September 21, 2015 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: Handling your last days on a job

Dear Joanna,

I am an independent change management consultant who has been hired for a six month contract on a special project. I have just submitted my two-weeks’ notice because I was offered a better contract both financially and professionally. The project manager is asking me to complete another employee’s work until I leave. This employee has not been able to perform his responsibilities over the past four months. I feel used. I have other tasks to complete during these two weeks which is in my contract well as transitioning my work to another team member.

How do I respond to the Project manager’s request?

Signed: Feel Used

Dear “Used”,

Great question. Seems like your manager has other plans for you before you leave, and it sounds like she is in a crisis with meeting her deadline. She has turned to you to save the day and do the work that should have been done by the other employee.

The following are some options to consider as recommended by leading consultants in the field:

1. Don’t burn your bridges.

I would just do what she wants. You are getting paid and in good faith and to keep up the good relationship with her (you never know when your paths might cross again), I would respect her deadline and understand that her name is on the line. Yes, that employee should have been fired and it’s unfair that the project manager has waited for a crisis like your leaving and then dump the work on you. That is the nature of the workforce for everyone.

2. Remember the consultant’s role.

My understanding of this role is that you do whatever the project manager wants even if it’s not in the contract. You were hired to ensure the success of the project. You were hired for your expertise and your ability to save the day. Isn’t that what consultants are for? Unless you have set clear boundaries before signing the agreement regarding your responsibilities and role on the project, you will need to be flexible and do the job she requires until you leave.

3. Up-manage.

Consider using your resignation as an opportunity to teach, coach and advise the project manager to deal with this crisis as well as avoid future crisis and meet her deadlines. I would recommend strategies that she can apply after you leave that can help her handle her underperforming staff. Perhaps you can offer to train them and therefore help the project manager be more self-sufficient. I would be direct and clear with her that her success and the success of the project is important to you, even though you are leaving. Leave the door open for her to contact you if she has questions. This could be another opportunity for you to carve for yourself – another contract to train the employees who have not be performing and have not been handled or fired as they should have been.

I wish you much success in your exiting this contract and starting a new fresh contract and project!

Joanna

P.S. the Consultant contacted me to tell me that she chose to follow my suggestion and not burn her bridges. She completed the other employee’s work in a couple of days, continued with her own work as well as transitioning the other employees to take over after she leaves. She decided that it’s a small world and felt that this option was the more ethical way to go as well as “doing the right thing”.

September 7, 2015 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: Resigning Responsibly

Dear Joanna,

I am a consultant who has been working on a project since January. It ends in a few months, but there is some indication in the office that it will continue after this time. As of yet, I have not been approached by the project manager or the vendor regarding the renewal of my contract. And recently, I have received an interesting offer from a reputable company to work on an important contract that will enhance my career. I feel a responsibility to complete my current assignment right to the end of my contract. Also, I really like the project manager to whom I report. I’m afraid of burning my bridges with her.

What should I do?

Signed, Feeling Guilty

Dear Guilty,

Congratulations on the great career opportunity! Thank you for the great question. Let’s talk about responsibilities. And boundaries.

1. Remember what you are NOT responsible for:

Unless stated in the contract agreement that you signed when you were outsourced by this current organization, you are NOT responsible for the project. You are NOT responsible for its success. You are NOT responsible for its completion. You are NOT responsible for its failures. You are NOT responsible for the hires and training. You must be clear about this. As you know, especially as a contractor, that organizations and projects are complicated with many complex stakeholders involved, lots of politics and power and plenty of overt and covert agendas.

2. Focus on what you ARE responsible for:

From my observations and experiences, your focus should always be on what you are responsible for, and what you can control in your current and future workplace. At your current project, you are responsible for being a responsible contractor, doing the best job you can, being a top performer who strives for excellence, being accountable to your co-workers and supervisor(s), being a helpful, collaborative team member, as well as ensuring that you always meet your deadlines, and deliverables.

You are also responsible for being transparent about your work and contributing YOUR PART to the success of the bigger project. You are responsible for resigning in a professional manner by giving the required two weeks’ notice by law, unless your contract agreement states otherwise. You can consider sharing the reasons for your early resignation with the manager you like.

3. An opportunity to expand your professional network:

Invite the Project Manager to connect with you on LinkedIn and be in touch with her as you can never have enough people in your professional network! If you want to go the extra mile for her, you can always refer a qualified candidate to fill your role. Again, unless stated in the agreement, it’s optional.

4. **WIFM (what’s in it for me?) evaluation**:

Just as your employer always does, make sure that in your role as a consultant or employee, you always remember to consider “WIFM” – what is in it for me? Ultimately, the most important area that you are responsible for is your own career, professional and financial development. It is also your responsibility to research and do your due diligence regarding the current offer on the table to confirm it meets your needs. Regarding your current assignment, unless it fills your professional, career and financial needs, it’s time to move on.

