July 24, 2024 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: How do I Look for a Job While Working?

Dear Joanna,

I am currently working full-time as a social worker at a local community agency. Often, I work overtime hours and am on-call 24/7. I love my work and the clients, but there is no room for any promotion, professional or career growth at this agency. I have been a dedicated and successful employee for over eight years. During these years, I have acquired several certifications, degrees, have learned countless skills and gained relevant experience on my resume.

I am ready for a new job, and the next step in my career path. How do I look for work when I am working full-time?

Job Searching and Working (JSW)

Dear JSW,

I congratulate you on your desire to continually learn and grow in your career. You sound like a talented and competent professional who deserves to be promoted, recognized and presented with better opportunities in the labour market.

There is a consensus amongst the experts in the field that it’s better to look for work while you are working , as candidates currently employed tend to be more attractive to hiring manager. Andrew Klappholz adds that “being gainfully employed automatically takes a lot of the pressure off and frees you from the desperation that makes many unemployed people take jobs they don’t want.”

It is definitely difficult to balance your current job responsibilities and tasks with the time commitment of looking for another job, so it might take you longer to find the dream job. So, while you are working, I recommend the following tips, as presented by writers quoted above:

1. Think through whether you want to be transparent with your own boss.
Usually, it is a good idea to keep your job search quiet and do not share this with anyone at work. Some firms have a policy to fire people who are actively searching for work. You’re your job hunt on a need-to-know basis, warns Hein. However if you trust your manager and he/she is supportive of your learning and growth, you might want to share your frustration at work and see if there are growth opportunities within your organization. Can you transfer to another department? Can you apply for a senior position. If the answer is not, then it is time to start looking in the labour market for your dream job. I will leave it up to your discretion if it is best for you to be straightforward with your boss.

2. Access more information for your job search.
As an engaged member of the workforce, you’re likely to have access to lot more information in your field that could benefit you than if you were unemployed. “Keep your eyes and ears open for things and make mental notes,” one expert, Tammy Gooler Loeb, suggests, “You may have the opportunity to get more information about what’s going on that may feed your job search.”

3. Creative Networking.
Use your time off, lunch hours, after work hours, weekends and during personal and vacation days if need be, continues Loeb, to meet people in your network. Invite professionals in your field for a drink or a cup of coffee, after work. Request information interviews and connect with as many people as possible ,who you think could help you with your job search without betraying your current employer. Make sure that you explain to individuals who receive your resume that you are currently employed and that your search is confidential.

4. Don’t job search on company time.
When you are at your current job, you should stay focused and productive. In fact, I recommend you over perform, exceed the manager’s expectations, never say no, and accept new projects and responsibilities. Don’t hurt your productivity. In your cover letter or resume applications, you can list specific times to reach you, especially for the recruiters. Do not use company email address or phone numbers when on the job hunt. Use your personal email and telephone contact details on LinkedIn, Twitter and throughout the entire process.

5. Never say anything negative about your current employer.
It is definitely tempting to spill your guts, but hold on to yourself for now. Bad-mouthing your company or boss is not going to get you a job. Remain positive and focus on your skills, experience and expertise relevant to the position. Market yourself as someone who has gone as far as you can go in the company, and that you are looking for a more senior position that is not available in your place of employment.

6. References.
Don’t use your current boss as a reference. Receiving a reference check call could put your supervisor in a compromising position. You should only use someone from your current workplace if you trust that they will keep your job search confidential.

7. Don’t rush!
Take your time to explore all your options and opportunities in the labour market. Make sure that you have done all your homework, and put yourself in the best position to secure the job that you want before leaving. If you have a an opportunity to job shadow or try out a new possible job, then consider taking a couple of vacation days to do this. You want to ensure that if you do decide to leave your current employment that you are making an informed decision.

I wish you lots of success and courage to move to the next step in your career.

Joanna

July 24, 2024 1 Comment

Use LinkedIn Groups to Enhance Your Job Search

Of all the functions of LinkedIn, the opportunity to join Groups and interact with fellow professionals with whom you share interests is perhaps one of the most useful ways to help you, as a job seeker, to reach outside of your network for new contacts.

Once you have set up your LinkedIn profile, including your photo, profile summary and jobs, and you have connected with the people you know, it’s time to begin using the platform to expand your network further. This is where LinkedIn Groups can become very useful.

As with all LinkedIn functions, the site offers users a detailed guide to setting up and using groups. You can join groups in your professional field (e.g. Sales), or groups related to a personal interests (e.g. hobby electronics).

Participation in groups provides job seekers a range of opportunities, including:

sharing and discussing ideas
gathering information
learning about jobs
making new contacts
showcasing expertise

The easiest way to get started is to explore the Groups You May Like option, where the site recommends groups, based on your profile. You could also search for a specific group. Keep in mind that it is best to seek out groups that are local, where there might actually be opportunities to interact with fellow professionals in person.

