How to Bulletproof Your Career – Part 2 of 2
Job Market Trend 2:
Companies are still very cautious and careful about making any hiring decisions of high-paying, senior management positions. Executives seeking such jobs must now “sell themselves” more than in the past. They need to demonstrate just how they will enhance the company’s productivity, efficiency and profitability – or they probably won’t get the offer. This means that the job seeker really needs to learn how to effectively present and market himself or herself. Just having the right job titles on one’s résumé, or having the appropriate technical skills for the job, are no longer enough.
Job Market Trend 3:
Executives are receiving smaller career transition programs than ever before from the large outplacement firms – and many displaced professionals are getting no career transition programs at all. This means that greater numbers of executives are seeking-out help from smaller, more personal career consulting firms and career support groups.
Strategies to Bulletproof Your Career
Although the transition programs mentioned above do offer important career management techniques, let me share with you the most important activities you should always be doing to overcome the challenges outlined above, and bulletproof your career for the future:
- Keep all your success documents up to date
- Put time aside every week for active networking
- Join and take leadership roles in appropriate associations
- Write articles or do presentations in your area of expertise
- Continue your career education, including new credentials
- Research and be aware of the competition
- Offer to help people in your network on a regular basis
- Look at new jobs and investigate other opportunities
- Always ask yourself, “How can I contribute more?”
- Practice your networking, interviewing and negotiating skills
If you want your career to be truly bulletproof, you’ll need to educate yourself on topics you probably thought you’d never have to worry about again – like self-marketing, networking, interviewing and negotiating. To master these skills, many management professionals are also discovering helpful online programs, free audio seminars, local networking groups, and so on.
And here’s the GOOD NEWS: If you seek-out the right support and leverage vital resources like those mentioned above, you may actually be thankful for the experience of going through transition – ultimately finding a career or landing a job that will be a much better “fit” than those you’ve previously had.
To read the entire article, click here.
Click here to watch helpful career success videos!
You Are Invited – Get The Job You Want: Secrets of Job Search Experts Seminar
Join us to learn the secrets that job search experts use to land jobs quickly and efficiently!
As you probably know, searching for a job is not as simple as sending out resumes and answering the phone when recruiters or hiring managers call. It is far more difficult and complicated than that! Job search is never easy, but it can be more successful if you know how to look for a job – and far more successful if you know the insider secrets of job search experts.
This first presentation will give you an insider’s knowledge of the strategies and tactics that top job search experts use to land jobs. These concepts are not “common sense,” and if you haven’t had years of experience in job search, you will probably not figure them out on your own. Why be at a disadvantage? Register for this event now, and get the information you need to kick you’re job search into high gear.
You will learn “secrets” related to:
• The proper attitude and approach to job search
• How to connect to the hidden job market
• Resume strategies that work (including the latest research on resume development)
• Powerful cover letters that get interviews
• Working with recruiters
• Managing the “you’re over qualified” response
• How to network for great results
• The best approach to job interviews
About the presenters:
This presentation will be given by Ford R. Myers and Eric P. Kramer. They are career management experts who have worked with thousands of individuals in job search over the past 15 years. Both presenters have published books about job search and are acknowledged thought leaders in the career management field.
Here are the details:
DATE: Wednesday, September 19, 2012
TIME: 6:30pm to 9:00pm
SPONSOR: The Philadelphia Area Great Careers Group
PRESENTERS: Ford R. Myers and Eric P. Kramer, Career Experts
INVESTMENT: $20.00 (pay with your online registration)
WHO: Everyone is welcome!
LOCATION: Bartley Hall, Room 1001, Villanova University, Villanova, PA
DIRECTIONS: http://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/admission/visit/maps.html
(Corner of Lancaster and Ithan Avenues)
REGISTRATION: Advanced registration is required. Visit: http://www.meetup.com/Philadelphia-Area-Great-Careers-Group/events/78750472/
NOTE: You will need to become a member of http://www.meetup.com (free) to register for this event.
QUESTIONS: Call Eric at (610) 420-4158 or e-mail epkramer@gmail.com
Space is limited and will fill-up quickly for this important presentation. If you are a serious job seeker, be sure to reserve your place now!
You Are Invited – How to Stand-Out in a Very Competitive Job Market Seminar
The subtle differences in every step of the job search process determine who ultimately lands the job and who does not. This is especially true in a bad economy, when unemployment is high and the job market is so competitive.
Learn how to properly communicate your value to prospective employers. Master key strategies to help you in the job search. Discover tools to gain access to your target market. Get advice and feedback on the latest resume techniques and formats recommended. Delve into the critical pre-interview planning process.
This presentation will show you how to stand-out as the candidate of choice, and get the offer!
