I Love My Job!

Good news on the job front?

2009-11-15T20:33:00.000-08:00

I love good news. And according to AP writer Mercedes M. Cardona, "The job market is beginning to show a pulse." Chatter is up on Twitter among my career coach peers across the country that we are prepping more clients for interviews these days. The trend may not be moving the needle very far yet, but insiders can feel it.

Could we really have finally bottomed out and are now turning the corner?

Ms. Cardona quotes some statistics that go beyond gut feelings in her article "Return to routine" in the Seattle Times Sunday NW Jobs section:

According to recruiters Challenger, Gray and Christmas, the number of layoffs announced by major U.S. corporations dropped by 21% in August, below July levels and 14% below a year ago.

She also references a recent Robert Half International / CareerBuilder survey as showing that managers are planning to hire a combination of workers during the next 12 months. Of those surveyed:

53% of employers plan to hire full-time employees
40% plan to hire contract, temporary or project workers
39% plan to add part-time employees.

Additionally, 61% said their companies were willing to negotiate higher pay for qualified candidates, and 40% said they plan to give raises after the economy improves to retain top performers.

People may be starting to plug back in. But the fact is, things have changed on both sides of the table.

Employees will return to a different environment, as every organization has done its share of hunkering down and making tough choices to ride out this economic downturn. The "survivors" who are currently working have very full plates, and the jobs that are being offered now tend come with more responsibilities, as other positions have been cut.

There has been a sea change in the returning employees as well. As much as they are anxious to get back to work, a lot of my unemployed clients have talked about not wanting to re-enter the workforce defining their relationship to their job the way it was when they exited.

A common theme among those who want a change is wanting either (or both) more meaning to their work or work-life balance, even if that means not matching their last salary.

So, the jobs are coming back. But they are bigger now, offered to people who want more balance in their lives. Should be interesting!

Thank You, Veterans and Military Families

2009-11-10T14:54:00.000-08:00

Lt. (jg) Jean L. Porter, my mother

In honor of Veterans Day, November 11, 2009, a break from my usual subjects:

My grandfather was an Army Colonel who landed at Normandy and led troops across Europe during World War II. My Aunt Mary Lou was a very rare and pioneering female Army officer. My Uncle is a West Point graduated retired Lieutenant Colonel.

My cousins lost their father when we were all just kids. A military pilot, his plane went down with the rest of his squadron during a training mission.

Both Navy, my parents met playing bridge in an Officer's Lounge on base. My mom did coding and decoding, and my dad was a sweep-you-off-your-feet Navy pilot and flight instructor. A definite Top Gun Maverick of his time.

My mother had to get a special permission form signed by her chain of command to be out of uniform and in a wedding dress on their big day. The pictures show her beauty matched by my dad's dashing presence in his Navy dress whites. Her father missed her wedding and the chance to walk her down the aisle. Grandpa was somewhere in France he couldn't name, leading troops on their march toward Austria.

When asked why she went in the Navy instead of following the family tradition of service in the Army, my mother always said it was because she looked better in blue than green.

Only after she passed away, at age 82, did we discover papers indicating that she was too young to be accepted into the Army, but not the Navy. World War II was raging and she wanted to do her part, so she enlisted in the branch that would take her.

I'm terribly proud of my brother for carrying on the family tradition of military service, as a Green Beret HALO (high-altitude, low-opening) paratrooper.

I did not serve in the military. But I want to take the opportunity of Veteran's Day to share just a bit of our family's story. So many families have given more and sacrificed more than ours. We owe every single one of them a debt of gratitude.

Thank you, Veterans and military families everywhere - for your immeasurable service and sacrifice.

An interview fable

2009-11-07T22:53:00.000-08:00

This is actually a true story, but makes a great fable on the subject of interviewing.

A while back I worked with a client who had been let go from a family-run cemetery when it was purchased by a major national chain. His unique strengths included a combination of ethics, integrity and compassion that enabled him to establish rapport easily, and help people make difficult decisions at a very vulnerable time in their lives. He worked hard and landed a job he loved: selling powered wheelchairs and van conversions for an ethical, family-run company.

About a year into his new job my client called me to ask if I knew anyone "just like him." Business was good and his boss needed to hire another sales person.

I was excited to tell him that I did! I had just finished writing a resume for a client who had the same unique set of strengths, albeit cultivated through an entirely different path. For years she had delicately helped clients through all the financial arrangements of home foreclosure. She also volunteered providing spiritual counseling to hospice patients. She was a bit older, which we all thought would be an asset for the position selling mobility devices. She even lived near their store.

I helped her write a great cover letter, which she sent with her resume directly to my client, who hand-carried it to his boss, who was excited to receive such a hearty recommendation, and would definitely be calling her for an interview.

Two weeks passed, and she hadn't heard from the company. I called my client, and it turns out that shortly after he had handed his boss my other client's resume, another job applicant had dropped his resume off in person. He arrived in a wheelchair, as he was missing one leg. My client's boss decided that using a wheelchair himself, the other candidate would easily establish rapport with customers - and hired him on the spot.

The moral of the story: it's not always about you; sometimes you won't get the job, even when you did so well you wouldn't change a thing. You can be absolutely PERFECT for a position and company, and even see "buying signs" in an interview. But you can't predict who will come in right after you. The hiring manager might perceive the next candidate as an even more perfect fit for the job.

No one gets offered every job they interview for, or even gets to interview for every job they apply for. Actors quickly learn that to survive they can't give up every time they go to an audition and don't get the part.

It's not fair, but acknowledging that it isn't can help you not take it personally when even though you've given it your best shot a job goes to someone else. It's not always possible to compete against a one-legged candidate.

Information + Determination + Dedication = Transformation

2009-11-01T10:38:00.001-08:00

This morning two of Heather Frey's tweets caught my eye:

@SmashFit: If there was a powder or capsule to lose weight or get fit, wouldn't we ALL be lean and healthy?

@SmashFit: There's no pill, but there is a secret formula: Information+Determination+Dedication=Transformation

I replied that the same "secret formula" is what is needed to successful land a great job. She agreed, and added that the same formula leads to success in LIFE.

Information + Determination + Dedication = Transformation.

Great reminder of what is needed from each of us to reach our goals: information on strategies and techniques - HOW to achieve your goals, then the determination and dedication to make them happen. That is how you get transformational results.

Reaching your goals, whether they be related to weight loss, getting in shape or getting a great job, takes tenacity and hard work. The parallel between conditioning and the job search is solid in my view.
Deciding that it's time to lose weight, we tend to forget that those extra 20 pounds didn't show up overnight, so it is unrealistic to be able to take them off overnight. Both weight loss and a job search require staying true to your goal and applying determination on a daily basis as you move closer and closer to your goal.

