Job Hopping: The Kiss of Career Death or Is It?

August 5, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley
Job hopping: they new track.

Job hopping: they new track.

For many years job hopping has been the kiss of death for job hoppers.  No employer wants to take the chance of hiring someone who doesn’t stay because of the cost of hiring and training employees.  But that was back in the day thinking.  Today’s position is different.  Some companies don’t mind the job hopping candidate.  They can see the benefits of an employee with varied experience and has seen how other companies do things.  

It may seem strange to think about it, but the reality is that people no longer work at one job from graduation to retirement.  If you are older than 25, you can think of many reasons such as:

  • The job hopper is a poor employee, whether it’s performance, attitude or attendance the job hopper isn’t highly valued by companies.
  • The job hopper can’t commit to any job.
  • The job hopper doesn’t build up job security or benefits such as pensions and added paid time off.
  • The job hopper doesn’t obtain longevity; will be at risk at lay off time-last one in is the first one to go.
  • It just looks bad.

Well the above is true if the job hopper is changing jobs after less than 2 years or out of boredom.  Or if the jobs one takes on a variety of jobs in different industries and sectors.

However the idea of job hopping being beneficial for a career has some intriguing ideas.  Here are some of the ideas:

  • The job hopper increases skills with each new position. 
  • The job hopper obtains a pay raise and promotions.
  • The job hopper increases their level of responsibility.
  • The job hopper grows their network quicker and maintains them because they are dependent on their network to land new jobs.
  • The job hopper knows the early warning signs of impending problems and makes a move before they happen; s/he beat the competition when looking for another job.
  • The job hopper advances to the dream job by strategically obtaining jobs to acquire the skills and necessary experiences the dream job requires.
  • The job hopper has a more rewarding career; they are continually learning new things and will be learning many things.
  • The job hopper understands that loyalty on the part of companies and employees is gone.
  • The job hopper is taking on roles rather jobs; more projects based than function.
  • The job hopper is dependent on recommendations from former employers and works at a high standard because they are always thinking about their next job.
  • The job hopper won’t settle for being bored, using outdated technology, or put up with poor working conditions.

The thought of job hopping has to be planned and executed according to the plan.  However, there are things that one just can’t control, such as, when you become a job hopper because you have been laid off many times.  My next post will talk about unplanned job hopping.

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Technology to Overcome the Age Issue

August 2, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley

ambro older man on laptop and cell phone

 

Are you afraid that the few stray gray hairs will make it difficult for you to get a job?  You don’t have to be if you stay updated on technology.    If you are interested in overcoming the age factor in your job search, you will need to get acquainted with Evernote and Dropbox.  As I wrote in an earlier post, know about modern technology to prove you are up-to-date with technology. 

Today, I read that Dropbox and Evernote are incredible tools for businesses.  The article went to say what each was with the how and why to use them.  As I was reading, I realized that this is technology baby boomers can use in their personal life and be able to say they know in an interview. 

I have been using Dropbox for about a year.  My family held a reunion last fall with a presentation involving photos from each branch of the family.  In order to share the photos, family members uploaded the photos to Dropbox so that one of the cousins could include them in the presentation.  It was fantastic after the reunion, when the completed presentation was available for everyone.

One of my friends is always telling she is going to put something in Evernote.   I didn’t understand why she would whero_evernoteant to or why she should.  Until today, that is.  I have a new respect for it and will start using myself.  It will be a convenient way for me to access my materials no matter which computer or phone I use.  I will be able to grab snippets of information from the web.  Or can write my grocery list, save it in Evernote and retrieve it at the store. 

First, let’s look at how they’re similar.  Both Evernote and Dropbox are cloud storage for digital information.  The data can be accessed by multiple devices such as, laptops, tablets, smart phone in both Apple and Windows/Android formats.  You are able to get access to your information at home, at the office and on the run.   That is pretty much what they do.  They both have free accounts with limited storage and premium accounts with bells and whistles that can do all sorts of interesting things.

Evernote is a place to store images, texts, notes, emails, and even handwritten text.  Generally, the data you collect will be used later and used primarily by only you.  lDropbox

Dropbox is a place to store Word and Excel documents, PDFs, music and images that will be used by you and/or others.  Information can be shared by a team in anoffice, at home or other remote locations where changes can be made and viewed by several people.  Use Dropbox to share files too large to send by email.

