#JobSearch : The COVID Effect on the Job Market. A MUst REad for All!

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As I write this blog article, the United States economy just moved past the 80th calendar day since the international pandemic (Corona-Virus 19) in which the quarantine sent everyone scurrying behind locked doors and face masks.  Companies who relied mostly on technology were mostly insulated from business losses during the quarantine.  Other companies moved to ‘curb-side’ service, online meetings (using Zoom, Adobe, and Google meeting cloud platforms).

Some businesses (online shopping, health care, e-commerce) were able to still perform ‘as usual’ – especially if already providing services and products ‘virtually’ (employees moved from offices to homes to work via telecom technology.  Those companies most impacted, e.g., non-essential retail, restaurants, hotels, travel, and entertainment are still struggling and many are facing bankruptcy.

What does this mean for workers or those looking for new jobs and careers?

1- Job seekers will have more competition for the job they would normally have been a ‘shoo-in’ pre-pandemic; in this economy, it’s now an employer’s market for hiring. Expect to be rejected more often as an applicant.  The company may have a hiring freeze or slow-down, but there also may be jobs not advertised.  Keep on posting your resume into the ATS on the recruiting system for the company(ies) you are targeting.

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

 

2- Sharpen or add technology skills on the career resume for the job search. If you have the skill sets that enable to you to work from any location – job site, in the field, or from home, this will showcase your adaptability.  Have you worked from home during the quarantine? Are you able to adjust to a personal work schedule and reliability? Mention that in your resume to showcase capabilities.  Jobs ‘on-site’ in the past may be virtual go forward.

3- Job seekers need to update and ensure their computer has with telecom capabilities – camera, speakers, and access to Internet for online meetings; and it’s important to realize the vital need for updating one’s resume and LinkedIn profile for recruiters to more easily find you online. Test your meeting software and equipment with friends and family member (virtual dinner party, anyone?).

4- Review the field or industry – you may need to move to new careers. Job seekers need to target industries for ‘core business industries’ e.g., advertising, tech, delivery companies [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][packages, food], tax assistance, video communications, instruction and teaching platforms [e.g., universities, colleges, tutoring], essential businesses [pharmacies], healthcare services, and/or cleaning and sanitation [janitorial]. The companies to avoid targeting for job searches are those related to travel – hotels, airlines, sports, and automotive. My husband takes Viagra for a couple of years now. I always wondered if it could help me become better in bed, so I decided to take a pill. Well, I can’t say that I felt anything different, but the sensations during intercourse were definitely better. I suppose it was due to better lubrication, which, I suppose, was the result of my experiment.

5- Refresh your resume on the big boards (e.g., Monster, CareerBuilder, Indeed) – the older resumes float to the bottom of the resume pool; even if you add a dot or space, those ATS platforms categorize the resume as a ‘new’ (refreshed) resume.

6- Be prepared for ‘more’ online virtual meetings, interviews, and panel discussions (hiring committees) versus driving to the location for the meeting (this is good – saves gas, and you can wear a nice shirt and jacket over your pajama bottoms).

7- Be prepared to do more email and online networking – the face-to-face networking is ‘out’ with social distancing in place (likely for the next 6-18 months). Do continue to make phone calls to friend, peers, past co-workers and bosses to let them know you are available for work. Who do they know is looking to hire?

8- Recruiters won’t be able to rely on ‘body language’ in virtual interviews, so it’s important for job candidates to look sharp, act like they are paying attention during the online cloud meetings, and to ensure the dog or cat won’t interrupt the meeting. The interview candidate may have to project more to demonstrate a positive attitude and don’t forget to clean up the area behind your computer to look like a more professional work environment.

9- In the past, recruiters may have been able to make a job offer and have a candidate in the seat in two weeks. The pandemic has slowed the process down to ‘whenever it is safe to physically come to work.’ Expect delays in the hiring process – some college grads who were extended job offers aren’t able to work for their new employers until as late as July or August while the company struggles to determine health and safety protocols. There will be a slow-down in the decision-making.  Companies may take a while before business picks up again to justify the hire and bringing the candidate onboard with a start date.

10- Job seekers who have lost their jobs need to be aware the extended benefits from the Payroll Protection Act are for a small and finite period. If your employer laid you off and you refuse to come back to work – you will lose your unemployment benefits.  Even if you get paid more in the PPA, it is vital for you to get back to work so you have a job after the benefits run out.

11- Do not lose hope. If you have a ‘side’ job, you may need ramp up the sales and services to bridge the financial gap between the last job and the new post-Covid career move.

 

FSC Career Author: Ms.Dawn Boyer, Ph.D., is a FSC Career Coach & owner of D. Boyer Consulting – provides resume writing, editing, and publishing (print-on-demand) consulting. Reach her at: Dawn.Boyer@me.com or visit her website at www.dboyerconsulting.com.