"You will find the key to success under the alarm clock." - Benjamin Franklin

If someone told you either was going to be easy, they lied. Yes, as Law of Attraction aficionados will tell you, you have to keep your focus on what you DO want rather than what you DON'T want. Race car drivers are taught to focus on the track, NOT the wall.

What's often misunderstood about the Secret is the next step - that focus is not enough. Focus then guides your actions as you dig in and make your goal your reality.

"The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work." - Oprah Winfrey

"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." - Calvin Coolidge

"... anybody who wants anything need only do the work." - Swami Chetanananda

Thanks, Heather, for a fabulous formula that explains "doing the work": Information + Determination + Dedication = Transformation.

How I'm using Twitter Lists

2009-10-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

If you don't tweet, you probably want to skip this post. For those who do: I've been asked by a few twitter connections how I am using the new Twitter Lists function and how I built my lists. So I thought it might interest others.

Twitter first rolled out the List function out a week or so ago in Beta to some random users. I was lucky to be one of the first people to get it, and saw value, so I started building lists. According to LIFEHACKER, the bugs that slowed the system terribly at first have now been worked out, so Twitter is rolling out the functionality for all other Twitter users. If you don't have it, you should any day.

What a Twitter List is: Any category of of your choosing, applied to the people you are following and their tweets. Lists are directly on the Twitter website, not an interface, and become part of your profile.

Why: Lists allow you to group people you follow by category so that you can follow them closer.

You can select to make any list you create "Private" for your eyes only, or "Public," viewable (and followable) by anyone who views your profile.

Benefits: when you start following many people on Twitter, tweets roll through your stream so rapidly that you just can't see everything you'd like. So just like Tweetdeck, Twitter Lists allows you to group people you follow into categories that you would like to view separately or follow closer than others.

For me it's advantage over Tweetdeck is that it is right in Twitter, where other people can see and follow lists I've created if they would like, and where I can find and follow other people's public lists, finding other great folks I'd like to follow directly.

How to create a list: When you have the List feature a large white box appears above your stream that reads: New! Lists..... Select the button titled "Create a New List" and type in the List Title of your choosing.

You can also create a new list by starting with any person you want to be on it, and instead of selecting to add them to one of your existing lists, select "New List," then type in your "List Name."

How to add tweeple to your list: a. search by name, b. go to each person's profile that you want to add, or b. watch your stream and select the people you want to add to each list as you see a tweet from them.

(I do not know of a way to move groups of tweeple on and off of a list. As the Twitter world goes, over the weekend someone will probably develop the capability as a separate app.) For now I believe you need to build lists one person at a time.

How I did it: I couldn't see setting aside time to go through all of my followers to build my lists, so I took a shortcut by spending just a little time compiling a few seed people that fit each of my categories. Now I fill out my lists gradually, adding individuals to the appropriate list as I see a fresh tweet from them in my stream.

FYI: once you put someone on a list, their tweets still appear in your main stream AND on your list stream.

How you build or decide to follow lists is obviously a very personal choice, just like how you chose to use Twitter in the first place. What worked for me is to take a very simple approach and use Lists the same way I am using Twitter.

How I decided on my lists: I thought about who I enjoy following and why. And what I could give back to the Twitter community. I built some for me, and some to give back.

Currently my Lists are:
Careerists
Recruiters and HR people
Inspiring / Quotes / Personal Development
Just For Fun
News
Seattle
Leadership / Business people
Job Postings
Available Talent

I made some groupings that other people might not, but I grouped by why I would access these folks' tweets, and didn't want to have too many lists.

One example: I follow people I just find inspiring, who tweet positive quotes like I do, and who share content related to personal development. I grouped these three together because I would access anyone within the broad category for a quick dose of inspiration.

I access my combined "Recruiters and HR" list for a quick look at what's new on the hiring side, and my general "Careerists" list for what is being said by everyone who supports job seekers with coaching, strategy, counsel, personal branding, positioning or resumes. I'm aware that this last category has very defined subgroups within it, but I access them all for the same reason so at least for the time being I grouped them together.

I created Lists of "Job Postings" and "Available Talent" just to give back to the generous Twitter community. The first, so job seekers could save time accessing job boards and company postings that I am following anyway, the second, to give a bit more visibility to job seekers beyond their followers to mine. (So give them a look, Recruiters and HR...)

As more people use them, I am sure lots of great uses will be found. One I've read about is to run contests and such by developing and then deleting ad-hoc lists. I know that like Twitter itself, there are no rules, and their use will evolve over time.

For now they are a fabulous way for me to organize and see more of information I love but which can be overwhelming. I am using my lists to distribute the fire hose of content and connection that is Twitter into a few smaller, more manageable faucets.

p.s If you are on one of my lists and feel that I mis-listed you, please DM or @ to let me know! Likewise, if you want on one of my lists and I haven't put you there yet, please let me know. Happy organizing!

Do you know what day of the week it is?

2009-10-28T09:07:00.000-07:00

Hump day should still feel like hump day even when you're unemployed. More than ever, when you don't have a set routine of work to go to, you need to structure your week to create one for yourself.

I've had unemployed clients tell me that every day of the week feels the same to them, and I instantly recognize that they are not managing their job search. When you are looking for work, that is your job. If you want the quickest success possible, you should work on your job search for up to the same hours as you worked on your last job - 8 to 10 hours per day, not 24/7.

I advocate the Covey approach of taking 30 minutes on Sunday evening to define your goals for the week and build a To-Do list of actions you will take to achieve them. Then front load your work week with your job search actions.

If you hit the ground running on Monday morning doing your work, when Wednesday comes around you should feel a sense of accomplishment and know what needs further attention so that you can get it done this week.

By Friday, just like those with a regular 9-5 (if those hours exist for anyone anymore...) you should be looking forward to your weekend along with every other working person.

Weekends are as important to recharge your batteries and relax with family and friends as they were when you were employed full time - maybe even more important. Employing two methods in your job search during the week will help you relax and enjoy your weekends: time management - efficiency - and doing those activities most likely to payoff for you - effectiveness.

When you know you've done your part it's easier to give yourself a break and have a little more patience for others' timing. (And maybe just do the customary checking and answering of a few emails most of us do during the weekend.)

Avoid the over-estimation trap! When you're not scheduling your time and job search actions it is just too easy to overestimate your expenditure, then be disappointed with your results.