The differences can easily be understood if you think of them like this.  My recipes are either on slips of paper stuck into my cookbooks.  Some of the recipes are just pictures; others have been clipped out of the newspaper or magazines.  I have recipes written on index cards and recipes printed out from the internet.  That is Evernote.  Think of Dropbox as the cookbook.  It is a file of a group of organized recipes. 

These apps can be used for personal and business purposes.  Learn how to use them for your personal use and impress an interviewer with your knowledge of current technology.  You won’t be tagged as someone is unaware or afraid of new technology.  Show them there may be some snow on the roof, but the inside always learning new things.

Posted in 50+ job search, age discrimination in job search, Dropbox, Evernote | Leave a Comment

Put The Sizzle On Your Resume And Show You Are The Best Candidate

July 31, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley
Show you are the best candidate by showing your sizzle.

Show you are the best candidate by showing your sizzle.

 

You have spent a considerable amount of time on your résumé. You know how to target your résumé for the position. You have listed the activities you’ve done in your positions.  It looks just like the samples you’ve seen.  It’s perfect, no typos or grammar errors.   But you feel that there is something missing.   There’s no sizzle.  You don’t show how you will solve their problem the best.

Your qualifications will keep your résumé on the keep pile.  But the sizzle is what is going to put you on the short list.  Merely listing day-to-day tasks isn’t riveting reading for the recruiter.  They want to see action that is qualified.  They are looking for a superhero, show them how you are the best at doing day-to-day activities.

To make your résumé sizzle, take standard resume phrases and make them come alive.  Look at the examples below and see more effective the after statements are.

Before:  Responsible generating new clients.

After:  Developed strategy and process and defined new marketing/sales tools needed to acquire new clients in the targeted market.

Before:  Excellent communications skills.

After:  Wrote a weekly article on automotive care reaching 4,000 readers.

Before:  Highly motivated.

After:  Created innovative training programs for new employees in the accounting, human resources, and legal departments reducing training time from 6 weeks to 4 weeks.

Before:  Experienced professional.

After:  Awarded number one in sales rank for 10 years by exceeding goals by 15 % to 25% each year.

Before:  Outstanding interpersonal skills.

After:  Worked with customers and company engineers to determine improvements in the next product upgrade.

These changes will make the reader sit up and take notice of your résumé.

Here is a partial list of terms that need to be qualified:

  • Strong work ethic
  • Team player
  • Met or exceeded
  • Results-oriented
  • Highly qualified
  • Proficient
  • Effective
  • Detailed Oriented
  • Worked with
  • Strong (skill name i.e., organizational, prioritization)

You have done more than you think you have.  It’s difficult to brag about yourself.  Or maybe you think you were just doing your job.  But what you don’t realize is that you did more than just your job.   Take a look at past performance reviews, emails, or recommendations on LinkedIn to find your sizzle.

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Do you have everything you need for your job search?

July 29, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you. Cry and your cry alone.

Laugh and the whole world laughs with you. Cry and your cry alone.

You need many things to conduct a successful job search.  And I’m sure you have them all, business cards, LinkedIn Profile, resume, network, cover letter, answers to interview questions, follow-up letters, job board, and a flattering interview outfit.  But there is one thing missing and I bet you would never have thought about needing this.  If you don’t have it, you are jeopardizing your job search.

The successful job searcher is calm, resilient, and likeable.  You can’t be this way if you are stressed and frustrated about your job search because it shows.  It shows in your attitude and appearance.  Many people have the same or better qualifications, but the one who gets the job may not.  Companies, today, hire for fit.  They want people they can work with all day and all week.  

While job searching is no joke, you need to be able to laugh.  You know, the deep down in the belly type of laugh.  The side, splitting, tears in your eyes laugh.  The kind of laugh you experience when you get together with your friends and relive the good ole days.  And when you leave, you say you had the best time.  Or maybe when you are being silly with those friends about what’s going on today.

I won’t go into details, but laughter is linked with lowering blood pressure, relieving pain, and boosting the immune system.  It provides a respite from the stress and depression caused by job searching.  Remember the section in the Reader’s Digest called, “Laughter, the Best Medicine.”  It’s true.  There is much information on the web about the scientific reasons.  But I’ll let you research it if you wish.  

