Finding a Job IS a Job

I looked up the definition for advice and training in two different dictionaries. I used the Google Dictionary and Dictionary.com.

Advice:
1. If you give someone advice, you tell them what you think they should do in a particular situation.
2. An opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action, conduct, etc.

Training:
1. The process of learning the skills that you need for a particular job or activity.
2. The education, instruction, or discipline of a person or thing that is being trained.

Everyone that has held a job, regardless of the type of job, had some type of skill training. It could have simply been being shown how to perform specific tasks and/or years of formal education and intensive skill-based training. The point is; the profession or position you chose required some training.

Companies have increasingly added different types of training for their employees at all levels. The idea is to provide the employee with additional skills to perform better, safer, more efficiently, skillfully, etc. It may help them create new products and services, improve existing products and services, and provide customers with better service overall. Some training is designed to increase the skills of employees, so they can be promoted to engage in even higher value tasks.

Finding a new career opportunity is really a job. It takes specific skills and effort to effectively find that next opportunity. So, where do most people get the skills needed? We aren’t born with them. We don’t inherently have the skills necessary. No, most find them through the advice of family, friends, co-workers, former co-workers, in the local newspaper, outplacement services, career coaches, free online webinars, and of course, on Oprah.

Would anyone who is focused on their chosen profession when they are working take advice from those around them who don’t know what they do? Would anyone take advice from someone and apply the advice from someone that doesn’t know the first thing about what you do? How can they know the education you have acquired, the skills you have learned, the training you have added and the experiences you have? Of greater importance, where did they get their training and skills to be able to impart advice that is effective?

For example, say you are an engineer in a nuclear power plant responsible for the cooling system. If your favorite aunt who has never studied the operational needs of a nuclear reactor system gave you some advice on solving a specific critical issue; how would you respond? On the outside, you might smile politely and thank her for her thoughtfulness in offering her insights. On the inside, you might be feeling very uncomfortable with implementing her suggestion even though she meant well.

Of course, that is an extreme example, although people are usually willing to give advice for all the right reasons. They mean well and want to help even if the advice isn’t sound.

Back to searching for the next career opportunity. Perhaps it isn’t as extreme as ensuring that a nuclear reactor operates as designed but, I think most people feel very strongly about their job and finding the next one.

Why do so many seeking their next career opportunity lean on advice for such a critical process? Why aren’t they seeking skill-based training as tenaciously as they have sought the training that prepared them so well for their chosen profession or the job they like?

Going back to the two different definitions at the top; I think there is a distinct difference. Seeking advice is not necessarily going to carry the day in searching for the next opportunity. It might sound good and give you a good feeling inside, but is it effective? Who knows? Or, maybe you do know, because it hasn’t worked.

On the other hand, seeking training that will provide education and skills resulting in the desired end results might have more merit. Learning effective job search skills that will:

• Teach you to research the kind of companies where you want to be employed
• Teach how to approach them so they will want to talk to you
• Learn the skills of how to present your credentials so people notice you
• Teach you how to present yourself in a manner that tells the prospective employer you are qualified and they see you fitting their organization
• Gaining the skills to follow through in a way to gain additional insight and to seize the next interview opportunity
• Learning how to gain the offer you deserve
• Learning how to follow through so the start is a great one for you and for your new employer, setting the tone for advancing your career long term

These are key components to finding your next career opportunity that take specific skills. Some may possess some of the skills or pieces of the skills from other experiences, but the complete set is needed for success.

Of course, we train those wanting the skills through our skill-based training webinars and even one on one. My suggestion is even if you choose not to enroll in our webinar series, get sound, high quality training to find your next opportunity somewhere. Like most of the training you have had throughout your career, you will not be sorry. It will more likely lead to success than well intended advice.

To learn more about this what skill based training is all about go to: http://www.careertalkguyscom/.

What Has Been Your Experience?

There are approximately 36 million people unemployed today over the age of 25. That number comes from the, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). They work with the Department of Labor. That number may be low as it does not include those who have stopped seeking employment or the underemployed. Not very encouraging but reality.

Many are working very hard to find their new employment. They conduct their job search, send resumes, some get interviews and some get offers, some don't. The experiences vary widely from talking with many.