About the presenter:
Ford R. Myers is President of Career Potential, LLC. His firm helps clients take charge of their careers, create the work they love, and earn what they deserve! Ford has held senior consulting positions at three of the nation’s largest career service firms. His articles and interviews have appeared in many national magazines and newspapers, and he has conducted presentations at numerous companies, associations and universities. In addition, Ford has been a frequent guest on television and radio programs across the country. He is author of two books: “Get the Job You Want, Even When No One’s Hiring” and “The Ultimate Career Guide.”
Here are the details:
DATE: Thursday, September 13, 2012
TIME: 9:00am to 11:30am
SPONSOR: Career Potential, LLC
PRESENTER: Ford R. Myers, President of Career Potential, LLC
INVESTMENT: $25.00 (pay with your online registration)
WHO: Everyone is welcome!
LOCATION: Radnor Financial Center,150 N. Radnor-Chester Road, Suite F-200Radnor,PA
DIRECTIONS: Visit http://www.careerpotential.com/directions_radnor.htm
REGISTRATION: Advanced registration is required. Visit: http://www.careerpotential.com/signup
QUESTIONS: Call Ford at (610) 649-1778 or e-mail
Sign-up now for this special event, and make sure YOU stand-out in this competitive job market!
The “Bridge Job” Strategy Making Money While You’re in Career Transition – Part 1 of 2
If you’re out of work now, what part-time or flexible work can you do to fill the gap until you land the job you want? If you’re fully-employed but concerned about losing your job, what sort of opportunities could you pursue to earn additional income, should the need arise? The “Bridge Job Strategy” is a pragmatic approach to carry you through a difficult employment or financial period. Here are some interim options, where you can find work and earn money while continuing to search for the job you really want:
Part-time or temporary job (retail stores, restaurants, business services, administrative, etc.). Try to find a position in a field you genuinely like. If you enjoy shopping or love the products of a particular store, consider working in retail. If you have a passion for cooking or are knowledgeable about food, you might want to be a prep chef at a favorite restaurant. If you have connections at business service organizations and can add value to their operations, try working at a company where your managerial contributions would be valued. Contact several temp agencies, or go visit businesses in which you have an interest.
Teaching or substitute teaching (public or private schools, colleges and universities, technical or vocational programs, etc.). The education that helped get you started in your career is still valuable. If you’ve been in the workforce for a while, you’ve no doubt gained skills to enhance your credibility. These qualifications are often valued by schools and colleges. Experienced professionals are sought after to teach classes and bring a real-world perspective to their students. Contact the administration office of your local school system or the employment office of universities and vocational programs in your area.
Consulting or contract assignments (business operations, computer/technology, creative/advertising, etc). Even before the economy and job market went sour, the work world had changed. A growing percentage of the workforce had already moved into flexible assignments as consultants or contractors. If you have a background in one of the fields that naturally lend themselves to this work style, try to get consulting or contract work. It can be interesting, challenging work, and it can also be lucrative. In some cases, these consulting or contract assignments turn into full-time job offers, after the company gets to know you. Contact outsourcing and contract employment firms in the fields that interest you.
Work for family or friends (retail stores, services, small manufacturing operations, and every other type of business). Do you have relatives or friends who own or run businesses? Would you be comfortable working with them? In tough times, it is important to put your pride aside and ask for help. But in this case, the help would be mutual. Your friend or relative would be the lucky recipient of your services, and you would be gainfully employed, working for someone you already know and like. Contact every friend, relative, or acquaintance who owns or runs a business, and ask about their needs and challenges.
Funny Job-Search and Work Stories – Part 1 of 2
3. Don’t tell your children that, “If they finish college, they’ll be assured of a successful career.” This may have been true several generations ago, but it certainly isn’t true any longer. Today’s college degree is yesterday’s high school diploma – and it doesn’t guarantee ANYTHING. To succeed in today’s work-world, your children will need much more than a college degree. They’ll need your guidance, along with talent, determination, persistence, a strong work ethic and maybe a bit of good luck. They’ll also need a real-world perspective on what it REALLY takes to succeed.
4. Provide your children with resources, support and encouragement – but don’t coddle them. Many new college graduates have never had to work or assume responsibility for earning any level of income. Naturally, this leads to problems when the child graduates from college and is suddenly thrust into the job market. Even worse, many parents have indulged or “spoiled” their children, leading to a sense of entitlement. Your children will have to work for a long time, and it’s important that they get used to this idea from a young age. Once your children have finished school, make it clear that they must take responsibility for their own career and income, through good times and bad.
5. Explain to your children how important it is to create and control their image on the Internet. Every new worker has (or will soon have) an online presence. In this age of cell phone cameras, You Tube, and Face Book, the trail your children leave on the Internet will follow them for a long time to come. Employers know this, and they research job candidates on the Internet before making hiring decisions. It is vitally important that every young person take control of their online identity, and carefully monitor the “personal brand” they’re building on the Internet. Encourage your kids to use online career management tools such as Linked-In and VisualCV, to optimize and leverage their online presence.