I recall a client who was disappointed to have few prospects two months after leaving his last position. The reason became clear when we examined what he had done: the most he had spent on his job search on any day in those two months was an hour and a half. And he had taken two multiple-week vacations. In two months he'd dedicated less time to his employment goals than I've seen other clients spend in a week!

No matter how amazing your credentials, hoping your perfect job will just fall in your lap, or is among only three or four contacts and/or applications is setting yourself up for a BIG disappointment.

Even more than ever right now finding a great job is a numbers game. You have to continually feed your pipeline with opportunities. You can dramatically increase your options through the energy and time you put in making more contacts and applying to more positions. And if you've done your work during the week, when it rolls around, enjoy a well-deserved weekend off.

An open letter to The Recruited

2009-10-22T18:15:00.001-07:00

"Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose."
- Bill Gates

One of the groups hit hardest during this recession is high performing professionals who have a history of being recruited from one job to the next. Let's call them "The Recruited."

Recruiters have done these folks a huge disservice over the years. They have made them dependant on services that the vast majority of companies are just not paying for anymore.

The Recruited don't know what they don't know: how to get a job for themselves. And in this recession they are not being "rescued" by someone else's efforts as they have been in the past.

Open letter to The Recruited:

You have that deer-in-the-headlights look when we meet; sometimes full of self-pity, sometimes resentment or even anger because no one is swooping in to fix your unemployment problem for you this time.

You try to "network" me (poor grammar for effect) and ask if I know any recruiters I can introduce you to. You eagerly write down their names and miss the point when I explain how I can help you even more by teaching you how to land a great job on your own.

You don't stay in touch after we meet - you don't see the value in it. People can either help YOU or not at this moment. Period.

You move on to "network" the next person on your list, hoping they will be the one to solve your problem for you.

Your network is weak at best because you've never seen the value of keeping it up, and you don't know how to approach people in it without them feeling used by you.

Your resume doesn't represent you to your maximum potential, because you don't realize that it needs to. In the past a recruiter has always been there to represent you to potential employers regardless of what your resume said.

You don't know how to write a compelling resume yourself. And you sure don't know how to write a cover letter that will get your resume read, since you've never really needed them before with recruiters pitching you.

Your elevator pitch consists purely of where you've been. Many of you don't even know what you want next. You hope that I, like the recruiters who have made money off of you in the past, will just tell you where you are the most marketable.

You look at me like I am from the moon when I ask you what your preferences are as well as your strengths. And when I tell you I believe that you are the most marketable where they overlap.

You tell me there are no jobs out there in your category or at your level. You believe that because you have no idea how to find opportunities and companies.

You easily feel defeated because you have no concept of how many companies and people you need to contact, since you have never been the one to find and create opportunities for yourself before. In the past you've just picked up the phone after someone else has done that work and said, "Sure, XYZ company sounds OK, go ahead and submit me."

You look at me like I am talking Swahili when I tell you that I can show you how to target companies you are interested in and create positions for yourself there.

You look at me like I'm a a little green martian when I tell you that how you conduct your job search is the best evidence a potential employer has to gage what a great asset you can be to them on the job.

Here's my harsh but heartfelt advice to you: BUCK UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR CAREER. Admit that you've been coddled and don't know how to do this on your own.

You've been given a fish so many times that you don't know how to catch your own fish.

You've been given a fish so many times that you also don't see why you should have to pay someone to teach you to fish - you think that somehow lessons and coaching in how to fish should be as free to you as the fish you've been given all these years.

You don't realize that the best investment you can ever make in yourself is to pay an expert to help you develop your own resources and knowledge in this process.

You don't realize that you don't need to be dependent on recruiters to define what you will do and where you will do it. You don't realize that with some guidance, you can do that for yourself.

You've never been the one to pay before (your new employer has) so you are suspicious. Yes, there is plenty of "free" advice out there, but you've been so removed from it in the past that you don't have the patience to wade through it all. And you have no idea how to determine which advice is good and which is not. You can waste a ton of time trying to compare and sort free advice into "useful" and "not."

And every day that you are not collecting that six-figure salary you are losing more and more money and long-term earning potential.

The best thing you can do, Mr/Ms Recruited, is to recognize that the business environment has shifted and that you need to shift your behavior with it. It's time to dig into your well-lined pocket and pay for some expert coaching on how to land your next job.

When you do, you'll also learn how to secure the one after that, and the one after that - steering your career toward what you enjoy and are most successful doing, not just what is available. It's time to take over the reins and manage your own career.

12 ways to re-vitalize a stalled job search

2009-10-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

In the current economy job candidates can expect their job search to take longer. According to Sarah Needleman in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal, the Department of Labor reported that it is currently taking unemployed workers an average of 27.2 weeks to find a job, up from 19.1 in September of 2008 and 16.7 in September of 2007. There is more room in a longer job search to feel like you've hit the wall.

In her article, “Giving a Stalled Job Search a Jump-Start,” Needleman gives excellent tips for revitalizing a job search that is not going anywhere or netting results. She covers some familiar strategies that I advocate for ALL job candidates, whether re-vitalizing a stalled search or to get a new one off the ground and headed in the right direction.

I’ve summarized my takeaways from her article and added my own comments:

1. Apply to positions where you have some base of experience.

2. Avoid the “I could do that” trap.

Trust me on this, you’ll get beat up far worse than you imagine applying to anything and everything, especially if you think you are overqualified. When you “jump swim lanes” from your area of expertise thinking that you are a shoe-in for that administrative position, you’ve not just increased your competition to all Administrative Pros, but to all the other people jumping out of every other swim lane into to this one with you. I'm reminded of a Tacoma Meter-Reader job posting that had 1,400 applicants from literally every profession.

3. Tailor each cover letter to the company’s specific needs and your base of experience.

Generic cover letters get trash-canned right now. And don’t make the mistake of not including a cover letter at all because they didn’t specifically ask for one. You need to stand out from the crowd, and a targeted cover letter is a great way to do so.

4. Apply rigor and tenacity.

That’s what it takes right now. "A river cuts through rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence." - Jim Watkins

5. Make sure your materials and communications are 100% error free.

One typo can do you in. I pointed out a few typos and inconsistencies in a new client's resume recently to which he replied,"Well I don't want to work for a company that cares about a few typos in my resume!" Sorry Mr. Senior Marketing Manager, but the brutal truth is that right now you just don't have the luxury of that attitude. When employers are looking for any reason to reduce the huge stack of qualified applicants to a manageable few, they will assume that your typos mean that you will be sloppy with their marketing messaging. And they will go on to an equally qualified, typo-free candidate.