We would love to hear about your particular experience. Click on comments button below to share your experiences.

• What has gone well in your own search and why do you believe it worked for you?
• What has not gone well and why do think it has not?
• What would cause you to seek help with your search?
• What type of help would you seek?

Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts.

Is Career Hibernation an Option for You?

I read an interesting comment recently about the struggles of people to find a new position in these difficult economic times. The comment was “It was easy to find a job when the economy was very strong. Resumes were a formality. If you knew someone you could get into a company fairly easily. The only reason people can’t find a job today is there aren’t enough jobs. Fix the economy and the problem goes away.” It was a valid comment in that it points out another thought about why people may not be able to find the employment they desire. It does have some merit. On the other hand, you may be like most people; you are not likely to place your career in hibernation until the economy makes the job search process “easy”.

The assumption made is that when the economy is strong, it takes little to get another job. For example, a new job may come from someone you know. It might come from finding a company struggling to find someone with the skills the job seeker possesses. They get in touch somehow and employment occurs.

It also assumed when the economy is weak, it will not be possible to gain employment until there are more jobs regardless of the practices the job seeker prosecutes. The answer was focus on economic issues, cure them and employment is cured as well.

We cannot argue with the law of supply and demand for labor, it is not our focus. We are not in charge of economic policies. We cannot implement what we feel are the best economic policies to prevent recessions and the business cycle. We can, of course, vote for those who will. But, that is another story.

We have narrowed our focus to a close examination of how most people go about finding their jobs, regardless of the economic conditions. We also know how the job search process can be made successful for those who want success. We have over fifty years of combined experience in research of that process and results.

Is it true that sometimes the accepted practices such as, answering job postings, sending resumes and cover letters to companies, and networking in some manner will work? Sure, sometimes they will, typically only for a few. Will it work consistently is the real question. Our experience tells us it does not work consistently for everyone. It is more often akin to playing the lottery, except that with the lottery, the odds may be better.

Why have individuals who have exemplary employment backgrounds not been able to find new employment in strong economic conditions? We know that this situation exists today because we have been asked for help from those with exceptional credentials and experience who have not had success gaining employment. In evaluating their situation, they followed all the common or standard practices for finding employment. After teaching them the insider skills they needed, they succeeded in achieving their goal of seizing the right opportunities.

Common sense tells us that when the labor supply is limited and the demand is strong, there are fewer unemployed. At the same time, our experience tells us, even when the job market is robust, there are many who cannot find the employment they seek. As we have examined the reasons why, it became apparent they did not possess the unique skills to achieve the success they desired.

The common denominator we have encountered is the type of skills each possessed and the practices they followed. In every case they applied the common or standard practices that did not create the success they wanted. In each case when we taught them the skills they needed and they applied them, they found the employment they sought. Our conclusions are based on encounters with thousands of people seeking employment we have helped.

For many years this training and teaching has been conducted in a one-on-one situation. Rather than continuing to offer instruction in a one on one manner every time, we have chosen to use the technology available today to help as many as possible at one time. We recognize the magnitude of the problem created and it drives us to offer a solution for many rather than the few. We still offer one-on–one instruction for those who might prefer that type of assistance or for those whose circumstances are unique.

Visit our Career Library at www.CAREERTRACKEXPERTS.com.

A Broken System or Your Cure for the Disease of Unemployment

As I listen to and read comments of those seeking new employment, there seems to be some common themes. One that is not common, but a great observation by a gentleman with whom I corresponded recently, was one that is not on the radar screen. It is an observation that I feel provides real insight into a huge source of the lack of success, frustration, fear, anger and other emotions felt by many job seekers.

His observation (and one my partner and I recognize) to put it in his terms is, “the job search system is broken.” His points that are dead-on of the broken system are:

• Sending resumes and cover letters does not work
• Networking is not a strong avenue for most people or done well
• HR contacts are not decision makers and don’t help
• Recruiters do not work for the candidate; they are paid by the client. They are not in the business of finding jobs for people
• State agencies are way behind the curve on knowing what to do to achieve success. They mainly process claims.
• Career coaches don’t have a handle on the situation
• Most advice addresses the symptoms, not the disease

I think the last point above is probably the most important and encompasses all the others. When looking at conducting a job search, there are many components and they all have to be performed well, in order to achieve the goal of obtaining the job wanted, not the one for which they settle. Today, most do not reach the point of being able to even settle for a job.