 

FSC Career Blog |  June 12, 2020

 

Bio: Dawn D. Boyer, Ph.D., has been an entrepreneur and business owner for 20+ years, with a successful business and consulting firm (CEO) in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Richmond, VA.  Her background experience is 24+ years in the Human Resources field, of which 12+ years are within the Federal & Defense Contracting industry. She is the author of 812+ books on the topics of business, human resources research, career search practice, women and gender study, genealogy and family lineages, quotes for motivation and self-improvement, and Adult Coloring Books.  Her books can be found on Amazon.com under her author’s page for Dawn D. Boyer, Ph.D.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

#JobSearch : 3 Major Changes To Job Interviews You Need To Prepare For. Must REad!

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If you’re in a job search or plan to be soon, you know that the stakes are high in this competitive market. A major part of the process where many job seekers routinely underprepare is the interview. In fact, I often see candidates spend more time planning their outfit than their content.

While what you wear certainly has an impact, what you share earns an offer. And just when you thought the interview couldn’t get any more stressful, the current pandemic has changed up the game in new ways, so there are a few additional things you need to be ready for if you want to stand out and secure a great next step in your career.

Although you’ll no longer need to worry about the grip of your handshake (perhaps ever again), here are three new aspects that will be important to focus on in your next job interview:

1) You’ll need to set up the environment. While video teleconferencing has become more popular over the last several years, use of this medium for job interviews has dominated in the past few months due to social distancing, which means expectations for a near flawless execution have also skyrocketed. Fumbling through the process while experiencing distractions and technical difficulties isn’t an option, so it’s up to you to master the platforms being used and practice beforehand so you appear confident in troubleshooting any unexpected challenges.

And now, instead of showing up to a building where you meet in a conference room or office, you are required to set the stage for the interview environment, which takes some additional preparation and can have a major impact on the outcome. As the host of at least one side of the interview space, you’ll need to consider lighting, connectivity, audio quality, ambient noise, background visuals and video angles just to name a few. Everything counts and will be a part of the evaluation since it’s likely you’ll be using video technology regularly to communicate in the new role, perhaps with customers, so the interview has become an audition of sorts.

Interviews are inherently anxiety-provoking and there’s a lot you won’t be able to control, so it’s in your best interest to control as much as you can regarding the environment. The ball for much of this is now in the job seeker’s court.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

 

2) You’ll be asked how you’re handling the pandemic (and you should ask them as well). On a positive note, employers in the near future will be more forgiving of resume gaps and layoffs due to the major disruption in the job market over the last several months. However, a question that is more frequently being asked of candidates is, “How have you handled work during Covid-19?” They’re not wondering about your hand-washing routine or collection of animal-themed masks. More often than not, they are assessing your leadership, creativity and adaptability during a crisis.

As you prepare, consider your audience’s greatest pain points and which skills would be of most value for them to hear about. For example, “One of our team’s priorities was to ensure that our customers remained informed during our transition to working virtually, so I partnered with our IT team to set up a new email address that would be monitored after hours to respond to customer requests, which helped to eliminate disruption of response times.”

If you were furloughed, describe the new skills you developed, relevant online courses you completed, volunteer efforts you participated in throughout your community or how you supported three school-age children participating in online education. While there isn’t a right or wrong response necessarily, there are certainly ways you can be strategic in your answer to demonstrate your positive attributes versus wasting an opportunity to showcase relevant competencies by not thinking through your reply beforehand.

Learning about company culture just got harder. Part of the interview process is assessing the company and job fit for yourself while the hiring team is assessing your skills and fit at the same. A big piece of that puzzle is often revealed during an in-person interview when you have the chance to observe the building decor, employee interactions, workspace set-up and overall office vibe. With in-person interviews on hold or in offices that have been significantly restructured to comply with social distancing guidelines, much of this information is now muddled or lost.

However, culture is an important part of your future happiness and career success in a new role, so it’s worth exploring other strategies to understand what your new employer will expect. Ask to speak with people you’ll be working with including peers, colleagues on collaborating teams and direct reports. Use online tools like Glassdoor, Twitter and even LinkedIn to view comments or postings about the organization.

Tap into your network to get honest feedback about their experience working in the company. Get creative with your questions by inquiring: “Who was the last person on the team to get an award and what was it for?”, “Can you give an example of a recent team conflict and how it was handled?”, “What are the top traits of the most successful team members?” These types of questions demonstrate your interest in finding a mutual fit and are harder for others to answer with a canned response.

And just for good measure, here are some important aspects of a successful job interview strategy that haven’t changed:

1) Don’t count on a good interviewer. It’s 100% your responsibility to leave on the table the messages that convey your value proposition. This includes what skills and abilities you’re bringing to the role that will help to solve the department’s greatest problems and lead to increased success. To do this effectively, you must research the company, market, key players, and competition, and then create the messages you want to share during the interview to show how you’re the candidate of choice, regardless of what questions you’re asked. Unfortunately, there are many untrained interviewers in the world, and it’s little consolation after being passed over to complain that you weren’t asked the questions you’d been expecting. Here’s how to nail it.