Adding humor and laughter to your life is relatively easy. 

  • The first thing you must do is make the decision you want to genuinely laugh.  Not the smirk or the giggle, but the deep down belly laugh.  Once you have made up your mind the rest is easy. 
  • The next step is to find some people you want to share in this.  Laughter is always better shared.  It is easier to do and the effects last longer.
  • Third you select the type of humor that makes you laugh.  You have many choices in this step.  If you decide on movies and television, you have over 90 years of humor.  From the antics of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, to Bob Hope and Lucille Ball and right up to Adam Sandler and Kevin James, there is something for everyone and every taste.  You must already know what makes you laugh. 
  • Or gather your family for some fun outdoors or indoors and have some fun together.
  • Finally, enjoy a good belly laugh.  The kind that will lower your blood pressure, reduce your stress, and help you stay healthy.

Laughter is one piece of advice I give all my clients.  You can’t search for work 24/7.  You need time away from the stress and anxiety.  Being able to laugh while in your situation will calm you down.  You can’t job search effectively when you are in a highly stressed state.  I have an aunt who was stressed for many years.  She would snap answers at you, fall asleep sitting up, and answer the telephone like she was on her last good nerve. 

A recent bout with illness forced her to quit most of her activities to stay home and rest.  Wow, what a different person she is now.  She doesn’t snap answers, fall asleep sitting up and answers the telephone  in a pleasant way.  It’s a good thing she is retired because if she had been looking for a job, there is no way she would have ever been interviewed, let alone hired.  And she can now have a good laugh  something that was missing before.

If all your job search tools are impeccable but you are stressed and it shows, you won’t be successful. Make up your mind to laugh and laugh often.  It will benefit your mind, body and spirit.  It will get you the job.

 

image:  http://www.freedigitalphotos.net  stockimages

Posted in Job Search, job search stress, stay positive | Leave a Comment

Who am I that I am unemployed?

July 26, 2013 | Author: Arleen Bradley

Don't let your job title define you.

Don’t let your job title define you.

Eight years ago I lost my job.  It wasn’t just any job; I was working for my church.  The church my family had been involved in for 100 years.  I lost not only my job; I also lost where I went to church; the support system of people I had shared my faith with; the place where I socialized and many friends.  For various reasons, the members went to different parishes.  It was a lot to lose for one person. I lost the place, activities and people I would go to in times of trouble.  But it was gone.  Not only did I have to look for a new job but I had to find a new parish and start assembling faith sharing group.

Who am I?

However, I had lost my identity.  I had been a Director of Religious Education (DRE).  I had a title that described what I did, what I believed and where I did it.  If I was no longer the DRE, then, who was I?  My skills didn’t seem to translate into the secular world.

What do I do?

The chances of repeating my role as a DRE my state didn’t looking promising as 80 parishes were closed at that time.  I had tightly woven my identity, my job and my church.  I had poured my heart and soul into the job and parish; it had become whom I was.  After it had been closed, I didn’t know whom I was, where I belonged or what I wanted to do.  People asked me what I kind of job I wanted but I didn’t know.   I looked for something in a haystack but didn’t know what.

What I do.

After taking different jobs doing various tasks, I realized whom I was. I was a people person.  I love helping people.  Now when I think about whom I am, I no longer think of myself as a particular title.  I am happiest when I can help people get what they want; whether it’s a job, a skill, a connection or a listening ear.  That is what I do best.  Anything I can that uses this skill is my job.

Who I am.

I am someone who can help you.  I am proud of my ability to help people in their needs.  Sometimes I am a career coach, other times I am a wife and mother or daughter who will take her mother where she needs to go.  I am not just one thing.  I love being resourceful and efficient.  Ifneed be, I will learn all I can to better help people out.

I attend a parish regularly and have made friends there, but not tied to that parish.  I attend Mass at different churches.  I have a support system that isn’t faith-based.  I have made my job one of helping people find jobs.  But I am open to other possibilities as they are made known and not tying myself down to one identity.  When the inevitable change comes, I will be able to adapt to meet the new challenges.

How are you defining yourself?

 

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