The point of addressing symptoms, not curing the disease is right on-point. Consider what is available as advice. Most advice will recommend what to do for one or two points. The advice addresses the specific symptom, not the disease. For example, in the case of sending resumes and cover letters to companies, traditional of advice is to make sure the cover letter addresses specific points. Other traditional advice points out the resume should contain certain points and look a certain way. These are addressing symptoms. The disease is the lack of several things:

• A lack of knowing how to conduct an overall job search
• A lack of where to really start. It isn’t with the cover letter and resume being sent to companies. There are numerous steps before hand that if not accomplished correctly, the best cover letter and resume will yield nothing as most do.
• The lack of knowing that sending a cover letter and resume is not a high percentage activity for successful in a job search.

So what is the disease that needs cured? The disease that needs cured is the current, collective body of knowledge of how to conduct a job search. It is a patch work of bits and pieces of advice and previously used actions that sometimes worked for some people, under certain circumstances. It has been used for decades in every situation regardless of whether the situation and circumstances changed dramatically. Now, that probably seems rather confusing and that is understandable. Let me explain.

The vivid analogy is the humorous story of the auto worker who wanted a new car, but did not want to buy it. He had the bright idea he could steal a part a day from the factory where he worked, and eventually have all the parts needed to build his new car. He proceeded to do so but it took many years for him to take each part out of the factory. The car he ended up with was a hodge-podge of parts from so many different models that it did not look like a real car. Of course, it did not function either. The common wisdom of how to find a job and opportunity suffers from the same “hodge-podge” effect.

The same can be said for how the typical job search is conducted today. Let’s look at it piece by piece:

• Employment seekers send cover letters and resumes to unsolicited companies. Why? Because others have done so in the past and some have had some success.
• Sending responses to job postings. Why? Because traditionally people over the decades have answered ads in print media and now electronic media. In the past, some have obtained jobs: now that equates to how to find a job.
• Contacting recruiters. The history of recruiters goes back three to four decades when there were many “employment agencies” where one would go, get interviewed by an Employment Counselor (as they were then titled). He would call companies to see who could use someone with the qualifications possessed by the person who applied. The applicant/candidate typically paid for this type of service. Sometimes it worked. Out of that, evolved what most recruiters do today. However, today they work for the client company, not the candidate. Most job seekers do not realize this and still think a recruiter is most interested in finding them a job.
• State and federal employment services. Like most government agencies, they have good intent, but little substance and even less motivation to actually be helpful. There is no need to explain further, as this is not a political discussion.
• Networking with others. This can be effective, but it evolved decades ago when the supply of labor was short, demand in the economy was huge and simply by word of mouth supply and demand met up with each other. People think they can do the same today. They are correct, but it must be conducted in a completely different manner than it is attempted by most.
• Professional career advisors. They listen to the symptom the candidate/applicant provides through their explanation. The advisor dutifully responds with how to treat that specific symptom. If the process goes on long enough and the candidate/applicant has enough financial resources, they may get to what the disease is and develop what they hope is the cure.
• Finally, all of the above have the influence of the huge advances in technology we enjoy today. The results are still ineffective. The only difference is it is faster and vastly more contact can be achieved for the same lack of results. Applying technology to a broken system has no effect on its output. When it is wheat that you seek, increasing the amount of chaff simply steals time better spent on effective actions.

What is the answer? The above points are just practices that have evolved in a random manner. They do not create the effect needed, causing the next action required, that ultimately leads to the success desired; a job offer. They are not applicable to the economic conditions today, so what practices and skills are necessary to be successful TODAY?