6. Help your children get their first “break” by leveraging family relationships and business contacts.The work world is more competitive than ever, and new graduates face serious challenges in getting their careers started-out on the right foot. Even the most qualified young candidate can benefit from a bit of help in the form of “connections.” Rather than being overly proud and rejecting such assistance, encourage your children to welcome the idea of “getting a break” through friends or family as they launch their careers. It will still be up to your children to prove themselves on the job, or they won’t be employed there for long – even if they’re related to the boss.
7. Allow your children to pursue the career path they truly love; not the career path you think they should love. If your child is fortunate enough to discover a professional path that he or she truly loves, you must encourage and facilitate their pursuit of that career. Put the necessary time and resources into this mission, and the results will be powerful. If your children struggle with identifying their best career directions, engage a professional Career Coach to help them find their right work. Avoid the temptation to push your children into the career paths YOU think they should follow. Instead, let them find their own gifts and passions. This is one of the most generous and healthy things a parent can do for a child.
To read the entire article, click here.
Click here to watch helpful career success videos!
How to Bulletproof Your Career – Part 1 of 2
n the not-too-distant past, ascending the corporate ladder assured management professionals of a bigger office, a stronger compensation package and a more secure future. But today, executives are being told: Don’t get too comfortable in that corner office, and don’t buy that fancy new car or boat you’ve always dreamed of – because your job is just as vulnerable as everyone else’s. Evidence suggests that the higher up the ladder you go, the more precarious your position may become!
The attitude toward executives and the roles they play within companies have drastically changed in recent years. I’ve seen executives who have been with the same company for 20 or more years. They’ve worked their way up the corporate ladder and felt that they had proven their value – then they were unceremoniously dismissed from their positions as if they had just been hired as an entry-level worker.
As a Career Consultant, it’s my job to re-instill the client’s confidence, identify his or her strengths, and “re-package” that individual for the current job market. But, to navigate effectively through the career transition process and ultimately make your career bulletproof, you must first be informed about what’s really going on in the work-world. I see several important trends taking place with regard to executive-level job stability and security, including:
Today’s Challenging Employment Trends
Job Market Trend 1:
More and more positions, even at senior levels, are now being offered on a contract or temporary basis. The position, in these cases, lasts only as long as is needed to fulfill the employer’s contract with their client. This requires job seekers to think differently – more like an independent consultant who works on assignment – rather than as a permanent employee. In many business sectors and industries, it could be said that the “permanent, full-time job” no longer exists as we knew it. This trend also puts the responsibility on the part of the executive to consistently promote and market himself or herself for the next opportunity – and the one after that!
To read the entire article, click here.
Click here to watch helpful career success videos!
How to Help Your Child Transition Successfully from College to Career – Part 1 of 2
Over the past year, we’ve received a number of phone calls from parents of recent college graduates. This is unusual for two reasons: (1) we don’t usually work with clients in their twenties; and (2) these parents are seriously concerned about their children’s ability to start careers. Indeed, many parents are now paying our career coaching fees, to ensure that their kids will have every advantage in the transition from school to work.
I’ve been saying for years that colleges do virtually nothing to prepare new graduates for the “real work-world.” Most college placement offices are woefully inadequate – and knowing this, most students avoid using these services altogether. Graduating from a fine university does NOT guarantee that a student will have a clear career direction, or that a student will know how to mount a successful job search campaign.
You may have heard the term “Boomerang Kids.” This describes the growing number of recent graduates who return home to live with their parents – often well into their thirties! Needless to say, this is not the outcome most parents had in mind when they sent their kids off to college.
So, what’s a parent to do?! Here are seven suggestions for parents, based on actual career coaching work we’ve done with recent college graduates. Following these recommendations will help produce far better results than those described above:
1. Invest in career development coaching. After spending tens of thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) of dollars on college, it’s a pretty sure bet that your children never received ANY training or guidance in how to choose a career, get a job, or participate productively in the workforce. Don’t let all that money go to waste. Invest another 1%-5% to ensure that your children’s education will pay-off – with smarter career choices, better jobs, and higher long-term compensation.
2. Teach your children responsible work habits. Patience, discipline, respect, industriousness and punctuality are habits that were “assumed” in previous generations of new workers – but these qualities are all too rare among recent college graduates. Employers complain about this, and they are worried about how to find, develop and retain a workforce to replace the huge numbers of retiring baby boomers. The new employees who will get ahead are the ones who embrace and embody these traits. Therefore, parents should strive to model these behaviors and instill these qualities early in the lives of their children.
To read the entire article, click here.
Click here to watch helpful career success videos!