6. Don’t rely solely on job boards and posted positions.

Even where there are needs, fewer jobs are being posted because employers get overwhelmed when they do. (see #2)

7. Networking, networking, networking has to be one of your main strategies.

It can give you the earliest warning when a company has a hiring need and is essential to help you create job opportunities.

8. Fill a hole in your skill set.

If you keep seeing an area of knowledge you don’t have in the job postings you like, do something about it. Do self-study, take a class or offer barter to someone knowledgeable in the area. Offer your first attempts pro-bono to an organization in need to get some experience in the new area.

9. Be open to freelance work.

Great way to stay current, earn a bit and make connections/references.

10. Bone up on and follow industry trends and news.

What you learn will keep your knowledge relevant while you are out of work, tell you first who might be hiring, and provide useful networking entrees to them.

11. Push your boundaries.

Define your ideals, then broaden the scope a bit. To generate enough opportunities I tell my clients, “Be willing to drive further for an interview than you are willing to drive to work each day.” Once you are there you may find that the opportunity is so good that you change your mind on the drive being worth it. Or you meet someone you could carpool with.

12. Reset your salary expectations.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but when salaries have all come down with supply and demand, you can kill your chances of working at all by clinging to an old-economy expectation of matching your previous salary.

As one job seeker said to me recently, “I’ve given up on making $100K again, the jobs in my field just don't pay that anymore. I’ve been out so long that now I’d be happy with $50K. Half of something is far more than 100% of nothing.”

Sarah Needleman's full WSJ article: “Giving a Stalled Job Search a Jump-Start”

10 ways an interview is like a figure skating competition

2009-10-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

I am a closet competitive figure skating fan. Watching the ISU competition from France this morning, I was reminded why I love this sport so much. So much of it is mental, and to be world-class requires an amazing amount of hard work, dedication, determination, coaching and practice, practice, practice. In my opinion, just like interviewing.

I thought of 10 ways interviewing is like a figure skating competition:

1. You are judged by other people, but only really competing against yourself.

2. Both take rigorous practice before and between every performance.

3. Being in shape and building your stamina gives you a distinct advantage.

4. No one wins based on what they did last year – although reputation is important, winning THIS contest rests on THIS performance.

5. The right outfit and appearance reinforces rather than distracts the audience from you and your message.

6. There are standard elements that you must fulfill. However, you can’t win just on technical accuracy. You also need a certain amount of “artistry” or presentation points. In an interview, this means being likable and bonding with your interviewers.

7. No one is perfect; everyone makes mistakes. The trick is to pick yourself up quickly, finish your performance as flawlessly as possible, and practice to not make the same mistake again.

8. A huge component of success is belief in yourself. Some skaters who miss a jump early in their routine let it get in their head and then they miss all the rest. Winners shake it off and add extra elements to make up the difference in the points deducted.

9. Points are deducted for errors. Some of the most damaging errors come on the “easy” elements through a simple lapse in concentration.

10. Giving your best unfortunately doesn’t ensure a win. You can give the performance of your life and still lose to someone who gives a superior performance, which in an interview can be illustrating that they are a more perfect fit for the job in question.

Make your interviews a "no bashing" zone

2009-10-16T12:59:00.000-07:00

Most people know that it is very bad form in an interview to bash a former employer. As a reminder, just a few of the top reasons why:

1. Someone harboring resentments - or carrying any baggage about their past - is not as attractive of a job candidate as someone who is fully future focused and "mission ready."

2. There are two sides to every story, and it hurts your credibility to tell one side when you and the interviewer are just getting to know each other.

3. It makes you look indiscreet; the obvious question that can go through an interviewer's mind is, "If it doesn't work out here, what will s(he) tell the next person about me?"

If you have not fully resolved and left behind your last position or manager, try this approach: write about the situation and your feelings regarding it. Write letters to your former boss, co-workers, or anyone else - including yourself - that you are feeling resentment or any unresolved feelings toward. Let it all out and onto paper. Gather the letters, find a safe place like your fireplace or outdoor BBQ, and burn them. You WILL feel better getting it out and letting it all go.

Also remember that it can reflect negatively on you to appear to bash another company or individual that you've encountered during your job search and interview process.

It's easy during a period of unemployment to rack up hurt feelings and "funny" stories recalling various interviewer gaffs.

The very nature of the process where you are working to bond with a new interviewer can lend itself to these stories sneaking out. As funny as they may sound to you, for all of the reasons above your previous interview anecdotes are not appropriate to share in future interviews!

As innocent as it may sound to you to tell someone that another company "didn't even have the decency to follow up with you after your interview," statements like this can hurt your candidacy for the new position.

If anything you say about anyone else - former employers and other interviewers alike - could possibly be categorized by someone else who doesn't know you as coming from a perspective of either "innocent victim" or "righteous indignation," nix it immediately.

An interviewer only has this one sample of you to determine who you are and what your priorities are. They don't know you well enough to realize that you don't really see yourself as a victim, so that negative impression is their most likely take-away.

Make volunteering part of your job search

2009-10-15T09:24:00.001-07:00

I always tell clients that while they are unemployed one thing they should plan into their schedule is to volunteer. The payoff is enormous on many levels.

A colleague, Harry Urschel, wrote a great blog post listing 10 things the unemployed get out of volunteering, and sharing an actual story illustrating the rewards for his client-volunteer.

It's too good not to share.

Give Before You Get - how doing good aids your job search.

Over 55 or under, some truths about a successful job search

2009-10-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

According to a recent Reuters article, a study conducted by the MetLife Mature Market Institute shows that record numbers of workers over 55 now plan to work until age 69. Dept of Labor projections are quoted as indicating that the 55+ population will account for an astounding nearly 93% net increase in the U.S. Civilian Labor Force between 2006-2016.

Those are significant numbers, and older workers need special help succeeding in the current economy. This article has much that they would be advised to take to heart. However not to discount the plight of older workers cracking the employment nut, I saw much in this article that I found true and useful for younger job seekers as well.

The article lists "The Significant Seven" most common mistakes older Americans make when they are looking for a job as evidenced by various types of faulty thinking.

I meet lots of younger folks who fall into the same flawed thinking. I recommend whatever your age you question if you are making any of these fatal assumptions: (I've added my notes after each of the seven)

1. "I"ll just do what I did before."

(reality: ALL work evolves rapidly, especially in a time of radical cost-cutting.)

2. "My experience speaks for itself."

(reality: NO ONE's experience speaks for itself right now. Even your "letter-sweater" experience needs a more readable resume and positioning in a field glutted with extraordinary talent.)

3. "I don't have time for this touchy-feely stuff about what work means to me."

