Not on LinkedIn?

I recently met with a new client and discovered that she is not on LinkedIn. I must admit..I am amazed. LinkedIn is one very powerful source of information for any job seeker. If you must have one online presence only in your job search, then LinkedIn it is...and the reasons are numerous.

If you do not know what LinkedIn is, or how to get started, take the time to figure it out to consult a career coach who will guide you through it. It is worth the effort.

"Discrimination Against The Long Term Unemployed"

"60 Minutes" recently ran a story about an innovative program underway in CT to fight discrimination against the long term unemployed. As with age discrimination and discrimination by gender, race, etc, this is illegal; however, that does not mean it does not exist and happening all the time.

Is such discrimination avoidable? Sure it is....How?....by keeping your skills current. Any potential employer is going to ask what you have been doing while you were out of work...and the answer is  volunteering to keep your skills up as well as to learn new skills... taking classes...many free and online...and  attending industry conferences. All of the above also provide networking opportunities...the best way to gain new employment.

Leaving No Stone Unturned

Recently I met with a new client, and discovered to my amazement that she is not familiar with LinkedIn. She has been unemployed for over 6 months and until we began to work together, her networking consisted of talking to a few friends about her skills and on their suggestions sending resumes into the black holes of online job boards. She is also looking in the private section only; her spouse told her that securing a state or federal position takes too long. Had she started a good search 6 months ago in both the federal and private worlds, she might just have secured a good position by now, especially since she has skills that are somewhat in demand. This client has not understood up to now the importance of leaving no stone unturned! The modern job hunt today requires paying attention to any and every possible job source. It takes time, skills an dedication. You work at least 40 hours per week; be prepared to search 40 hours per week.

Latest Bureau of Labor Statistics Report

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecopro.nr0.htm. The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently issued the above report and set off a firestorm amongst folks like me about how to use this information when ooaching and counseling clients. After some debate, I concur with anyone who suggests caution. These are projections, nothing more. No one has a crystal ball. Take any projections like these, combine them with what is going on in your working area, and from there. I live and work in Northern Virginia, where we have been protected in a large part by the federal government. That is changing; the federal government continues to shrink; cuts have arrived in DOD spending. Will the private sector in this area pick up the slack? That is the prediction...stay tuned and be aware.

Time Out

Today I scheduled a meeting with a client who literally cannot come to see me unless she an get a Saturday morning appointment, which, luckily, I offer. Otherwise, she would have to invent a "doctor's appointment" in order to take a few hours off. Granted, she could hardly tell her employer that she has an appointment with her career coach, but making an employee, especially in a small business, account for every moment of "time out" when the employer does not hesitate to take as much of the employee's personal time as is deemed "needed to do the job" is hardly fair and hardly right. Yes, we are seeing more and more of this in the present economy, but that does not justify it. So, Mr. or Ms. Small Business Owner, look at your policies, both written and unwritten, and think again about them. Yes, there are those employees who will always violate the "rules"; then again there are also those employees who deserve to be treated as human beings with needs not necessarily covered under any HR policy manual; tending to their physical and mental wellbeing is important and part of every employer's responsibility.

The Ability to Sell

Can you sell? According to various reports about the skills very marketable right now in this country, the ability to sell can prove to be the ticket to your next job. There are those who feel that sales is a part of every job right now, and I believe them correct. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, needs continual good customer servioe training, and I also think that everyone needs sales training. In everything that you do professionally, you are selling..not only your product or your service, but also yourself. If your present employer offers any kind of training, but especially customer service and sales training, take advantage of it, whether or not it is usually offered to those in your job. Ask your boss to enroll you. If your employer does not, he/she should be. If you are a business owner, make sure all your employees are trained, and continually trained. That is the ticket to professional success.

Taking It One Step Further

Recently I had an email from a client who worked with me about one year ago. He has been trying to re enter the work force especially in the non profit world. He has had all kinds of interviews and has yet to land a job. He asked me for any further advise. I reminded him that it is not enough to say you want the job; you must show you can do the job and do it better than anyone else. If you are fortunate enough to get an interview situation and just prepared for the old fashioned "they ask the questions and I answer them" interview, you are missing a bet. These days, you have to DEMONSTRATE worth. So...based on your previous research and what you have also gleaned as the issues facing the employer, tell them, or rather show them, what you would do in the first 30, 60 or 90 days. Assess the climate in the room, and if you are comfortable, go for it. Make sure your comments are simple and direct. Remind the interviewers that you are basing your comments on what you know so far; it may not be enough, but based on what you do know, present your case. I recommended that my former client try this technique. I hope to hear good news in the future.