2) Practice – out loud. I would be willing to bet that for many job seekers, the only time they’ve practiced out loud was during an actual interview. This is not where you want to discover your mistakes, and for most of us, that perfectly curated message in our minds loses something when it comes out of our mouths. As someone who has worked in corporate recruiting interviewing eight plus candidates every day, it’s very obvious who has taken the time to prepare. Do yourself a huge favor and practice with a friend if possible, a video tool or at the very least a mirror. You’ll be happy you did.

3) Negotiate. While not a part of the interview per se, negotiating the offer is the last step before accepting the role and perhaps the one and only time you have leverage in the hiring process as a candidate. Don’t waste it. In the current economy, you may feel lucky to just get the offer, but don’t forget that you’re providing a valuable service that helps the company’s bottom line, and it’s worth ensuring you’re being paid market value.

And although market value may be shifting, there are many aspects of compensation outside of base salary that you can negotiate such as equipment to work more effectively from home, additional vacation days or even a later start date. It’s important to be sensitive to that fact that if a company just experienced a massive layoff and there is a lot of competition for your position that you may not get everything you want. However, most hiring managers are open to making reasonable adjustments where they can.

Happy hunting!

 

Author: Dawn GrahamContributor  Careers I write actionable insider tips for job seekers and career switchers.
Forbes.com | June 10, 2020

#JobSearch : Why Knowing & Communicating Your Brand is Important. What Sets you Apart?

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During especially competitive job markets, it is even more important for you to emphasis your personal brand. Hiring managers and recruiters are looking for what sets you a part, and your brand will do that, if you know it and communicate it effectively.

LinkedIn is one of the best ways to build and create your personal brand. It’s no secret that developing your personal brand takes time and a consistent effort, but that doesn’t mean it has to be hard.

If you think about it, c-level personal branding isn’t difficult if you are authentic in the way you speak and act around others. And doing so will help you easily demonstrate your value and differentiate what you have to offer compared to others in your industry. Here are some of the main benefits of understanding and communicating your personal brand. 

Be Authentic

Understand your talents and your limitations and don’t say you’re an expert in something when you’re not. Authenticity is something highly valued by hiring managers and is usually easy to see. Being truthful and transparent are great personal attributes that can benefit you professionally as well, and will enhance your c-level personal branding efforts tremendously.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued … 

Understand Your Strengths and Weaknesses

No one is an expert at everything, so avoid trying to make yourself seem like you know everything. Focus on your strengths and the value you bring to the table, while also acknowledging your weaknesses. Follow-up on your weaknesses by stating ways you’re working to turn them into strengths. Doing so will give your personal brand a positive image since you’ll be seen as a well-rounded professional who is always working to improve their skills. 

Know How You Are Perceived

It’s hard to know how you’re perceived without asking someone. An executive LinkedIn profile writer is a good resource to evaluate your profile and give their expert opinion on what people may think about you. And outside of LinkedIn, don’t be afraid to ask your trusted peers about how they perceive you professionally. You may be saying or doing things that are hurting your perception without even knowing it.  

Demonstrate Your Value Without Having to Communicate It

When you are comfortable with who you are as a person and a professional, you don’t have to sell yourself as much. Of course, you have to demonstrate your value to a potential employer, but it doesn’t mean you have to go over the top to do so. Many times, your c-level personal branding speaks for itself. It takes some time to be completely comfortable and accepting of who you are, but once you are then you won’t have to communicate it as much since it will be clearly visible.

LinkedIn is one of the best ways to build and create your personal brand. It’s no secret that developing your personal brand takes time and a consistent effort, but that doesn’t mean it has to be hard.

FSC Career Blog Author:  Ms. Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog | June 9, 2020

#JobSearch : Flexibility: The Must have Trait for the 2020 Job Search. A Must REad!

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Whether you started the year in an active job search or were recently laid off due to the COVID 19 crisis, the path to your next role will be different.  The major challenge for those impacted is how to move forward in a job market filled with uncertainty.

The clear message is that you must embrace flexibility. Things are changing on a daily basis and you will have to bend and realize you may experience unanticipated setbacks.  Unemployment was at an all-time low at the beginning of the year, and you are now faced with a flooded job market and limited openings.

The new normal includes:

  • Recruiters actively working on searches find out the job is placed on hold just before they make an offer.
  • The manager or team you interviewed with may be impacted by a layoff personally, and you have to start the process over from the beginning.
  • Jobs posted on social media may not be active or reflective of the current market.
  • Your network is focused on their own career challenges or finding new business.
  • Opportunities to connect in person are limited.
  • Offers may be rescinded.
  • Many companies have salary freezes and compensation discussions will be different.