(reality: in a market where readily available talent far outstrips demand, passion for the work itself and/or the product will be the decider between you and the other qualified candidates.)

4. "I know! I'll just be a consultant."

(reality: it just takes clients. Have you kept a vital network of potential clients to call on, and do you know what unique value proposition you are offering them? Hmm, same steps needed to conduct a job search, but over and over again...)

5. "Of course I'm good with computers."

(reality: use of technology in business and hiring has evolved extremely rapidly. Almost anyone who has been holding down a full time job rather than following this evolution is out-of-date. "Good with computers" no longer just means processing data in Word and Excel; it increasingly means engaging in conversation about the implications of data via LinkedIn, Facebook, blogs, Twitter...)

6. "I'll just use a recruiter for some career coaching."

(reality: recruiters don't do career coaching, they sell you what they have clients buying. And they do not have clients buying right now. The recruiting industry has shed jobs widely and is rapidly evolving too.)

7. "I've always been successful, so why should things be different now?"

(reality: we are in a different economic condition and have experienced rapid and widespread job losses as well as increased competition. Thinking it SHOULD be different than it is, is not as helpful as acknowledging how things ARE.)

OK, enough of the bad news. I really try to focus on the positive in my blog.

There were five tips for 55+ job seekers that I agree with wholeheartedly, and also feel are quite relevant at any age. Again I have listed them with my thoughts after each:

1. Acknowledge the Realities of the Job Market.

(reality: you are defenseless against something you deny exists. I see job seekers of all ages use flawed strategies and beat themselves up because of denying that things are the way they are right now.)

2. Reframe Your Experience to Demonstrate Future Value.

(reality: no one gets to rest on their laurels right now. Every hiring manager wants to know what you will do for him or her now and in the future.)

3. Nuture Your Network.

(reality: now more than ever, essential to get hired at any age. Amen, amen, amen.)

4. DOS is Dead - Update Your Computer Skills.

(reality: even if you left a high-tech job six months ago, this applies to you! Tick-tock, tick-tock, technological evolution marches along.)

5. Do the Math - then Manage Your Ambivalence.

(reality: job seekers at all ages who haven't worked out how they really feel about working and about specific opportunities run the risk of sabotaging themselves. Slow down and think things through. I guarantee it will make your process go faster, not slower.)

To read the full article: Buddy Can You Spare a Job? MetLife Mature Market Institute Study Examines the Aging Boomer Workforce and Provides Steps for Older Job-Seekers.

Some thoughts on finding your calling

2009-10-12T16:50:00.000-07:00

Not everyone knows what they want to do right away. Some people have done what they thought they wanted to do, only to find it unfulfilling. Some folks have found their work fulfilling for a while or even many years, but then realize that their interest in it has run it's course and it is time for something new.

I meet a fair number of people who feel that everyone else must have gotten clear direction about what their "calling" is except them.

If you are among them, know that many people don't have a clear calling; it's not just you. Also, most "callings" whisper and hint to get your attention rather than beat you over the head with a 2x4. You can miss the subtle signs steering you in the right direction if all you are watching for is a bolt of lightening.

To recognize your "calling:"

1. Be patient and OK with not knowing exactly what you want yet. It will come easier to you without the pressure of your timetable.

2. Quit comparing yourself. To others who appear to know what they want; to family members, and even to your own expectations. Question assumptions about the value of certain types of work.

3. Treat yourself like a research project and take copious notes about what you notice.

4. Get to know yourself. Taking assessments (DiSC is great for this) can help you understand yourself, your tendencies, strengths and likes.

5. Pay attention to your interest and energy level. Notice when you procrastinate certain tasks, are distracted while doing them, and when you lose track of time performing other tasks.

6. Be open to feedback in the form of praise and complaints about your strengths and preferences. Take out the judgement and hear all feedback as information.

7. Be available and open to trying many new things. If the goal is learning, there is no such thing as making a mistake - even if what you learned is that you weren't good at or didn't enjoy something.

8. Pay attention to what you like and don't like. Take notes.

9. Dissect your experiences to learn from them: reflect on what exactly made a positive experience positive for you. Separate the elements of your experience to reflect on your specific reaction to them. Did you enjoy the type of people you interfaced with, your role or the actual functions you performed, or the environment you were in? In the same way don't throw out neutral or positive elements in a negative experience: think "well at least I liked..."

10. Pay attention to processes as well as content. If you grow bored with any new challenge after conquering it, notice the likes and dislikes in your process: it is possible that no one content will be able to satisfy you as much as a certain level of variety and challenge.

Paying attention to your subtle likes and dislikes is like sailing and shifting your sails ever so slightly as you learn to read the winds. In no time you may just find yourself doing "what you are called to do."

The power of a Belief System

2009-10-06T12:52:00.000-07:00

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." - Anatole France

What you believe is what you will experience. People who tire of positive messages and quotes don't really get this fact: in a job search or in sports, you can't exceed your beliefs. A solid belief system not only enables improbable to impossible performance - it is absolutely necessary for it to occur.

The Mariner's 2009 season is over without any playoff games. As a fan I am completely pleased with the the team's performance this year. As the saying goes, they hit it out of the ballpark.

Casual fans don't realize what an amazing feat this team accomplished this year. Knowing the enormity of what they did, it warmed my heart to stay at Safeco Field long after the game Sunday, watching the guys do something I have never seen before. They stayed on the field to hug each and every one of their teammates. FSN baseball analyst and former pitcher Bill Krueger said that in his years in the sport he had never seen anything like it either.

What did the Mariners accomplish? In 2008 they had over 100 losses. They ended the 2009 with a record of 85 wins, 77 losses. If you're new to baseball stats, that's eight games over .500 (winning as many games as you lose).

Here's the stunning part: they are only the 13th team in MLB history to follow a hundred-loss season with an over .500 season. It just doesn't happen!

How did they do it? Don Wakamatsu, as a first year manager (and my total coach-crush), instilled in the guys a winning belief system. He worked with them to respect themselves, their teammates, and their opponents. And to believe that they could win.

"To succeed, we must first believe that we can." - Michael Korda

Wak caught a lot of grief from the media about his frequent mentions of the importance of a belief system. As I said in a previous blog, there's no shortage of free advice from the peanut gallery. And there is a reason it's free and Wak is managing. The proof is in how this team came together and what they achieved.

If you want to win the game of getting a great job, take your first lesson from Wak's playbook. Don't discount positive messages and beliefs in their ability to clear the way to get you there.

Look at what you are telling yourself, and if it is not positive work on making it so. Visualize and believe in a successful outcome.