Once you have joined and been accepted into a group, make sure to maximise the opportunity. As a group member, you may:

Answer questions or join discussions. This may be an opportunity to show your expertise, as well as learn something new from your fellow group members. Watch your tone and make sure to sound professional — you never know who is reading your comments and following your interactions.
Ask a question or start a conversation. You can ask for opinions, experiences or information. Group members can be excellent resources, when the topic is of interest to them.
Interact with group members. You can connect with fellow group members by responding to their comment or question, by “liking” their comments, and by messaging them privately.
Add group members to your network. LinkedIn makes it easy to connect with someone with whom you share a group. Also, being in a group with someone means that you are more likely to appear in any LinkedIn search done by a member of your group. (This means that it might be worth joining a few of the larger groups, specifically).
Under the Promotions tab (if available on your group), you can learn about events and services offered by group members, or promote your own.
Under the Jobs tab (if available), you can post, read about and apply for jobs.

Preparation for job interviews can be enhanced through group participation — you might be able to gather information which may sharpen your own knowledge in your field, or specific inside information or tips about particular companies.

Finally, if you cannot find a group that represents your particular interests, consider creating a group. Keep in mind though, that administering a group is a responsibility and a time commitment. You will need to recruit members, keep conversation moving and moderate discussions. A well moderated group can be a worthwhile endeavour, to raise your profile on LinkedIn as a competent and informed professional in your field.

July 24, 2024 Leave a Comment

Ask the Employment Specialist: How do I Handle my New Difficult Boss?

Dear Joanna,

I have been working at the same company as an administrative assistant for almost six years with the same supervisor. She recently retired, and it was a sad day for me and my colleagues as she was an inspiring, competent leader who knew how to train, motivate and respect her team.

I have recently been assigned a new boss who likes to micromanage and has a tendency to be distant and punitive. I feel like quitting my job that I love, where I am a top performer as well.

How do I handle this new boss?

Signed: New Boss Problem (NBP)

[Read more…]

July 24, 2024 2 Comments

Ask the Employment Specialist: Why Can’t I Keep a Job?

Dear Joanna,

I have been fired three times from different organizations as an Event Coordinator. I’ve lasted for the probation period of three months. Afterwards, I am told by the managers that the fit is not good and am instructed to pack my belongings and leave on the spot.

Why is this happening to me? I have all of the qualifications, technical skills, core competencies and requirements for the job without a question. I meet my deadlines, and feedback from the event participants is glowing. Needless to say, these experiences are destroying my self-confidence. I would be grateful for your input on my situation before I secure another job offer and end up with the same endings.

Signed: Fired For No Reason (FFNR)

Dear FFNR,

I admire your honesty and effort to get to the bottom of this painful situation. According to a recent New York Times article by Susan Dominus, two of the core competencies and skills that employers are looking for are communication and collaboration. Many of my employers tell me that an employee is hired for his/her technical skills; but fired for his/her soft skills.

Even Virgin Company’s Richard Branson, in his recent article on LinkedIn about how he hires states that there is nothing more important for a business than hiring the right team. If you get the perfect mix of people working for your company, you have a far greater chance of success. He adds that the first thing he looks for when searching for a great employee is somebody with a personality that fits with the company culture. Concurring with most leading employers, Branson says that “Most skills can be learned, but it is difficult to train people on their personality. If you can find people who are fun, friendly, caring and love helping others, you are on to a winner.”

Consider the recommendations that Branson makes to employers: he suggests that considering the fact that within three months employees usually know the duties and responsibilities of a position, if an employer is satisfied with the personality of the new employee, then they should look at experience and expertise. He recommends that employers look for candidates with transferable skills: “team players who can pitch in and try their hand at all sorts of different jobs. While specialists are sometimes necessary, versatility should not be underestimated”.

Unfortunately employers do not need a reason to fire you unless you are in a unionised environment or employment contract, posits Alison Doyle on JobSearch.About.com. She presents top 10 reasons why employees are fired. Perhaps you can assess yourself honestly and evaluate your own experiences at your former places of employment:

Lying on the resume or job application. Did you have the level of skills, qualifications and experience for the job?
Not getting along with co-workers or management.
Inappropriate posts on social media sites.
Insubordination. Are you talking back to your manager? Are you showing any signs of anger at work at your team or manager?
Stealing.
Poor performance. This doesn’t sound like you from your letter above, but be honest with yourself — employees often overrate their performance.
Damaging company property.
Falsifying company records. Are you making serious mistakes in your work? Are your events missing significant logistics? Are you neglecting important details with the customers or event participants that you are overlooking? Have you received any feedback over the three months that you are, indeed, making mistakes?
Drug or alcohol possession at work.
Violating company policy. When you started working, did you review company policies and procedures and make sure you understood them as well as adhere to this? Typically, all companies have employee handbooks with this information; you can also ask the Human Resources department for clarification.