So how do you move forward? It’s understandable to take a day or two to mourn the loss of your position. However, you have to take directional steps to manage your personal needs and find your next role.   A few quick action steps to get you started:

Step 1: Take care of the basics

– Many employers are offering outplacement, EAP services and extended health coverage options.  If these options are available, use them. Your mental and physical health are critical.

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

Step 2: Understand your current financial situation

– Severance and unemployment are options for many impacted employees.  You will need to educate yourself on what’s available from your company and how the benefits may intertwine with state and federal unemployment.

Step 3: Evaluate where you are and be open to new opportunities

– Your timeline and next steps will depend on your personal situation, and you will have to take individual steps to move forward.  If severance and unemployment are options, you can take more time to find the exact right opportunity.  If you must have a paycheck immediately, you will need to embrace flexibility right away.  What does that mean?  You can look for short term assignments or temporary work.

You can take a role outside your field while you look for the right next step. Examples include: Embracing your Do-It-Yourself (DIY) home improvement hobby and apply at Home Depot; Apply for virtual assignments to teach English to children in Asia; or help a neighbor with yard work or childcare.  You may want to explore not traditional methods of professional networking such as the NextDoor app or a neighborhood Facebook groups.  Many furloughed Gen Z displaced workers have already taken this path during the national shutdown.

Step 4: Start networking

– There is an amazing trend occurring on LinkedIn right now.  If you do not know what LinkedIn is, you should research the social networking platform immediately.  People are actively posting that they have been impacted by COVID and letting their network know they are open to new opportunities. The stigma of announcing publicly to your network that you are looking for a new role is gone, or at least on pause.  In addition, others are openly offering assistance or recommendations to their networks.

Step 5: Learn about and practice virtual networking and interviewing skills

–  You should be familiar and comfortable with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and other platforms.   There are many online tutorials on the platforms and tips on how to interview virtually.  Think about buying a ring light for your next online interview.

Step 6: Embrace flexibility

– This may be hard for some, but will be essential in the next several months.  There may be an unexpected spike of COVID in the Fall and business models will continue to change.  Employers will understand why you have a professional gap, short term assignments or more than one role within a year.  You could be impacted by more than one layoff this year. The important thing is to be open to adjusting to a new normal and understand if there is a stall in the interviewing process, a job is placed on hold or if you need to think outside the box for your next role.

The good news is that things will get better, and you have an opportunity to evaluate what you want in your career.  You are not alone in the job search challenge, and your network will help you.  If you do not have one, start one.  You may learn about a role that is not right for you but a great opportunity for a former colleague.  There will be ebbs and flows in your search.  Most likely, you will hit a stall, and this is the new normal. Embracing flexibility gives you options and allows you to take actionable steps.   

 

FSC Career Blog Author:  Jennifer O’Keefe is a Human Capital Consultant and Global Senior Human Resources Executive with deep experience in human resources, talent management, and business partnership.   Her previous roles include serving as the Chief People Officer of a publicly traded organization.  In addition, she provides content and publication review for human capital communications.

 

FSC Career Blog | June 9, 2020

 

#JobSearch : Rebounding After A Job Loss. The Less We Attach to a Title or Company, the More Agile we Can Be in Our Careers.

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People have been furloughed or let go at alarming rates these past few months. Never before has the job market experienced this type of shift. Most people out of work are in this situation through no fault of their own and no fault of their company’s. Covid-19 through an economical curve ball on everyone.

Many are left feeling a sense of deep loss and sometimes shame. But many of the most famous business successes we know are experienced job losses. Steve Jobs was famously fired from Apple, the company he co-founded, only to come back later to reinvent it. Oprah Winfrey was told she was unfit for television news. Ford didn’t want to hear Lee Iacocca’s ideas so he took them to Chrysler. The list of successful people who have turned a closed door into a whole new path is endless. The question is, how do you make sure you create a rebound that brings you to a new level of career success.

Embrace this as another chapter in your career. Those that are reeling from losing their jobs and finding themselves struggling to move forward have a hard time embracing that they are starting a new chapter. We all struggle with and resist change that we didn’t ask for. But the sooner we embrace the reality of what has occurred, the sooner we can process the emotional upheaval it has caused.

Be kind to yourself. Val Wright, author of, “Rapid Growth, Done Right: Lead, Influence and Innovate for Success,” says, “Getting fired or pushed out is nothing to be ashamed of. Do not disappear from view, do not retreat, it is precisely the time you want to wake up your network and discover the possibilities ahead of you.” Traditionally, we’ve been taught to view a job loss that we didn’t choose as a sign that we’ve done something wrong. But chances are you were great at your job. Most people out of work at the moment are not in this situation through fault of their own. Sitting in shame will only inhibit your capacity to get back out there and find the next opportunity.

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

Write the story from the perspective of a business owner not an employee. An employee is someone who lost their job. A business owner is someone who needs to expand their client list. Their primary client is currently not in need of their services, so they need to expand and diversify their client list. This keeps you in the driver’s seat of your approach. It makes the job market the terrain you’re navigating vs. the force that’s dictating whether you are employed.

