While the Great Recession is
quickly becoming a distant memory, a number of people are still caught up in
its wake. Many still struggle to find balance and get back on their feet.
Optimism is on the rebound however with new opportunities beginning to
sprout up daily.
Why Companies Hire?
From the hunting perspective this formula can often seem like rocket science
but it’s actually a simple equation. It comes down to two key components.
1) Can the person do the job?
2) Is the candidate a cultural fit?
The first question is rather simple to answer; it’s about ticking off boxes
related to the position. For example, if a job requires knowledge of Excel and
HTML, you won't be considered for the role if you don't have these skills. In
today's fast paced work environment employers are reluctant to hire employees
who want to "learn on the job." Thanks to a plethora of traditional
and online education options today, it’s expected that if you want a skill, you'll
obtain and perfect it on your own.
The second question is a little harder to answer and is a bit more
subjective. "Fit," as often termed by recruiters, is about
how closely a candidate’s values align with the companies. “Values” is
large bucket but usually contains issues such as work/life balance, source of
professional satisfaction, and long term goals. These items aren't often apparent
on the surface. Recruiters usually get these answers by asking candidates questions
about “work preferences.” While there is not a check box per se. Eyes light up,
stars align, and things just click when its present. In this regard, it's sort
of like dating. If the spark is there, both the recruiter and candidate will know
it.
Networking - Laying Tracks for Success
Ask a recruiter about job hunting tips and they’ll most likely share the golden
rule, "Network." The web may have made the job application process
easier but don't be fooled, hours spent in front of a computer submitting job
applications is worth far less than a few minutes meeting a new or
established contact to speak about your job hunting goals. A general rule of
thumb to keep in mind during a full-time job hunt is to conduct 2 - 3 meetings a week.
Networking is often misrepresented
as people looking to quickly climb the career ladder without putting in
"dues." While this is a definition you could use to describe the
activity, I've found it’s a tad inaccurate; highlights the negative aspects of
networking. When defined positively, networking is the act of meeting people
(established or new contacts) in-person (ideal) or via communication tools -
phone, video chat, or email (less ideal). These meetings should be focused on
getting to know people you're generally interested in professionally. Think
professional "blind date."
Discussion during the
meeting can vary but it's best to bring questions to keep the conversation
flowing. It’s also good to be prepared to talk about your professional goals
and companies you'd like to work for. Many jobs are still found through Six Degrees
of Separation (arguably less thanks to social media). Your
contact may not know someone but their friend's brother's coworker may be the
executive assistant to the CEO of your dream company. Connections are hidden
from direct view but easy to dig up when actively searching.
Show Me the Money!
Long held as a sacred topic to be excluded from dinner
conversations and family gatherings, money is an inevitable topic during job
hunting. Surprisingly during the event, the HR professionals laughed
off the question and cited it as a minor component of the interview process.
"It's merely a data
point," Anne-Marie Archer, CEO of Archer and Associates said. "We
use the number to determine if you fit within the pay range we've established for
the role."
All the HR professionals
at the event noted it’s important to exude confidence in your “ask” however. To
get comfortable making the “ask” they recommended checking out government
salary data or increasingly accurate tools such as Glassdoor
or PayScale. This information will help
you understand your market value.
After you’ve conducted research,
they advised attendees to keep two numbers in mind. The first should be tied to
how much money you NEED to pay your
bills. While the second number should be ideal; it’s what you'd LIKE to make. The key difference being
the first is tied to survival while the latter is more abstract and tied to
increasing quality of life.
The compensation number
is important for a variety of reasons but for the job hunter, it will later
connect to job satisfaction and security. Ask for too little and you'll
feel undervalued. Ask for too much and you may feel trapped without room to
grow or leave because of fear of finding a similar salary elsewhere. There's no
perfect formula but it’s important to do your research and understand your
value.
Finding Direction in Your Career
Often one of the
most challenging aspects of career planning is determining direction.
Unlike schooling which is affixed to a specific "rail," career paths have
many spur lines and can take various turns. Determining the correct path can
seem difficult, if not impossible at times but can be achieved with a bit of
reflection. David Hardick, Director of Recruiting & HR at Context Relevant gave
this advice for finding direction in your career and life in general.
"Often I ask
clients to pause and review their life for guidance," David said.
"Start in childhood and walk forward. What points do you notice the
greatest feeling of joy and accomplishment? What moments
created awkwardness or proved to be difficult? These moments will
help you determine what your strengths are and where to focus."
Surviving Unemployment
Easily one of the most difficult experiences for adults, unemployment
can be challenging emotionally and mentally. It's not a situation to
be entered into lightly; it has its own set of special challenges. When I
entered the job market in the middle
of 2009 during the end of the Great Recession, I quickly found myself
confronted with this reality. While challenging, it’s possible to overcome
the difficulties and come out stronger from the experience.
Below is some general advice shared by the HR professionals at the event
relating to conducting a full-time job hunt.
"Network in the morning. Your energy will be higher than in the
afternoon."
"Act like your best days are ahead of you, not behind."
“Be an employer’s aspirin; present yourself as problem a solver.”
“Have four solid success stories you can talk about and adapt during an
interview.”
“Quantify past job results.”
“Resume style is subjective; find one which works for you and make sure it has 0 errors.”
"It's not what you know but often who you
know."
A family friend also shared an important tip I always keep in mind when job hunting.
"Unemployment is ultimately a game. There are a set of rules
with a handful of financial parameters. It's up to you as a job seeker
to determine how you spend your 'free time' - education, vacation, networking,
job hunting, etc. You must keep in mind however that the clock will eventually
run out; your job is to beat the clock. Find a job before you're mentally,
physically, and financially exhausted. Life gets
more difficult when the clock runs out." - Holland Family Friend
Final Words
Job hunting is challenging but it's important to keep in mind it's possible to
be successful when enough time and energy is devoted to the endeavor. I also
can't stress this final point
enough. After you land a job, #PayItForward!
Help someone else. Pass on a job posting. Review a resume. Sit
down for coffee with a stranger. The economy is a human invention. Don't
let it lose its human connection.
