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What's Missing in Your Job Search?
By Kimberly Schneiderman
December 26, 2007
OK! You are all set, right? You've got a professionally-written resume and
cover letter. You've worked hard to develop your value propositions and
communication messages for interviewing. You're networking. So, what could
possibly be missing from your job search?
I talked to a few career experts who shed light on some things that you
might not think of during your search process. Let's tune in!
1. Evaluate the company, just as they are evaluating you.
Jason Boltax of JHB Human Capital Management tells us that the workplace
you choose needs to fit your intrinsic values. Knowing which elements
are most important to you is the perfect place to start in your evaluation
of any company.
Jason advises that you ask yourself "What kind of environment do
I personally require to thrive? Does the style of this workplace seem
to fit my needs? What will it be like to work there day in and day out?
Are there team meetings or are people expected to operate autonomously?"
He also suggests that you "ask if you can talk to someone who has
been doing this job and be sure to meet the people on your team. Look
at the workspace you will be assigned. Your goal is to assess what your
day-to-day work life will be and decide if that is what you want and need
in a position."
Other questions and topics Jason suggests exploring include asking the
hiring manager how they got to where they are - did they advance through
company? Will you be doing nitty-gritty, heads-down kind of work, or will
you have interaction and influence over business strategy? Can you see
how your position will influence the bigger picture at the company? How
will your role impact the bottom line?
Have you ever accepted a job without asking these necessary questions
and then found acclimation to the environment difficult? Perhaps you spent
a lot of time learning "their way" of doing things when you
could have been immediately executing projects successfully in another
company. The answers to the above questions will help you avoid this and
decide if this is the environment for you before you accept the position.
Your job takes up at least 40 hours of your week - not to mention the
time it takes to prepare for your day, commute, and maybe even entertain
clients. It's important to like where you work!
2. Make money from all directions - take your 401k with you!
When a professional changes jobs, what to do with their 401k plan is
often overlooked. They concentrate on finding a new job, and they tend
to put everything else on the back burner. Then, they forget about their
401k plan with the old employer and the account sits there for years!
Bill Blanco, a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch, recently started
working with one senior-level finance executive that had three separate
401k accounts dating back to 1985! These accounts (worth about $275,000
when he met her) were earning only 2 - 3% annually! If she had put that
money in a rollover account, she might have doubled her investment because
the stock market has been up 7 times since 1985. Instead, she missed all
the big market moves since the 1980s and has suffered financially for
it.
So, besides that extreme example, what are other disadvantages of leaving
your money in a previous employer's 401k? Limiting your options and limiting
control over your accounts. No one with your best interest in mind is
watching the accounts, no one is interested in your financial goals, and
no one is ensuring that your investments are performing. You're limited
to the company's investment options, and you cannot move your money around.
Bill points out that after you leave an employer, they are no longer
contributing to that 401k account and no one is looking out for your total
financial picture. You might be duplicating your investment strategies
in each of your 401k plans, which doesn't allow you to maximize your investments.
Moreover, there are fees that investment plans charge to continually manage
your accounts. Having four different 401k plans means you are being charged
four different fees annually -- yet another cut into your financial wealth.
It's worth it to work with a planner to roll that same money over into
ETFs, bonds, individual stocks, and mutual funds to allow you more investment
flexibility. Plus, this approach allows your financial planner to alert
you to potentially profitable options.
3. Start planning your future today.
Set yourself up to achieve your five-year goals right now, says Jeri
Quinn of Driving Improved Results. "Plan out where you'll be financially
and professionally. Understand the motivations, obstacles, and consequences
of reaching your goal. Then, pursue the training and development it takes
to get there." First, you must start with an inventory of your goals.
Your success program should include reading professional resources and
perhaps joining a discussion group to explore ideas with other goal-oriented
professionals. Acknowledge your skills and figure out where you want to
improve and change your abilities. Then, pick solutions and develop action
plans that meet your needs.
Identify other people that can help you achieve your goals and set up
an accountability partner that will help you stick to your deadlines.
For example, if your area of need is leadership and executive skills,
you might develop a research plan complete with topics to investigate.
You might want to hire an executive coach to help you compile this plan.
Also, find opportunities in your present job to take on more leadership
roles.
If you're switching career paths, you need to show you can do the job.
Being able to demonstrate how you've prepared yourself will impress a
potential employer. Doing research, taking classes, and getting involved
in your chosen field will go a long way in capturing an employer's attention.
"Push yourself, set up a plan, and execute the plan. You'll be sure
to reach your professional goals," encourages Jeri.
4. Stay in touch with the stress factor.
When Clay Cockrell, a licensed clinical social worker with a private
therapy practice in New York City, meets with clients in job transition,
he reminds them how stressful a new job can be. As he points out, "When
you walk into a new job, you are essentially changing who you are because
you're changing who you interact with during waking hours."
In addition, you don't know who in this new company can be trusted, who
will try to steal your thunder, and with whom you should align yourself.