Increase your trilingual power. Most of us have a preference for the ‘language’ we speak when we work. In her book, Val lays out how there is an ‘innovation trifecta’ when it comes to being successful in any job. Some speak to the creative aspects of work. This is common in departments like marketing or product development. Others speak fluent technical. Engineering and IT are common departments where this language is the norm. Finally, others speak the language of business and financial impact. This tends to be sales or accounting. However, to really set you up for success, you want to learn to package what you do in all three languages. Focusing less on the language you’re comfortable with and highlighting how your approach and services support all three aspects of a company can help you get the job and keep the job.

Learn to spot the shifts of employment security. The reality is, many of us couldn’t have seen this one coming. But losing a job can have some predictable phases if we know what to look for. Val shares the five phases that can be used to spot employment challenges.

  • Phase 1 – Being obliviously satisfied. “This is common for many high performing individuals. They are so fully engaged with the work that they are actually dehydrating their network,” explains Val. This is why having a business owner’s mindset helps you stay in tune with your network. A business owner is always growing their ‘market reach’ vs. having all their eggs in one basket. Val recommends asking yourself, “Who in my network could and would hire me?”
  • Phase 2 – Doubts start to form. This is when we start to sense that something has begun to shift. This could be something as tough as falling out of favor with key individuals or even your function not being as much of a priority as it once was.
  • Phase 3 – An explosive incident occurs. Something happens that signifies your work or role is in jeopardy. This could show up as a budget cut, shift in leadership, new executive hires or a conflict that severely damages trust and reputation.
  • Phase 4 – You are exited. Whether it’s a furlough, layoff or firing, you’re told the job you had is no longer available. The question is, were there opportunities to turn the tide during phases one through three. By the time we get to phase four, there’s very little chance of reversing decisions.
  • Phase 5 – You are dealing with the aftermath. This can be the toughest if you didn’t see anything coming. However, if you actively spotted and worked through the above phases, you will have been doing the care and feeding of your network along the way. Ideally, you find yourself understanding and aligning with the decisions that were made that brought you to this point. Regardless, you spend little to no time in shock and are ready to make your next move.

“The less we attach to a title or company, the more agile we can be in our careers,” emphasizes Val. This mindset invites you to evaluate the worth of the work you provide vs. seeing any of those decisions as a marker of your worth as an individual. When you get clear about that, it becomes much easier to think strategically and take proactive action on your behalf.

Author:  H.V. MacArthurContributor Careers I write about navigating the unspoken rules in today’s workplace.

 

Forbes.com | June 8, 2020

#YourCareer : How To Promote Your Career When You Work From Home. Great Read for All!

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Now that most professionals are working from home, being remote should not be a disadvantage come promotion time. That said, you still need to manage your career to be promotion-worthy and to manage your brand to get noticed. With everyone working remotely – including your boss, helpful mentors and supporters, senior leaders you don’t know as well – you need a strategy to proactively get and stay top-of-mind with the decision-makers and influencers of promotion decisions.

Here are seven ways you can proactively promote your career even when you work from home:

1 – Check in frequently

The cliché, “out of sight, out of mind”, could very well apply to the relationship between you and your manager. You may have had a great relationship when you worked in close proximity, and you still may have a great relationship, but you’re only going to know for sure if you check in. If you have a regular cadence for checking in, make sure it’s frequent enough now that you are both remote.

Your manager may not know how to manage remotely. Communicating with and collaborating with a dispersed team is different than managing a team all in one place, and your manager may not realize this. In addition, the pandemic, slowing economy and volatile political landscape add additional challenges, so even if your manager is fine with the remote curveball, there are plenty of other distractions. If you want to stay top-of-mind, you’ll need to check in more frequently than before.

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

2 – Report your results

Many companies are trying to contain or even reduce costs, so leaders are questioning every resource – including their employee count. It is critical that your contributions are clear and well-known. Do not assume your manager knows everything you’re working on – hence checking in more frequently. In addition, regularly report your results.

Your report can be a simple email to summarize what you have accomplished for the week, or it could be an update on the status of each of your projects. Better yet, ask your manager what format and frequency they would prefer. If they say they don’t need a report, send one anyway as a summary email at the end of each week. At the very least, you’ll have a written account for your next performance review.

3 – Align with company priorities – which may have changed

Getting results makes you productive. Getting results that matter to senior leadership makes you indispensable. Make sure your work aligns with company priorities, and re-confirm with your manager what the priorities are because they may have changed. Some projects may no longer have budget, while some may leapfrog to the top of the list because the new market conditions make them more relevant.

Being flexible is critical during unpredictable and changing times. Your day-to-day responsibilities may look very different. You may be asked to take on additional work or what feels like a whole new role. By aligning where the urgent work is, you stay busy where the need is greatest and hopefully where senior leaders are watching closely.

