Richard asks: When is the best time to look for a new job?
In answer:
It is always a crazy market out there for jobs, but particularly at present. Even if you think your job I secure in your current post, you should always be doing the following.....
Always keep an eye on what is available – spend a few minutes each week surfing your favourite internet site, or reading the local and national newspapers jobs section. You may realise what you are doing is not what you want to be doing
Always keep your CV/Resume up to date – the best time to look for a new job is when you are comfortable in your current one, about 2+ years in to the position
Always increase your skill set – employers will often invest in ambitious employees through college or professional education programs, but make sure they are externally recognised/benchmarked. These make you more valuable to the employer - and even if you are released, it makes you more employable to others in a better position
Be kind to the people you work with – at least pretend to like them! Go to events organised by the company and outside organisations like unions of professional staff groups
Save some cash – have enough for around three months of redeployment, so you are not desperate to take the first job offer
If you are fired – don’t take the first severance offer: NEGOTIATE!
Good Luck!
Showing posts with label career. Show all posts
Showing posts with label career. Show all posts
Friday, 15 August 2008
Thursday, 24 July 2008
Is it advisable to write your own resume?
Joe asks: I'm a marketing professional and a competent and creative writer, yet every attempt I have ever made at writing my own resume has fallen flat. (The resumes I have written for clients seem to have resulted in some pretty decent job offers...)
Is it possible to be so close to your own experience, and so lacking in knowledge of what others might consider important that you may not be competent to write your own resume? A few points of clarification in terms of what really motivated me to ask the question in the first place:
1. I have been out of the job market for about 12 years during which time I have been running a full service marketing/PR/advertising consultancy. I've gained tons of experience and kept very current, but I am a bit baffled about how to position myself.
2. Maybe it's because I'm a Gemini, or perhaps it was just to stay sane but I've always tried to be competent in a lot of different areas; a generalist more than a specialist. Others could either view that as an advantage or a lack of focus.
3. I consider myself a competent and seasoned professional but I am getting a little long in the tooth. Is age bias something I will have to contend with or will most companies appreciate maturity and experience?
4. I haven't really needed a resume for a long time, but I do have one and have attempted to keep it updated. The thing is, my LinkedIn profile really does a much better job of communicating who I am and what I am all about.
In answer:
Should you write your own CV./Resume - depends! The only true answer is that everyone owns their own CV/Resume.
The question is answered in combination by - can you write; can you market (its a bit more about structure choice and emphasis in the case of CV/Resume writing); do you know what skills you have/don't have/are required in the market which you don't recognise you have; and can you objectively put that all together in a document?
In a quick audit, you clearly have skills 1 and 2, but I suspect you are too close to you to accomplish 3 which is highly detrimental in achieving the final winning result.
Before suggesting you might like to think later about starting a part-time job as a CV/Resume writer (you have the right skills base), you need a bit of external help in the form of a career coach over a CV/Resume writer. I'd say one hour of a chat with a professional over a phone would help you to resolve the skills and projection question for you to highly competently write your own CV/Resume.
You have been quite open in your question and clarification points Joe, and placing you will be fairly easy - that's a great set of skills you have, that are highly desired in the market place. You just need someone at present to act as an objective and clarifying wall in that middle stage to help you achieve employment.
If I can help you any further, please just ask - and Good Luck!
Is it possible to be so close to your own experience, and so lacking in knowledge of what others might consider important that you may not be competent to write your own resume? A few points of clarification in terms of what really motivated me to ask the question in the first place:
1. I have been out of the job market for about 12 years during which time I have been running a full service marketing/PR/advertising consultancy. I've gained tons of experience and kept very current, but I am a bit baffled about how to position myself.
2. Maybe it's because I'm a Gemini, or perhaps it was just to stay sane but I've always tried to be competent in a lot of different areas; a generalist more than a specialist. Others could either view that as an advantage or a lack of focus.
3. I consider myself a competent and seasoned professional but I am getting a little long in the tooth. Is age bias something I will have to contend with or will most companies appreciate maturity and experience?