"The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen." - Frank Lloyd Wright

The best motivational video!

2009-09-29T13:27:00.000-07:00

More ways baseball is like a job search

2009-09-28T16:03:00.000-07:00

More thoughts on the job search = baseball analogy:

1. What gets measured gets done. Measuring performance improves performance. There are a zillion statistics kept on every aspect of the game of baseball and each ballplayer's individual performance.

Why? Because they inform decisions that improve performance: if a player bats much higher against righties than lefties, the decision will be made for him to sit out against opposing left-handed pitchers. Improve results in your job search by measuring the specifics of your job search.

2. You can have an absolute stinker of a few days, like all the Seattle sports teams did this weekend - and still need to go back out the next week and start a new campaign.

3. It can help you get out of a slump by radically shaking things up. Break your game down to the very basics, then build it back up from there.

4. Streaks are made to be broken. Ichiro's long-standing streak of never going longer than two games without a hit was broken this weekend, starting with him doing #9 (from Friday's list) and getting tossed from Saturday's game.

5. A broken streak won't keep any player out of a game; they'll shrug it off and start another streak of one in the next game.

6. Part of coaching is taking the heat for your players. When Ichiro argued the strike call with the ump, Wak immediately ran out and got between them. Coaches know their job is to deliver the tough message that will get them thrown out instead of their players. Still, if the team isn't performing, the coach will be scapegoated.

7. Anyone can go from "Hero to Goat" or from "Goat to Hero" with one play.

8. Showing what you can do trumps saying what you can do every time.

How a job search is like baseball

2009-09-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

Even Ken Griffey Jr. takes batting practice and goes through spring training.

I love baseball. I love helping people succeed in their job search. I can't believe it took me a year and a half of blogging to write this post.

24 ways a job search is like baseball:

1. There is a high failure rate; it’s impossible for anyone to bat 1.000. A .300 batting average - failing twice as often as you succeed - is Hall of Fame level performance.

2. You can't win from the bench; you need to step up to the plate.

3. It’s a game of inches. Winning involves doing all the little things right.

4. You need to be confident and humble at the same time. Showing up an Ump will get you more called strikes. Showing up the other team can have you hearing "chin music."

5. Natural talent will only take you so far. Those with a solid work ethic will vastly surpass those with talent alone.

6. Spring training before the season starts is essential to work out the kinks before the games count.

7. Not every hit will be a home run. Your job is often to just get on base. Many times it’s only possible to hit a single (get through the phone screen.)

8. You need to touch them all; you can only get to second base (first interview) from first base. You can only get to third base (second interview) from second. The only way to score is to make it all the way around the base path to home plate without getting picked off.

9. Sometimes you’ll disagree with the ump’s call, but right or wrong, it stands. Arguing a call will only get you thrown out of the game and labeled a poor sport.

10. Play your own position. We each have different strengths. Not everyone is a catcher; not everyone can pitch. You’re the most marketable at the position you play the best.

11. Everyone commits errors. Learn from them so that you don’t make the same error in the same situation again.

12. You can’t steal second base with your foot on first. You need to assume some risk.

13. The game goes until there is a winner. There is no set time limit like other sports. Some games are over in two hours, some go much, much longer than that. You can't know ahead of time.

14. There’s always plenty of free advice coming from the peanut gallery. There's a reason it's free.

15. You can see the whole game the most clearly with your back to the crowd. Remember it’s the catcher who calls the pitches.

16. You will get thrown curve balls, fast balls, change ups and splitters. Batters take batting practice before every game so that they are ready for whatever is thrown their way.

17. A winning pitcher has thoroughly scouted the other team so he knows what to throw to each hitter.

18. Decisions of who to add to the team are not made for sentimental reasons. They are made to fill perceived gaps in making the team more competitive.

19. You can be cut at any time in favor of someone playing your position better than you.

20. There’s more to the game than your individual statistics. No matter how good a player you are, you need to also build up the team around you – be a team player, a “good clubhouse guy.”

21. A win is a win – in the next day’s box score, a 1-0 win counts the same as a 14-2 win.

22. Anyone can have a disastrous day. You can’t afford to dwell on it and create a slump. Ballplayers shake it off then give their all the next day in “a whole new ballgame.”

23. A good coach can make all the difference between winning and losing. No one serious about winning would attempt to coach themselves. As well as overall strategy, coaching maximizes individual skills - batters improve their average working with a batting coach, pitchers with a pitching coach…

24. A "suicide squeeze" is not named that by accident. If you force an employer to say "yes or no" before they are ready, 9 out of 10 times their answer will be "no."

I know I've only cracked the surface with the first 24. What can you add to the list? Comments and suggestions MOST welcome!

Playing "Whack a Mole" with your job search

2009-09-22T12:08:00.000-07:00

Today I'm adding some new content to an article I originally posted on June 9, 2009 under the title, "Making Your Job Search Count." From the feedback on my original post it helped a lot of people, so I'm adding to and re-releasing it.

I recently went to the Puyallup Fair, and had success at my favorite carnival game. The game is played by placing a rubber frog onto a "launching pad" of sorts, and whacking the trigger with a mallet, which launches the frog into the air. Prizes are won by landing your frogs on the target. I hit the target with two of my three frogs, so I walked away with a fairly large stuffed animal - yep, a frog.

That mallet got me thinking how some people treat their job search like a game of "Whack a Mole." They chase this way and that, hoping that this next site for job postings will be THE ONE, the next place they post their resume will be THE ONE, the next networking meeting will be THE ONE, the next recruiter they meet will be THE ONE that holds the holy grail for them...

They come to feel exhausted, and totally out of control. One new client confessed that he has 53 versions of his resume. Exhausting! Not to mention, who are you when there are so many versions of yourself?

They are not seeing their job search as a process and controlling what they can. So they keep "Whacking at Moles," hoping to hit THE ONE.

In my experience only stuffed animals are won by playing "Whack a Mole." A winning job search is not so random; it is a process with four high level steps: Plan - Define - Let People Know - Assess & Decide.

Defining what you are looking for makes having 53 versions of your resume unnecessary. You are who you are, and if you think through what you want to contribute there is no reason to try to be everything to everyone.

And especially right now, hiring managers are smarter than that: if you are talking yourself into, and modifying yourself to appear to fit a position, I can guarantee that at least one of the other people who applied fits it more naturally. I maintain that you are the most marketable where your strengths match your preferences. Stick to that place to get better results.