4 – Pay attention to possible next steps

With roles and responsibilities shifting, what next steps are available and ideal also shifts. If you had a promotion strategy mapped out pre-pandemic, check with your mentor and/ or your manager to see if that is still a viable plan. If company strategy veers away from an area that you were interested in, that may not be the best move right now. On the other hand, if the company is making new moves in response to the pandemic, slowing economy or other market conditions, these could present opportunities you hadn’t considered before.

5 – Stay upbeat

Unpredictable times are anxious times, and your manager and their manager are not insulated from the anxiety. If you are grounded and upbeat, that adds value, as you can be a stabilizing force on the team. It also enhances your executive presence since you exude confidence.

This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t surface problems or speak up if you have a different idea or point of view. However, make sure that you surface problems by offering solutions, not just complaining about what’s wrong. Offer a different idea or point of view, but always give the contributor of the initial idea (especially if it’s your manager) a graceful exit to agree with you and not seem wrong.

6 – Nurture your connections outside your immediate group

Your manager and immediate department are not the only decision-makers or influencers in promotions. While everyone works remotely, you won’t have opportunities to bump into people on the floor, in the elevator or at lunch. You will have to make a concerted effort to nurture connections outside your immediate group.

This includes taking an inventory of who you already know but need to reconnect with and who you don’t already know and need introductions. You’ll have to proactively schedule time to talk. You may need your manager, mentor or colleagues to make an introduction for you. If your company has continued town halls or other company-wide events virtually, take advantage of those opportunities to virtually bump into people you would otherwise not reach.

7 – Nurture your connections outside your company

Your current employer is only one place to promote your career. Given the market uncertainty, the most proactive promotion plan should include options outside your current employer. Prioritize connecting with your broader network outside your company, so that you hear about what is available elsewhere. At the very least, you’ll have a better understanding of how other companies are handling the current market challenges, and this may give you ideas even if you stay where you are.

As you focus on what you can do, don’t forget the company’s part

When are promotion decisions made? Who are the decision-makers? What backgrounds and track records typically get promoted for what types of roles? Even as you focus on what you can do to improve your prospects, don’t forget that your company has a promotion process in place. You need to know what that is and work within that system to make sure you focus on the right things with the right people at the right time.

Author: Caroline Ceniza-Levine  Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.

Get my free checklist, 25 Career Mistakes Even Smart Professionals Make, on SixFigureStart.com — insider tips that come from 20+ years in recruiting, evaluating

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Forbes.com | June 6, 2020

#JobSearch : How to Show Your Soft Skills During an Interview. What can Distinguish you More than Anything are the Soft Skills you Possess.

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Many professionals get caught up in trying to make their hard skills and expertise sound good, and forget to highlight the soft skills they have. When you’re talking about high-level executive positions, every candidate will have similar hard skills on their resumes and cover letters. What can distinguish you more than anything are the soft skills you possess, since those are unique to every individual.

Here are some tips for demonstrating these soft skills in an interview, even when you aren’t specifically asked about them. 

Important Soft Skills That Translate To Any Job

According to a recent Forbes article, the most sought after soft skills as a result of the global pandemic include:

  • Communication
  • Adaptability
  • Intrapreneurship
  • Leadership
  • Teamwork
  • Organization
  • Creativity

Of course, there are plenty other skills you could have, but these are some of the main ones that translate to any given job. Some of these skills may not fit naturally into your resume, but you can include them in your LinkedIn profile and you definitely need to mention them in your interview. 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

Demonstrate How Your Soft Skills Have Worked Previously

You’re going to be asked mostly about your knowledge and expertise in an interview. But if you really think about it, you likely used a mix of your soft skills in order to earn the knowledge you have today. Consider a particular aspect of a previous job you were an expert at. You may have become an expert at it because of repetition, but you also likely had to use critical thinking, innovative thinking, problem solving and more to achieve the result. Demonstrating these soft skills allows an interviewer to really see how your mind works, which is extremely beneficial when the outcome of the project you’re describing was successful. 

Relate Soft Skills to the Job Description

Every good executive resume service will tell you to tie your soft skills in with the job description when writing a resume. It’s also important to remember the aspects of the job description when talking about your soft skills in the interview as well. You can talk specifically about a project at your previous job, but be clear about how your skills can translate to the job you’re interviewing for. Don’t make the interviewer try to piece this together themselves, since they could miss out on a key point you’re trying to make.

Your job at the interview is show why you are the best candidate for the position. Don’t make the hiring manager connect the dots between your achievements and your skills. Talk about the openly and clearly, showing yourself as the ideal fit.

 

FSC Career Blog Author:  Ms. Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog |  June 4, 2020

#JobSearch : Five Steps To Network Your Way To A New Job. Great REad!

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What are informational interviews? Why are they so advantageous to your job search? Informational interviews are an opportunity to speak with people at your target company and gain side information without the pressure of a formal interview.