4. I haven't really needed a resume for a long time, but I do have one and have attempted to keep it updated. The thing is, my LinkedIn profile really does a much better job of communicating who I am and what I am all about.
In answer:
Should you write your own CV./Resume - depends! The only true answer is that everyone owns their own CV/Resume.
The question is answered in combination by - can you write; can you market (its a bit more about structure choice and emphasis in the case of CV/Resume writing); do you know what skills you have/don't have/are required in the market which you don't recognise you have; and can you objectively put that all together in a document?
In a quick audit, you clearly have skills 1 and 2, but I suspect you are too close to you to accomplish 3 which is highly detrimental in achieving the final winning result.
Before suggesting you might like to think later about starting a part-time job as a CV/Resume writer (you have the right skills base), you need a bit of external help in the form of a career coach over a CV/Resume writer. I'd say one hour of a chat with a professional over a phone would help you to resolve the skills and projection question for you to highly competently write your own CV/Resume.
You have been quite open in your question and clarification points Joe, and placing you will be fairly easy - that's a great set of skills you have, that are highly desired in the market place. You just need someone at present to act as an objective and clarifying wall in that middle stage to help you achieve employment.
If I can help you any further, please just ask - and Good Luck!
The career development to management
This is a common situation these days, and one which is ages old - the career development to management. In present career paths, the average person will change careers four times - but this career development has been happening from the beginning of time. So, here's a typical question on career development into management....
Mike asks: How can I format my resume to emphasize several leadership roles I've taken on in my past positions, even if my official title is one of an individual contributor? I've worked as an engineer in the information technology function for over fifteen years and I'm interested in making the change to a management role. My past position titles all are some version of software engineer or applications developer. So, many recruiters send me jobs that are of the same individual contributor type, even though I've recently completed an MBA degree and am looking for management positions. I have much experience leading teams and projects, but this wouldn't be evident by just looking at my past titles. How can I emphasize this experience so the recruiters will send the types of jobs I am really interested in?
In answer:
Easy one to answer - I did the same thing myself, although I can give you a bit more insight these days.
You are a software engineer, and as you would expect, we in the recruitment industry use software to manage our dBases of candidates. So, I have a client who needs core skills A, B and C, so after skimming my head for the current candidates/those who are looking for a career change, I search my dBase for those skills and up pop the basic search candidates. I am in recruitment to make money, so if those skills are in your CV/Resume, you'll pop up in my search of the dBase.
Now, here's the problem for career changers. If you are in the mind and dBase of a recuiter as an X, then you are unlikely to jump to becoming a Z if in both their heads and their CV dBase you are filed as an X. Hence why they keep sending you the wrong job.
So, here's what to do. Get a friend - women are better at this than men - and get them to read the first page of your CV/Resume. Ask them to decide whether you are a manager or a software writer - because its that first page which dictates where afterwards the average reader will file you, and the average software system also.
I'd suggest from that exercise (get at least three people to do the same thing), you need to do two things. Firstly, rewrite your resume emphasising your managerial skills over your software skills - that will be tough for you to do, so in such cases it is often worth employing a CV/Resume writing professional. Secondly, register with a select few new recruitment and head hunting companies, emphasising your outright managerial aspirations. The moment they or any of your existing recruiter contacts send you a software job, kindly point out your new desires - if they do it a second time, ask to be removed completely from their dBase system, and explain your reasons. They may ask for a third chance, but I bet if they contact you it will be about a software job!
This is something I address regularly, and what the candidate needs to do is recognise why they keep getting sent particular opportunities, and work with professionals (and dBases) which recognise their new aspirations.
If I can help further, please just ask - and Good Luck!
Mike asks: How can I format my resume to emphasize several leadership roles I've taken on in my past positions, even if my official title is one of an individual contributor? I've worked as an engineer in the information technology function for over fifteen years and I'm interested in making the change to a management role. My past position titles all are some version of software engineer or applications developer. So, many recruiters send me jobs that are of the same individual contributor type, even though I've recently completed an MBA degree and am looking for management positions. I have much experience leading teams and projects, but this wouldn't be evident by just looking at my past titles. How can I emphasize this experience so the recruiters will send the types of jobs I am really interested in?