Hope this helps with your decision.

Joanna

September 3, 2015 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: How to win at the online application screening game

Dear Joanna,

I keep applying for teller/customer service positions at the banks. As recommended, I register on their website, post my resume and cover letter and apply for job opportunities as they come up. I have never received a phone call for an interview. What am I doing wrong?

Signed: Online

Dear Online,

Did you know that many of the larger companies like the banks use an online software that is automated for screening of online applications. It is known as the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). For your resume/cover letter to be flagged by the recruiter or hiring manager in the ATS, I recommend the following tips by Resume Help.

1. Category matching.

Did you notice how job descriptions have become more creative, and many job titles, departments and roles have never been seen before? Functions and roles contain fewer tasks and there is a bigger focus on outcomes. Companies are looking for specialists, not generalist. Create a separate section in the top 1/3 of your online resume that captures your relevant category expertise. For example, Client Relationship Management, Communications and Financial Analysis.

2. Resume keyword matching.

Focus on the priority keywords within the job description. Use the exact words and language in the posting. Do not use your own words. Avoid synonyms or acronyms. For example, if you are applying for a “Customer Service Representative”, and phrases such as “relationship management”, “analytical skills” and a “bachelors degree”, appear in the job description, these are mandatory qualifications. Keyword matching shows the system that you understand the job requirements and that you “speak their language”.

3. Include your accomplishments.

This is your strategy to market yourself in both the online application and interview. It is how you can stand out from the crowd. Your accomplishments should be unique, valuable and strategic. The phrases need to be personal and real. Using the keywords in the job description, prepare these statements. These statements are well-received by these outcome based job lists. Based on the STAR method (situation, task, action and result), you can prepare these statements for the resume as well as to respond to the behavioural questions in the interview.

4. Don’t rely only on online applications.

Build your professional network, meet as many people as possible in your field, engage in information interviews, use social media to research and network. Most people get jobs through people they know.

Joanna

September 3, 2015 12 Comments

Ask the Employment Specialist: Formatting tips for your resume and cover letter — how to use Headers

Dear Joanna,

I’m almost finished working on my resume and cover letter with my Employment Counsellor at JVS Toronto. I’m following the professional branding approach with my documents.What is the best way for me to write the headers so that it looks professional and can get noticed by the hiring managers?

Signed: Header to Header (H2)

[Read more…]

August 27, 2015 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: Safe social media practices

Dear Joanna,

I am actively looking for work on countless social media sites. It’s also helping me build my professional network and keep current in my field. I have not posted my photo and I am worried about my privacy and confidentiality. How do I handle my fear of this important job search and career tool?

Signed: Social media phobic (SMP)

Dear SMP

Practising safe social media networking is the way around your concerns. Here are some suggestions from University of Chicago’s IT Services page in order to avoid unwanted attention as well as protect yourself from the “danger of having a false sense of anonymity and security.”

Do not post inappropriate material.

Be aware of who can see your pictures and comments. Think about the possible reactions of your potential employers, parents and relatives before posting. Always remember to look at the background of a picture too. Everything you write or post is permanent. Even if you can delete your account, anyone on the Internet can easily download or print the information or save it to a computer. Think carefully before posting your personal information (phone number, email address, home address, name and age). The web can make a strong first impression. Untag unwanted material from others, such as on Facebook. Use Google to search your name on a regular basis. Make sure there is nothing online that you don’t want others to see.

Always use the strongest privacy account settings.

All sites have this option to help you with confidentiality issues. Secure your personal information. Make your personal content on your Facebook profile viewable to friends only, and not to everyone in your network.

Be selective about who you accept as a friend on a social network.

Identity thieves might create fake profiles in order to get information from you. This is known as social engineering.

Be careful about installing extras on your site and delete unused widgets.

Many social networking sites allow you to download third-party applications that let you do more with your personal page. Criminals sometimes use these applications in order to steal your personal information. To download and use third-party applications safely, take the same safety precautions that you take with any other program or file you download from the Web.

Choose your social network carefully and only use sites with clearly stated terms of use.

Evaluate the site that you plan to use and make sure you understand the privacy policy. Find out if the site monitors content that people post. Read the terms of use, and make sure they can protect the actual blogs, not just the user accounts, with password protection. (Even so, it’s better to assume anyone can see it.)

As for your including a photo on your personal social networking pages, it is your choice. I would, however, recommend that you consider including a well-groomed, appropriate image of yourself on your LinkedIn page, as employers will expect to find it there.

Best of luck with your networking,