Repeat steps one through five below a few times per week, and you will land a new job in no time.

Informational interviews are advantageous to your job search because you can receive an internal referral, an introduction to a hiring manager and information that can be leveraged when interviewing or negotiating your salary.

I am going to walk you through how to go from an informational interview to a new job.

1. Find target people for your informational interviews.

The best informational interviews are with people in your target position at your target companies. With more than 300 million monthly active users, LinkedIn is one of the best ways to find these people. Use the Current Company search field to find five target people.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

2. Invite them for informational interviews.

Once you have identified the people you want to chat with, invite them to informational interviews. Keep your message concise and include a clear call to action.

You may consider something along the lines of, “Hi [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][First], I hope this message finds you fabulously. I see you work at [Company] as a [Title]. I do similar work at [Company]. I would love to share best practices. When’s a good time to connect?”

By sending this message to a handful of people in your target role, you are better ensuring that at least one or two of them will respond, agreeing to an informational interview. Out of the thousands of messages that I have sent, I have only ever had a single person respond saying, “No.”

3. Conduct your informational interviews.

Once your new friends begin responding to your message, it’s time to conduct your informational interviews. (I am a big fan of conducting these via video!)

What questions do you ask during these chats? Avoid questions that can be answered with a simple Google search. Instead, the best questions are those that allow 1) for answers you genuinely are craving and 2) for you to share about your fabulous self.

Some of my favorite informational interview questions include:

• How did you get into [profession]?

• What’s your favorite part of working at [Company]?

• If you could change one thing about [Company], what would it be?

• Is there anything you wish you would have known before you joined [Company]?

• What makes you fabulous?

End the interview by thanking your new friend for their time. You can also ask them who else they can connect you to at the company and in the industry.

3. Send a thank-you email and card.

Don’t forget to follow up. Send a thank-you email and thank-you card (yes, via snail mail) within 24 hours. You may also consider sending a five- to 10-dollar Starbucks gift card as a token of your appreciation.

Additionally, as you continue throughout your job search, be sure to continue to update and thank them.

4. Seal the deal with a clear call to action.

You had a successful informational interview, and you thanked them; now what? Seal the deal and land a new job with a clear call to action. This may look like:

• “I appreciated your insights on the interview process. What tips do you have for my application?”

• “Based on what you have shared about [Company], I can really envision myself here. What does your internal referral process look like?”

• “I saw a recent job posting on [Company]’s job board for a [position]. Would you please introduce me to the hiring manager?”

Note: Some of these questions may be most appropriate during your informational interview, while others are best as follow-up inquiries. Read the room.

Repeat steps one through five a few times per week, and you will land a new job in no time. Oh, and when you land your awesome job, be sure to update all of your new friends!

 

Author:  Kyle Cromer Elliott, MPA, CHES 

Founder & Career Coach at CaffeinatedKyle.com. My goal is simple – to help people find jobs they LOVE (or at least tolerate). Read Kyle Cromer Elliott’s full executive…

Forbes.com | June 4, 2020

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#Life : 9 Ways To Stay Mentally Strong In This Chaotic World. A Must REad for All!

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Life is not easy for most people lately. The Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc, causing a brutal health, economic and jobs crisis. Since mid-March, 40 million Americans have lost their jobs. Those who hold a job are worried about its long-term safety. We’ve been locked up indoors with our homebound children, as schools were closed.

 

Business owners watched helplessly, as their companies have been ordered to shut down, raising concerns if they’ll be financially ruined. Over the last eight days, we’ve seen well-meaning, peaceful protests held for George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer, infiltrated by people who use it as an excuse to riot, steal and commit vicious, violent acts.

On social media, at the family dinner table and in small gatherings, we fight each other about politics. There’s a built-up tension in the air that’s creating animosity, fear and hate. It also makes people feel despondent and depressed. We worry about our physical safety, job security and financial situation. It takes Herculean effort to get up each morning, dreading what new problem we’re going to have to deal with today.

1. Things may be awful, but that doesn’t mean you have to feel awful.

You can control how  you view, process and react to events. Most people handle stress and unfortunate circumstances with a knee-jerk, panicked response. They dwell on the worst-case scenario happening.

Instead of habitually doing this, take a deep breath, pause, then analyze the situation. Look at it head-on with clarity and objectivity. “Is this really bad or am I overreacting?” Even if you’re in a tough spot, you need to find the mental fortitude to think of positive solutions to make things better.

2. Try to put aside your negative thoughts.

We’re constantly overwhelmed with bad news lately. The negativity can be debilitating. While it’s not easy, tune out the noise. Accutane is available in two dosages. I was prescribed the drug at a dosage of 20 mg twice a day. It is preferably to take tablets on a full stomach, so the drug is far better absorbed. As for the side effects I experienced terrible dry skin of face and lips (I had to buy the fattest and the most effective creams for skin regeneration). It didn’t cause any serious side effects. In the first month of taking the drug I began to notice that new inflammations ceased to appear. During the second month I felt much better and the inflammations began to pass away. My doctor told me, that I should not be hopeful because of this petty victory and interrupt the course of treatment.