In answer:
Easy one to answer - I did the same thing myself, although I can give you a bit more insight these days.
You are a software engineer, and as you would expect, we in the recruitment industry use software to manage our dBases of candidates. So, I have a client who needs core skills A, B and C, so after skimming my head for the current candidates/those who are looking for a career change, I search my dBase for those skills and up pop the basic search candidates. I am in recruitment to make money, so if those skills are in your CV/Resume, you'll pop up in my search of the dBase.
Now, here's the problem for career changers. If you are in the mind and dBase of a recuiter as an X, then you are unlikely to jump to becoming a Z if in both their heads and their CV dBase you are filed as an X. Hence why they keep sending you the wrong job.
So, here's what to do. Get a friend - women are better at this than men - and get them to read the first page of your CV/Resume. Ask them to decide whether you are a manager or a software writer - because its that first page which dictates where afterwards the average reader will file you, and the average software system also.
I'd suggest from that exercise (get at least three people to do the same thing), you need to do two things. Firstly, rewrite your resume emphasising your managerial skills over your software skills - that will be tough for you to do, so in such cases it is often worth employing a CV/Resume writing professional. Secondly, register with a select few new recruitment and head hunting companies, emphasising your outright managerial aspirations. The moment they or any of your existing recruiter contacts send you a software job, kindly point out your new desires - if they do it a second time, ask to be removed completely from their dBase system, and explain your reasons. They may ask for a third chance, but I bet if they contact you it will be about a software job!
This is something I address regularly, and what the candidate needs to do is recognise why they keep getting sent particular opportunities, and work with professionals (and dBases) which recognise their new aspirations.
If I can help further, please just ask - and Good Luck!
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
CV/Resume writing - house v an individual designer
Amanda asks: It seems like every online job site offers some kind of résumé-writing service to subscribers (for a fee, of course). What are your thoughts about going with one of those sites vs. using a smaller, direct writing/design service? Recruiters - have you seen any difference in quality? Job-seekers - do you have a preference?
In answer:
Firstly, its your CV/Resume - who ever writes it, its yours.
Secondly, depends on which job you are applying for and what your route is to that job. If the job is direct, then you need a CV/Resume prepared for that job; if its via an agency or head hunter, then they will write/rewrite it for you, under the explaination they can improve your chances because they know what the client is looking for.
Thirdly, depends on how long you have been in your last position. If you have been there a long time, then a review with an independent professional will get your CV/Resume in the right shape quicker (you may not recognise your own skills; you probably won't know what's required in the marketplace), than you could on your own.
Finally - depends on how well you can write!
Personally, as a business owner who has a CV/Resume writing service and who runs a separate Agency, I would always carry a general CV which fairly in your own view reflects your skills, capabilities and what you want to do next. The original question was posed as where would you get your CV/Resume written - the better question would be how do you manage your career, and that then answers where you get your CV/Resume written
In answer:
Firstly, its your CV/Resume - who ever writes it, its yours.
Secondly, depends on which job you are applying for and what your route is to that job. If the job is direct, then you need a CV/Resume prepared for that job; if its via an agency or head hunter, then they will write/rewrite it for you, under the explaination they can improve your chances because they know what the client is looking for.
Thirdly, depends on how long you have been in your last position. If you have been there a long time, then a review with an independent professional will get your CV/Resume in the right shape quicker (you may not recognise your own skills; you probably won't know what's required in the marketplace), than you could on your own.
Finally - depends on how well you can write!
Personally, as a business owner who has a CV/Resume writing service and who runs a separate Agency, I would always carry a general CV which fairly in your own view reflects your skills, capabilities and what you want to do next. The original question was posed as where would you get your CV/Resume written - the better question would be how do you manage your career, and that then answers where you get your CV/Resume written
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