Clay reminds his clients that there is actually a grieving process when
you're letting go of a persona in one workplace to go to another. You
might have been the person that always bought the donuts on Friday, or
perhaps you were the happy-hour coordinator. Don't downplay the stress
of these changing elements in a new position.
One of Clay's clients had just finished her doctorate degree after three
years of studying every night while working a part-time administrative
position. Right away, she noticed that the structure of a full-time job
and the dynamics of being in a management-level position required a completely
different set of skills. Originally, she had downplayed the changes and
impact she was experiencing, but she soon found herself confused and frustrated.
Because her nights were free, she thought she would have more energy.
In reality, the stress of her new position was even more exhausting than
attending school. Although she found her footing after a couple of months,
it could have been quicker had she gone into the situation with open eyes.
So how does Clay advise his clients when they start new jobs? "First,
don't take on too much at one time. For example, don't attempt to change
jobs, get married, buy a car, and remodel your home simultaneously,"
he advises. "Start by being yourself - yet do not be overly friendly
or trusting right away. It's best to be a little reserved until you find
out who the players are in your new company."
Clay also advises you scout out the surroundings of your new workplace
prior to your first day. For example, where will you get coffee? Is there
a good lunch place nearby? What is the nearest subway stop, drug store,
or parking lot? Getting the little things in place ahead of time will
help you feel more comfortable as you start your new job.
5. Don't deny yourself the benefits.
There is a new benefit making its way into the benefits packages of companies.
Sheila White, a long-term care insurance advisor with Provista Group,
works with human resource departments of several companies to help them
develop robust long-term care insurance offerings for employees.
Because several industries are experiencing a greater challenge in the
attraction and retention of employees, they are implementing this important
benefit to enhance their recruiting efforts. This insurance is most often
made available to employees at a discount (usually 7 - 10%). Some companies
even pay for the insurance for employees, especially those at the executive
level.
These companies know that if your and your family members' health is
taken care of, it means you can be in the office instead of trying to
care for sick loved ones. Studies have shown that companies lose thousands
of dollars annually to employees on the phone with doctors and those taking
vacation and unpaid leave to attend medical appointments when acting as
the family caregiver.
Why is this so important to you? Because long-term care insurance can
help not only you, but also your extended family. You don't even have
to get the insurance for yourself to let your family member take advantage
of it (although accidents can happen to you also). So, if you're offered
the insurance, think about your parents' health needs now and down the
road. Even your siblings, grandparents, in-laws, aunts, and uncles can
reap the benefits of this insurance.
In addition to the wellbeing of your family, consider the monetary cost
of serving as your family member's caregiver. You could be risking your
future retirement funds or even current salary if you needed to leave
your job to provide care that is too expensive to pay for outright.
Long-term care insurance is the perfect solution for professionals whose
parents or extended family may need extra healthcare help. "This
kind of insurance is something most people do not want to think about;
the reality is, you never know when you or a family member is going to
need it." She says. "Therefore, if you have your choice of employers
- go with the one offering long-term care insurance."
6. Communicate Your Way to the Top.
Are your communication skills keeping you from climbing the ladder? People
who want upward mobility in their careers need to develop communication
skills that position them as a knowledgeable and motivated leader.
Jayne Latz, a speech consultant with Corporate Speech Solutions in New
York City, has worked with several professionals who seem stuck in their
positions. She finds that some people are afraid of the challenges that
moving up presents so they stay in jobs longer than they want to. Perhaps
the individual has a specific communication issue he or she is concerned
about - pronunciation problems, speaking clearly, public speaking, or
making presentations.
Jayne has found that many foreign-born professionals who take English
classes in large groups have the worst pronunciation. Teachers in those
settings simply cannot give each student the one-on-one attention they
need to develop proper pronunciation techniques and use of articles (a,
an, the) that are unique to the American vocabulary.
In addition, while most of her clients are native English speakers, they're
sloppy and lazy with their speech. "People tend to mumble or swallow
their words. They also leave off letters - like the person that says shoppin'
instead of shopping." Other communication issues include low volume
and lack of projection.
Jayne has even seen these issues lead to litigation. Imagine what can
happen when a doctor doesn't speak clearly and the person dictating his
instructions has to guess what he said - those instructions can be misinterpreted
with dire consequences.
So how can you improve your communication?
Consistently finish words and pronounce all consonants.
Pronounce nouns correctly.
Speak phonetically.
Use participles effectively.
Eliminate filler words like "ah" and "um".
Taking each of our experts' advice will help you stay on track with your
job search. Thinking about your immediate situation, and the circumstances
you will face in the future, will help you climb the career ladder with
efficiency, ease, and profitability. Best of luck!
Kimberly Schneiderman is owner of City Career Services, a company that
provides job search tools including Resumes, Cover Letters, and Interview
Workshops to goal-oriented professionals at all levels and across all
industries.
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