Sometimes there are cases of employees being wrongfully terminated. Getting fired can happen to anyone, including myself! You can get fired even when it’s not your fault. Given that you have been fired three times after the probation period is over, I would suggest that you have an honest talk with yourself and/or find an experienced employment counsellor to get some feedback on your work behaviour. I would do as soon as possible to prevent being fired again.

Best wishes for your next job,

Joanna

July 24, 2024 Leave a Comment

5 Lessons in success: The story of Diana Nyad

In October 2011, 61-year-old Diana Nyad, a divorcee, self-described childhood sexual abuse survivor and record-breaking long distance swimmer, inspired an audience when she spoke about her goals and her determination to meet them.

In September 2013, at the age of 64, after four unsuccessful attempts (the first one being in 1978, when she was 28 years old), she finally succeeded in swimming 110 miles (that’s 180 km, to us Canadians) from Cuba to Florida, and in doing so, challenged many of us to rethink the our own barriers, and “find a way” to meet our goals, saying:

“Whenever you’re pushing through the tough moments, find a way. If something is important to you and it looks impossible and you’re up against it, step back for a minute and ask yourself if you have the resolve to think of every -nth degree to get through this. And most times, we do.”

Ms Nyad’s story got me thinking about all the job seekers I see daily, who share with me their challenges in trying to meet their employment and career goals, and who inspire me with their determination. Finding “a way” is not easy, and reading Nyad’s story is a reminder that success isn’t a straight line between two points: Here are my ‘take home’ lessons from Diana Nyad’s story:

1. You are not too old.
At 64, Nyad did what most of us would never contemplated doing in our twenties, let alone in our sixties.

Many of my job seeker clients express concern about going through a career change, telling me that they’re “too old”, in their thirties, forties, fifties or even sixties, while others forge ahead, changing careers, going back to school for a couple of years, and starting anew. I am not denying that age is a genuine barrier, but it shouldn’t be a wall. As Nyad said, when asked to explain her motivation, “Because I’d like to prove to the other 60-year-olds that it is never too late to start your dreams.”

2. Don’t try it alone — get support.
When describing the plans for her swim, Nyad said, “It’s a large operation, like an expedition. We’ve got about 25 people, navigators, managers, boat crew, weather routers, medical people, shark experts, you name it.”

For job seekers and career changers, getting the support and expertise of professionals such as Employment Counsellors, network contacts and mentors can make a huge difference to how and when employment and career goals are met. Besides their expertise, people around you can offer encouragement and support, which can be key in keeping yourself motivated.

3. Plan.
Every meaningful success demands the attention and detail of careful planning. Nyad commented on her blog that “From August, 2009, to Labor Day, 2013, there was nothing but Cuba. Every day, every hour, the focus was laser sharp. No stone unturned”.

Employment and career success are no different. Success demands tedious, detailed planning, which sometimes takes significant time and always demands perseverance. Especially when financial pressures loom, we tend to become short-sighted and seek quick fixes and immediate results. Taking time to set goals and thinking through a strategy to “find a way” is well worth it.

4. Know when to cut your losses and learn from your mistakes.
Diana Nyad tried five times, and each time she learned something which helped her plan her next swim. Her ultimate success was a direct result of adapting her equipment, which previously failed.

The parallels are obvious: if your present job search approach isn’t getting you the results you need, try something different. Does your resume reveal your strongest assets in the best possible way? Are you networking sufficiently and with the right people? Do you have a LinkedIn profile and are you using it properly? Do you have competitive skills and experience?

5. Perseverance: try, try and try again (and again and again).
Nyad repeated the swim repeatedly over 3 decades. When planning her final swim she was determined to prove to herself that she did everything she could before giving up: “I just hadn’t reached the end. I hadn’t reached the wall where there’s nothing more to give. If I don’t make it, I will this time be able to look myself in the mirror and say, ‘There’s nothing more.'”

Success often comes just as we feel like giving up. For job seekers worn down by repeated rejections, financial struggles and negative job market reports, perseverance can be difficult. But picking yourself up again and planning anew, with the support of professionals and mentors, is the only option a job seeker has to “find a way” and become successful, once again.

Ask the Employment Specialist: How do I Look for a Job While Working?

Joanna

Ask the Employment Specialist: How do I Handle my New Difficult Boss?

Ask the Employment Specialist: Why Can’t I Keep a Job?

Joanna

5 Lessons in success: The story of Diana Nyad

In October 2011, 61-year-old Diana Nyad, a divorcee, self-described childhood sexual abuse survivor and record-breaking long distance swimmer, inspired an audience when she spoke about her goals and her determination to meet them.

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