Expect the Best
I have had a charmed career since it began. I came into the workforce amidst a strong economy and that prevailed for over a decade. The last three years, however, have not been good for me. After a long and very enjoyable career at Move.com, I decided to take on the start-up world. As many of you know, start-ups are volatile and I was in the midst of a tanking economy when I made the switch.
I took much for granted when I made the change. I assumed my luck and past experiences would prevail and everything would be just fine. But, that has not been the case. Now, I am faced with job changes and being laid off. Re-entering the job market when jobs are scarce and being told I am over qualified for many of the jobs I am interested in is a humbling experience I never planned for. Getting my foot in the door takes longer and the number of opportunities are much more limited. So, what do I do?
I recieved lots of advise on this front. I have been told to “dumb down” my resume and lower my expectations. But this is counter to how I am wired. I worked hard getting my skills up to were they are. Having high expectations has always delivered high results in the past. So why should I lower the bar for myself?
Free=Freedom?
I recently embarked on an unexpected adventure that has resulted in a substantial perspective change for me. After losing my job to a downsizing, I took no time to get busy doing something to keep me sharp and maintain a productive existence. A friend of mine recently started an amazing company, but he is in bootstrap, start-up mode; he needs to be lean and focus resources on his product. So a typical job was not in the cards at this time. Speaking over dinner, we both decided that I might be able to help him dial some things in for his company.
I didn’t expect to fall in love with the job, the product and the people there, but I have. The vibe, the freedom and the belief that the company is on to something amazing are the perfect combination for a life changing experience. The only downside is that income is a delayed thing–and I have immediate needs.
Resume Anxiety
Everyone has an opinion about what a great resume looks like, but no one seems to agree on a single definition of great. As many job seekers, I have solicited feedback from many people on how I should word, organize and format my resume. And like others, I find myself working with conflicting advise and opinions. Even when I have complete trust in the advise of all the people from whom I have gotten feedback, I still am left with substantial–material differences of opinion.
Here are some examples: I have a robust and diverse background. I have been a project manager, a product manager, an executive and a consultant. In recent years with the volatility on the economy, I have had to be flexible in the types of roles I take. I am capable of many things, so how do I convey what I am really good at. As an example, I have a Masters degree, I am a veteran and have a current PMP certification. How should I highlight those things? I have had VP level jobs and been a general manager, so how do I tie that into my more functional abilities? Do I put my education first or my work experience? Do I use bullet points or should I use a more narrative format? Do I even mention I have a PMP when applying for non project management jobs? Should I de-emphasise my executive experience or my functional experience?
Continue reading »
2009 and 2010 have been rough years for me. Employment has been extremely tough as options are slim and employer behavior has been caught up in recession/recovery mode. But, job hunters have also been caught up in recession/recovery mode. We job hunters have been compelled to make some serious compromises and taking whatever comes along. A tight labor market seemed to create an opportunity to get talent for less money and fitting them into roles below their skill sets. This ultimately leads to tension, especially when things pick up.
Because of the scarcity of opportunities and badly needing employment, I have made some unwise compromises in my choices for employers. Ultimately, the “fit” was not great and I was just hunkering down to see if I can make it work. It ultimately did not and being in the wrong place is not good for either you or your employer.
Like many of you, I have received notifications that my credit limits have been cut on my credit cards. While this may seem to have little to no impact on me financially, I have learned there is an inherent credit score impact with these credit card company credit cuts.
Let’s take a look at how this is effecting small businesses negatively and how it hurts the consumer. I also have some ideas on how to deal with this by pushing business to smaller, more local institutions that may alleviate your pain and also the pain that these banks created and continue to create in our economy.
Continue reading »
Being unemployed is depressing. For many of us, work is part of our identity. I frequently am asked by others I meet about what I do. But what is the answer when you have become part of the latest unemployment wave that is plaguing our economy and society? A loss of a job is a loss of a part of your life and with that, it is normal to go through the emotions of dealing with a loss of almost any kind. Recently, I was reading some posts online where people actually became suicidal because of their lack of success finding work. When life and death issues are at stake, we have to take notice and that is why I am writing about this topic. All things in life are temporary, but depression clouds that understanding and can lead to terrible decisions if it gets out of control.
Believe it or not, being unemployed for an extended period of time may make you less employable. I recently was speaking with a colleague of mine about a hiring manager who was less likely to consider a candidate for a position if he/she had been unemployed for an extended period of time. Both my colleague and I thought this state if mind was short sided and actually flat out wrong. Why would a hiring manager eliminate a candidate from the interview pool because he/she was unemployed for an extended period? Is this simply recession think?
Continue reading »
Were you laid off months ago and still cannot find a job? You are not alone and your efforts to figure our how to succeed might not be what is needed to re-enter the employment market. Things are different, but we are not sure exactly what changed, so adjusting is more a guessing game of trial and error until you get a result of some kind.
Social Homes