Focus on what you want to achieve in your life and career. Design a game plan and put systems into place to achieve your goals. Replace bad thoughts with positive ones. The more time you allocate toward constructive contemplations centered around self-improvement, the less time you’ll spend ruminating about matters that just wear you down.

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

3. Stop caring about failing.

Go after what you want with gusto. No one will hand you a job or opportunity. You’ll need to make your own breaks in life. Keep in mind, the more you try to achieve something, the greater amount of times you’ll fail. That’s okay, as it’s part of the process. Failing is a way to learn from your mistakes.

Take stock of what you did right and the mistakes you made along the way. Accept what happened without beating yourself up over it.

Then, hyperfocus on what you need to do to improve, grow and develop, so you can succeed the next time around. You either win or learn. Life is one big learning session. The lessons learned from falling down will help pick you up in the future.

4. You can’t take life personally.

It’s not just you. We all get rejected, doors slammed in our faces, lose out on a promotion and not get called back for a second interview.

In our society, people tend to brag about and broadcast on social media all of the cool and awesome things that are happening in their lives and careers. We then falsely assume that everyone else is doing great, while we are personally struggling. You’re comparing yourself to something that’s not real. The Instagram photos are manufactured, cultivated fake realities.

Mentally tough folks don’t take the obstacles, setbacks and hurdles personally. They recognize that it’s all part of the game we’re all playing.

5. No one is entitled to success.

It takes a lot of time, planning, hard work, execution and luck to succeed. Sometimes luck’s not on your side. This shouldn’t stop you. If you keep trying, eventually things will turn out in your favor. Remain calm, cool and collected. Understand that there will be highs and lows and try to ride out both with professionalism and grace.

Most people give up too soon. Look at your career as a marathon and not a sprint. Maybe it’s more appropriate to view it as a Tough Mudder course. You’ll need to scale walls, climb ropes, wade through mud and endure grueling obstacles designed to test your endurance and strength. It’s the same thing when you try to attain career success.

6. Avoid getting goaded into arguments with strangers on social media.

It’s a no-win proposition. Your blood pressure rises, you get aggravated and nothing gets accomplished. There’s the risk of saying something inappropriate in the heat of the moment that could later come back and haunt you when a hiring manager checks your social media footprint.

In all the times you have spent on Twitter and Facebook, when have you ever read, “Hey, thank you! You’re right and I’m wrong. You convinced me. That was a brilliant point that you raised. I appreciate it!”?

The algorithms are rigged to trigger anger, rage and jealousy. Spending too much time on your phone isn’t good for your mental and emotional health. Mentally tenacious people practice avoiding all of the noise and distractions and stick with hyperfocusing on their goals.

 7. It’s natural to be afraid of trying something new.

We all worry about pursuing a new job, romance, friendship or potentially life-changing endeavor. Fear of the unknown can be daunting and debilitating. It becomes easier to simply stay where you are. However, if you do that, you’ll be stuck and never improve or grow.

Mentally rugged people may be afraid, but they forge ahead anyway. They’ll still be scared, but they won’t let it stop them from achieving their goals.

You can start small with a little mental hack. Embark on hobbies or activities in which you can score some easy points by doing them well. This will instill confidence. As you build up small incremental successes, you’ll then feel comfortable taking on new and bigger challenges.

8. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Avoid getting roped into petty nonsense. We all take to heart a mean comment made by your boss, co-worker or a salesperson at a department store. Some get enraged when they’re cut off by a bad driver or a rude customer-service person.

The trick is to take these things in stride and not let these petty annoyances ruin your day. After all, you don’t know what the other person is dealing with and what they’re going through. If you hold onto that negative energy, it won’t let you focus on what really matters most to you.

Mentally strong people brush these nuisances off their shoulders and move on with their lives.  They save their strength for the important struggles, which yield meaningful results.

9. Learn to say “No.”

We have a tendency to want to be liked. When you’re asked to commit to a business function or social engagement, you feel obligated to say “yes.” It’s difficult to turn down opportunities, as you risk alienating the other person, but sometimes it’s more productive to just say “no.”

You only have so much time and energy and need to be discerning in how you allocate precious moments of your life. You know when something will be a time suck, distraction and make you feel bad. When something does not fit into your overarching life plan and long-term goals, have the courage to politely turn it down.

We’re all subjected to constant pressures that can break us. If you work on building up your mental strength, you will be able to have better clarity, focus, less stress and the ability to pursue and achieve your goals with a clear mind.

Author:  Jack KellySenior Contributor Careers I write actionable interview, career and salary advice.

Forbes.com | June 3, 2020