Instead of attaching band-aids to the wound when the patient needs a transfusion, the prescription has to change in order to save the patient. The objective is to bring the perspective employee in contact with the right perspective employers in such a manner they both recognize they can be of benefit to each other. This results in an acceptable offer and acceptance resulting in viola!, success. The cure has to be effective on a consistent basis. Therefore, specific actions have to be taken by the perspective employee first. (To understand why it has to be the perspective employee that takes the action, take a look at an article on our site about hiring companies today at http://www.careertrackexperts.com/articles/hctone.pdf

There are a series of specific actions the perspective employee has to take such as:

• Analyze and learn what they have to offer as a qualified candidate/applicant
• How to apply what they learn when appropriate and in an appropriate way that causes the desired results
• What type of companies do they want to work for and they would qualify for
• Learn a great deal of specific information about the companies to be contacted
• How and who to contact in and around those companies
• How to gain an interview with those companies
• How to present the qualifications in a compelling way that illustrates to the perspective employer the candidate/applicant will help them achieve their objectives and goals
• How to follow through
• How to gain the subsequent interviews
• How to gain the offer deserved
• What research has to be done if relocation is required
• How to prepare to start the new employment
• How to start the new employment “hitting the ground running”

Now I suspect some are saying to themselves, this is not much different than what has always been done. While some of the words may be similar the actions behind them, the results they produce and more importantly, the skills required are completely different. The list is not an exhaustive list but rather basic, essential steps.

Each of the steps builds on the previous one. Each causes the desired effect of the next one. Each is a controlled action by the perspective employee. It is not throwing information out into the great employment abyss and waiting for something good to return.

Finally, consider this. Each person, when employed has specific duties and responsibilities they perform. Those duties and responsibilities require skills. The skills come from education, training, and experience. They also come from initiative the employee takes to excel at their job. The same thing holds true for this “job” of finding the right company and position.

The unfortunate reality is that there has never been a resource to provide effective education and training to those seeking their next employment. The reality has been there was only experience to rely on and those who provided the “band-aids” to the wound. Sometimes the advice did treat the symptom. Just like medicine there are much better ways to save the patient today than there were decades ago. While medicine has advanced tremendously, seeking new employment is still using leeches and potions.

The good news is there is a resource today; right now that can teach the skills and training for success to those seeking their next career opportunity. Career Track Experts has brought the job search process into the second decade of this new century. A complete step-by-step process is provided that prepares the job seeker to take specific actions resulting in specific effects that lead to the next step. They ultimately lead to the achievement of the job seeker’s goal of obtaining the job offer they want with the company they want.

The process is taught in a series of five, one-hour webinars held over consecutive days every other week. To learn more about each session, see the course dates and register go to http://www.careertrackexperts.com/6.html.

Start a productive, successful career search right now by curing the disease, not treating the symptoms.

"No That's Not It..."

Have you ever noticed something very obvious and pointed it out to someone only to have them say something like, "No that's not it."? I think we all have and it usually puzzles us because it seems so obvious as I stated earlier. Maybe it is related to the cliche, "You can't see the forest for the trees." Whatever the reason it applies to those seeking a new job too.

We place articles here on our blog, on our website, http://www.careertalkguys.com/. We receive a lot of nice comments on them and we receive numerous questions by job seekers concerning their specific search. Most ask if we are able to diagnose why they are not succeeding and what they can do to change their situation. All very reasonable. However, when we respond that the method they are using to conduct their search is not effective and does little to create success, they respond similarly to above in some form of "No that's not it."

I understand their response. Almost everyone has the same notion due to historical methodology. They typically are sending lots of template resumes, similar cover letters to lists of companies and to job postings. It has been virtually pounded into everyone that it is the only way to obtain their next job. They are perplexed, frustrated, and even angry they have had little or no results. Many are now starting to question that method. They are quickly recognizing they are working hard to gain little.  They may or may not recognize that the practice of create a resume, send a resume and wait for a response if very passive and puts the company the resume was sent to in charge of their efforts. 

The good news is that more are starting to understand that there has to be another way to work hard at their job search but achieve the success they want.  They now know they have to be proative and exercise certain skills in order to be in charge of their job search. When they complete our webinar series they understand what that better way is. Besides achieving the results they want, they also achieve some side benefits. They are no longer perplexed, frustrated or angry. Their outlook becomes much brighter and they feel productive. Who doesn't want that?

Our webinar program can be found on our site at http://www.careertalkguys.com/.