Consider the Define phase of your job search complete with the creation of your "Define Deliverables": (you can even print this as a checklist)
__ Employment goals defined (I use a "6x6" model)
__ Resume complete
__ LinkedIn profile complete
__ Basic cover letter complete (ready to customize each time)
__ Elevator pitch complete
__ Soundbite lite (6 word definition) complete
__ Business cards printed
__ LinkedIn connections made through existing address book
__ References asked to serve, updated on your goals
__ LinkedIn recommendations given (trust me, you will receive them back)
__ Other actions that build your online credibility and brand complete

Counting and measuring is a way to control what you can in your job search. It can keep you sane and motivated when you feel that you're not making progress, by showing that you really are getting somewhere - even before you win the ultimate prize.

After creating the Deliverables that Define You, set goals and track your progress toward them. This is another place where people who know better fail to apply the same tools to their job search that they apply on the job everyday. A client who is a Project Manager recently confessed that he had fallen out of the habit of even keeping a "To Do" list. Augghh, he knows better, but is playing "Whack a Mole" instead.

A job search is a numbers game. If you want to win, put in the numbers and keep track of your actions to reward yourself and stay motivated until you see your end goal realized.

Measure actions toward your goal. What CAN BE CONTROLLED, and SHOULD BE MEASURED:

__ Hours spent productively on your job search. After setting goals for hours per per day or week, monitor and reward yourself. Want traction? If you are not currently working, spend 30 productive hours per week.

__ Outreach per day/week. Want traction? Set a goal of 5 per day of any of these:
__ Applications to postings
__ New connections in LinkedIn
__ Resumes sent to a contact
__ Meetings for coffee, lunch, drinks, a walk...
__ Requesting informationals
__ Associations joined, meetings attended
__ Volunteer activities conducted

__ Opportunities in play. Want traction? Set a goal of at least 25 open at any given time. These include:
__ Outstanding applications
__ Networking seeds planted
__ Referrals from contacts

__ Your conversion rate. if not within current market expectations, your conversion rate on any of the below helps pinpoint issues to work on.
__ Hearing anything vs. nothing after applying to a posting
__ Resumes submitted to phone screens
__ Phone screens to interviews
__ Coffees to introductions to a new contact
__ Informational requests to meetings
__ Interviews to next interviews - first to second, second to third, etc.
__ Interviews to requests for references
__ References called / background checks to offers

Is playing "Whack a Mole" with your job search leaving you feeling scattered and drained? Walk away from the arcade. Change the game, get a better result.

p.s. via YouTube, no kittens were harmed in the making of the "Whack A Kitty" video.

Happiness: It's All in Your Head

2009-09-16T21:35:00.000-07:00

It's time to share another of my favorite books about growing your own happiness quotient. I love this book so much, I think it's going to take a few posts to highlight why.

Yes there are good signs that the economy is perking up, but for job candidates staying positive and keeping your motivation up are two essential keys to success that are SO very hard to accomplish while you are in it.

A minor setback can feel like a total kick in the gut unless you're paying close attention and monitoring your attitudes so that they don't interfere with the actions you want to take.

From Chapter 1, "It's All in Your Head"

"The keys to a fulfilled, joyous life are all in your head because they are attitudes, not actions. They're ways you need to think, not steps you need to take.

True happiness comes not from material, or external, factors, but from psychological, or internal factors. Happiness is a mental, not a physical state.

The good news is that this means that each and every one of us has the potential to be happy. The bad news is that your happiness is your own responsibility.

Part of our problem today, one reason we so readily look for happiness through materialism, is that we confuse pleasure with happiness. The former is a sensual feeling, the latter is spiritual.

A new attitude may not be able to change the world, but it can change your world. And that's nothing to sneeze at. The world is changed one person at a time."

See, that's plenty to chew on for one day.

10 job search tips for right now

2009-09-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

1. All work is honorable.

2. If you've slacked a bit because of summer or the economy, develop this mantra: "The summer is over, the recession is over - I'm ready to get back to work."

3. Busy people get more done. And, non value-added activities expand to fill time. Therefore:

Build a list and plan each day to get done what you need and want to. Remember how busy you were when you were working? Be busy - and industrious - again, and get more done.

4. Honor commitments you make to yourself via your daily list and otherwise.

A great example is that many people want to get in better shape by adopting an exercise routine. Working out is extremely beneficial to your job search! Let's face it, you need something you can control. When you control this you'll feel better about yourself physically, mentally and emotionally - making you more confident and available to potential employers.

5. Do the hardest thing on your list first each day. After you've crossed it off, the rest is gravy.

6. Savor compliments and build on successes. Just had a great phone call? Pat yourself on the back (briefly) and make another call. Right now.

7. Watch for a tendency to over analyze, over design, over produce, second guess or tweak-tweak-tweak (your resume, each cover letter, your portfolio, website, or LinkedIn profile....)

Bust yourself in an age-old stalling tactic and DARE TO BE AVERAGE instead! Your average probably outshines others' best.

8. Numbers, numbers, numbers. "When in doubt, mail it out."

9. Avoid black or white, yes or no, and all or nothing thinking. About industries, companies, type or level of job, people... Don't hear "no" when it's not being said, and don't tell yourself "no" too quickly. Open yourself up to far more possibility by applying expansive, "what if" thinking.

An example: Networking isn't about "This person can help me today or not." It's about multiple touch points to build real relationships with people who may or may not be able to help you in the future. Guess what - any networking contact could just as easily turn out to be someone who needs your help instead of being able to help you. Don't network for an ROI. It doesn't work. Network to be a good person and help others, and good will come back to you.

10. How you conduct your job search and yourself in it, is the best evidence to any employer of how you will be on the job.

Care about others, take initiative and work hard on your job search, and they will believe it when you say you'll contribute to their team, take initiative and work hard on the job.

Make it all about you - what you need, want, or heaven forbid, "deserve" - and you will raise legitimate concerns with potential employers that you would do the same on their nickel. No employer can afford that right now.

Emotional Intelligence - the ultimate transferrable skill

2009-09-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

Was forwarded an interesting article from the Boston Globe: 'Emotional Intelligence' a new hiring criterion.

The label is new, but not the concept: we all know that we'd rather work with people who are pleasant to be around for the eight or more hours per day we spend in the workplace. The factors usually described as Emotional Intelligence (EQ) give us some great specific hints as to why that is true.

From Erica Noonan's article:

"EQ comprises a collection of so-called "soft" skills, including self-awareness, an understanding of how your mood and behavior affect others; impulse control, including how you manage stress on the job; initiative, whether or not you can be counted on to report to work on time, manage your own time, and meet expectations; and the ability to lead and motivate others. But empathy - the ability to understand and acknowledge another's point of view - is the big enchilada."

