 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?

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How Your Job Search Gets Derailed When You’re a Great Candidate

Five 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.

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Most Common Executive Job Search Question? “Many interviews, no job”

An 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

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To Ace Your Job Interview, Banish These Ghosts Forever

A 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.

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Job Search Not Working? Ask Your Alma Mater For Help

Job search is getting extremely challenging during tough economic times, so even mature graduates are turning to the universities they left behind a long time ago. Alma Mater means “greatest mother,” but returning to your college or university won’t feel like asking your mother ffor help. These days universities are expanding their services. Some even offer webinars to faraway alums. Here’s just one story.

Before using the services of your alumni office, ask a few questions. Try to find someone who is similar to you in your age and profession. Ask him or her, “How did this alumni office help you?” Some universities are still quite frankly geared to helping recent graduates. Others will have only local contacts.

Ask about fees and obligations before you begin. Some alumni career centers charge as much as private career coaches. If that’s the case, don’t assume they’ve screened your coaches and guaranteed you the best available. Career centers often pay low salaries to career coaches so you’re not getting access to coaches with experience. Before working with anyone, ask about his or her training and experience. Ideally your coach will combine business experience with some study of careers. A degree in “career counseling” may mean your consultant has studied psychology and test-taking but lacks knowledge of how the real world works.

Be skeptical of anyone who asks you to take tests. If you’ve been out of school for many years, your tests will reveal that you are amazingly well suited to the career you ave now. Personality tests, such as the Myers-Briggs (or MBTI), are very popular, even among academics. Yet many are unscientific and most will be unhelpful. Test results may be a good way to start a career discussion but they won’t answer the question, “What should I do with my life?” And they definitely won’t help you answer the tougher question, “Where are the jobs?”

More info:
Career Coaching for Mid-Career Professionals
Ebooks to Download Here

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Job Search On A Budget: Some good info, some misleading info

An 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.”

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Job Search: Being bold rarely works, even today…

Good 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?

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