The Waiting is the Hardest Part

It's the worst. You send in your resume for that perfect job. You two are made for each other - you just know it. Then something happens. You wait....and wait....and wait for a response. Any response.

You wrack your brain with questions: Where did my resume go? Did my employer-to-be get it? Did anyone even look at it? Is there a black hole I don't know about? It can be a maddening experience, and believe me, I have been there.

Job hunting is not the time to doubt yourself and worry over your abilities. One of the best strategies in successful job hunting is learning how to maintain your confidence, energy and outlook that the right job will come along, no matter how deafening the silence.

Since I have been there (more than once) I can share a few strategies for staying positive and by all means, moving forward!

1. Don't let a non-responder dampen your spirits. Remember there are loads of employers out there looking for your skills. So when you send in your resume for that perfect position, don't expect that you will be their perfect candidate. Recruiting software and screening systems do a great job in limiting the number of candidates an employer will invite in. If your resume doesn't cut the mustard, you might be shelved very early on. Unless you ask (and it is highly doubtful you will get any answer) you will not know why your resume was not selected for an interview.
2. Follow-up. If you are bemoaning the lack of follow-up (can't they let me know they GOT my resume?!?) about a job you have applied for and really feel this employer would be missing out by not talking with you, give them a call. This might sound unconventional, but following up with the HR department and inquiring about the status of the job (or, the receipt of your resume) demonstrates imitative and interest. I have left plenty of creative self-marketing messages on voice mails which have allowed me to stand out and often get an interview. Once I even got the job!
3. Identify an internal contact. The #1 way to get a job is through networking. If you are really interested in that job and that employer, it makes sense to try and find someone internally who you can schedule an informational interview with or find out more about the job and the company. Informational interviews are excellent methods by which to get yourself noticed and remembered, and who knows...you just might get the response you are looking for in the form of a job offer!

Employment Trends: Favoring the Employee

This month The Society of Human Resources (SHRM) reported that "professional and technical positions are the most difficult to recruit for, as they were in 2006, and the employee-driven market is shifting the negotiating power to job candidates". In fact, "The Edge Report", the result of an online survey conducted by Robert Half International, portrays a clear vantage point for the employee when it comes to job hunting and and negotiating a better compensation package.

Among the findings:

• Since 2005, the job market has continued a steady trend toward favoring the employee
• Highly skilled professionals and technically skilled workers are particularly in demand and difficult to recruit
• More employers are implementing new policies and procedures to drive retention such as: salary increases, improving the office environment, and providing career pathing and career development assistance to employees
• More than half of the workers surveyed are more likely to negotiate better compensation with a new employer now versus 12 months ago
• Flexible work arrangements are important to attracting employees, as are other perks including stock purchase plans, telecommuting and on-site fitness facilities.

For the full report, go to:

www.rhi.com/downloads/RHI/rhi-us/InvestorRelations/pdf/EDGE_REPORT_2007.pdf

Stand Out!

When it comes to your career, there's no question that standing out is key to getting ahead. It's important to remember that performing outstanding work is not the same thing as actively making yourself stand out. Getting ahead takes staying visible, seizing opportunities to promote yourself, and building credibility.

If you're thinking this sounds tough, you're not alone! Making your mark takes effort, time and consistency. It doesn’t take a back seat to your everyday tasks, it becomes part of them.

Here are some great tips for standing out when starting a new job:

• Don't miss the opportunity to make an impact during your first few months. Ask questions during new hire orientation/on-boarding, instead of pretending to soak up all of the information being handed to you. Do you know the history, the structure, the goals, and the mission of the organization? If not, ask. This is important to helping you make a greater contribution.
• Set your own career goals and talk about them with your boss. Often goals are not well established and clarified upon starting employment, so initiating this conversation and proactively setting your career goals will help you avoid getting lost until you are formally evaluated.
• Get out there! As my grandmother once said, "Staying home on a Saturday night will not get you a date". The same thing holds true at work: if you don't start meeting people and getting out of your office, you won't be building important relationships and you won't get noticed. Networking is a key skill to career advancement, and it's never to early to start.

Check back for more tips on standing out and if you have tips you'd like to share, we'd love to hear from you!

Ladies....Listen Up!

"Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it" - Maya Angelou

When it comes to career advancement, similar challenges yield very different results for women vs men. Here are a few interesting tidbits:

• Women are more likely to accept a salary for less than they are worth so that they can "prove themselves" first
• Men initiate negotiations four times as much as women at work
• Women are more likely to minimize their talents and wait to be recognized for good work instead of taking credit for their accomplishments

Curious about how you can differentiate yourself and advance your career? I'm glad you asked! Here are a few powerful strategies for you to incorporate into your career management activities:

1. Set clear goals. What do you want from your career? Managing your career through clear goal setting is very important to advancement and professional fulfillment. You have to know where you are headed and what you want. If you have trouble reaching your goals, break them down into manageable pieces and keep track of your progress.

2. Promote yourself. Learn how to take credit for your accomplishments and seek opportunities to promote them. Need help? Observe others who are getting ahead. How do they promote themselves?

3. Identify and leverage your communication style. This is a great tool for learning how to communicate more effectively with others and get ahead. Although we may think we are being understood clearly or delivering what is being asked, you may be perceived very differently than you think. Understanding your communication style will help you make your exchanges with others more purposeful and effective, as well as help you gain a better sense of how you are being perceived.

For more techniques and tools to getting ahead, please contact us for information on our "Career Advancement Strategies for Women" workshops and teleclasses. OR contact us for a communication assessment and learn more about YOUR communication style! Email: info@traversesolutions.com

Labor Day Reflections

So, the Labor Day holiday is over, but there is always time to reflect on what you are laboring for when it comes to your career satisfaction. Working to pay off those student loans? Buy a new home? Or do you work for the simple thrill of what you do?

It's no wonder that people who are in jobs and careers they love can't wait to go to work. They are as excited about Mondays as they are about Fridays. Why? They have discovered what gives them the greatest satisfaction, fits their lifestyle, and aligns with their values.

So ask yourself: what exactly am I working for? How fulfilled am I on a day to day basis? What else could I be doing with my career?

If you could be more satisfied with your career, then look more closely at the reasons why you are in your current job, including how energized you are by your work...and what is holding you back from finding what really gets you excited. Seriously, life's too short for work to be a chore.