(Surprisingly, "Optimism" which seems to always included was not on this list.)

I can't tell you the number of clients who have listed "leadership" as one of their top skills without pairing it with empathy, self-awareness or impulse control. In my opinion without these other elements "leadership" and "initiative" will only get you so far, until the perception of them turns to "manipulative" or "tyrant."

Back to the article: "Some good news for older job candidates: older workers tend to have more emotional intelligence, usually through hard-won experience." Hmmm, more than the entitlement generation, they tend to know that it's not all about them.

I couldn't agree more with the point made that the emphasis on EQ isn't about a "kinder, gentler workplace." On the contrary, as Noonan points out, when globazation and technology drive a growing business emphasis on communication, cooperation and teamwork, EQ is about being successful at any job - helping your company gain the competitive edge. Study after study shows that those - in almost every field - with more EQ outperform those who score lower.

If you're currently looking for work, I can't recommend this strongly enough: as well as doing your research on companies and maybe brushing up on your technical or social media skills, do some work to increase your EQ. A great place to start is with Daniel Goleman's seminal work on the subject. Happy reading!

Job Search 101

2009-09-10T09:21:00.000-07:00

If you see a notice or posting of a job you might be interested in, read the entire thing. If it is a notice with a link attached for more information, click on the link and read the additional information.

This is one of those basics I just can't believe people don't do, but some don't. Not to be snarky, but unemployed people - seriously, you don't have time to read the whole posting before responding?!?

I am excited by recent signs that the job market is picking back up. Even though there is much talk about a "jobless recovery," since I know a lot of people I am being forwarded more OPEN JOBS by contacts, asking if I can help get the word out that they are looking for candidates.

I am happy to take a moment to spread the word about a great job to people who are looking for work! But again at the risk of being snarky since do I know a lot of people, if I don't do this efficiently it could take up all of my time without being compensated by either side, and a girl's got a mortgage to pay.

The most efficient way for me is to share job information is to post it as a status update on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. With a few I've posted recently I've been appalled at the number of people who misunderstood; they either contacted me as if it was my opening, or pinged me back asking how to apply - when if they had clicked on the link I attached it says "Apply Here."

They obviously didn't read my "140 characters or less" message carefully enough to understand who was hiring the position and how to contact them.

Please folks - slow down before you fire off an email and READ THE WHOLE MESSAGE. I'll keep doing this unpaid public service for you, if you will try just a little harder to help me help you.

Are you living the good life?

2009-09-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

I thought Labor Day was the perfect time to share this wonderful 3 minute video by Mark Albion promoting his book, "More Than Money."

Many thanks to Helen for sending this my way.

More thoughts on when you know its time to leave your job

2009-09-03T15:51:00.001-07:00

it has felt a little odd to be talking about the warning signs that you should leaver your job when so many great people would be happy to just have a job right now.

It's caused me to want to space out my conversation over this week, with content specifically for the unemployed interspersed with more for the "painfully employed."

Not to discount the need to remove yourself from a no-win situation, a job that ruins your Sunday nights because you dread the Monday morning that follows, one in which you are having nightmares, physical symptoms, feeling worse and worse about yourself, or one that feels you leaving that life is passing you by without you contributing or enjoying it enough.

We each steer by our compass and know when the time comes to set a new course. The trick is to start your course correction early and gently, before you are at the point where it is too painful and you are too emotional or beat down to extricate yourself in a positive way.

Especially in the current economy I'd encourage you to heed the early warning signs to make a change, but stay stealth while you build the foundation of an exit strategy. That includes updating your resume and online profiles, building out your connections and building a list of target companies.

And sadly, don't trust ANYONE at your employment with the fact that you want to leave. I have seen more clients than you would believe burned by doing so.

Soul-sucking employment frequently involves being underemployed: not able to use your talents, not being listened to or respected, not being able to do a quality job, disparity among co-workers, accountability unequal to authority.... the list goes on.

But, before you whine on Facebook about your long hours or the fact that someone else got the plum project or trip you were angling for, please be sensitive to your former co-workers who will read your post. Many would gladly work those long hours right now.

BTW, In my years in this field I have never seen so much TOP TALENT on the street. In one regard this recession hit like a game of musical chairs; if you are lucky to have stayed in a seat when the music stopped, remember that you could have just as easily been the "odd man out."

Back to some of the warning signs:

For one reader it is not having a voice in a very bureaucratic environment, when even with less experience her ideas were welcome and considered at her last job.

A client a few years ago shared that he had to get out because, "I'll wear a tie to work everyday and be a professional, and I'll punch a time clock so that every single minute is accounted for - but not on the same job. It should be one or the other."

TR wrote in: "Unfortunately I have discovered that it was time to leave several times in my career and didn't do anything until it got very very bad. I call it infernal optimism - I always believe that it will get better until the situation is making me ill. This job is at the "infernal optimism" point even though I should have learned after all these years. I have a mantra that the commute is easy, the pay is good, the health benefits are good and I like the people I directly work with but that mantra is not good enough. The satisfaction of being able to do a good job is not there and is unlikely to ever be."

A friend became very ill, and only realized after being away from her job for some time and going back that it was definitely a huge contributing factor.

More early warning signs of trouble brewing that you should listen to:

Your boss apologizes for hiring you, and says, "You're too good for this place."

When your supervisor asks you to status all of your current projects, some of them not due for months, but he needs that status RIGHT NOW.

Your boss asks if your resume is up to date, because, he tells you, "Between you and me, I'm starting to look around outside of the company."

The accounting and/or HR people are having extra, closed door meetings and looking worried. Or your paycheck bounces.

Your boss asks you, "Do you really think you're a good fit for this type of work?"

You realize you've successfully taught the receptionist how to do your whole job in addition to her own.

They announce there will be floor by floor group meetings tomorrow, all at the same time, when you've never all gotten together floor by floor before.

When the owner takes home wall hangings that have been up for years, because they are "personal, not company property."

You see a shortage of packing boxes on your floor, and then since you're paying attention, you notice that your co-workers have fewer and fewer personal effects in their personal space.

A sobering story: one client saw the handwriting on the wall and asked if he was going to be laid off or let go. He was told no, but in fact was let go the next day.

Thank you Warren and Tom for the reminder: the best day to start planning for your next job is the day you start the one before.

Avoid this job - my new favorite blog!

2009-09-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for employment or just want to feel better about the job you have, you MUST check out Avoid This Job.

Feeling desperate for a job? Checking out some of these doosies will help you realize that maybe you're not that desperate - you always still have choice.