Career Chaos

DO YOUR VALUES MATCH THE COMPANY CULTURE?

Are you in touch with your core values? How do you determine if a potential employer will honor your values in their workplace? Many workers walk into misery when they accept a position at a company where their values are not in alignment with those of that company.

Cindy Maude, President/CEO of Callahan Creek (a marketing communications agency) addressed a networking group I attended today. Her presentation about women in leadership roles was very compelling. She shared her lessons learned from 20 years of growing a successful business.

But what stuck with me was her message about how important values are to her agency. They are so important that all employment candidates are screened for value alignment by being asked behavioral and situational based interview questions prior to any employment offer being extended.

So, here's another reason to know your core values and how you "show up" with them. Give this some thought before starting your next job search.

JOB TIPS FOR RETURNING TO WORK

Just got back to the office following my morning interview on WDAF-TV, Kansas City's Fox station. The three-minute interview afforded so little time for information sharing, so here is the expanded version of what I discussed today for those who are unemployed and trying to return to work.

Tip 1: Get out of the house: networking trumps Internet job boards.

Most jobs are gotten through networking - up to 60-80%. Meet people who know people that can introduce you to new people. Attend professional and community events. (Sidebar: One of my career coaching clients got his new job by getting to know his son's Little League coach.)

Only 10-15% of all jobs are gotten through Internet job boards. Spending hours in front of a computer hoping to find the right job will only make you feel more like a deer in the headlights. You may think you're doing something; it looks like you're doing something; you may fool your spouse or partner into believing you're doing something - but really, you're not doing enough.

Tip 2: Only you can make it happen: recruiters work for employers.

Recruiters aren't there to find you a job. They're job is to find the right candidate for their client companies who can't find the ideal client. Someone who's unemployed is not that person as a company gets tons of applications from unemployed people. Why should they pay a recruiter to find unemployed applicants?

You have to find your way to your new job on your own. It takes long, hard work to succeed. Take advantage of a support team of family and friends to help you, as well as professionals like a career coach - people who really care about your success.

Tip 3: Get a temporary job while continuing your job search.

Temporary employment can help out with a cash flow problem while you're looking for a job. Apply at employment agencies that specialize in temp jobs. Look into seasonal employment such as tax time work and retail holiday work.

Tip 4: Embrace change: new job field, maybe self-employment.

Don't be afraid to change, grow, and take on new challenges - try new things. "Green" jobs, or environment-related work, are a growing area. There are still jobs available in technology, health care, customer service, sales and accounting for those who qualify.

Don't qualify? Assess your current skills and interests, then get more education, if necessary, to change to jobs in careers that are available.

Starting a small business, whether from scratch or through franchising, is an option to consider for some people. For others, self-employment can become a bigger disaster than being unemployed. You have to test your entrepreneurial skills before starting any business. Know your threshold for handling risk. If risk stresses you out, you are not a good candidate for becoming a small business owner.

Bottom line? Don't give up. Looking for a job is a full time job in itself. Put in your 40 hours per week and you'll be surprised at what you will find.

GREEN JOBS - THE NEWEST, HOTTEST CAREER TREND

Kermit the Frog (from Sesame Street) says, "It's not easy being green." Maybe not, but it's beginning to look like "green" has a bright future for many careers.

As you consider your first career or a new career, contemplate how what you do can be applied to work with and in the environmental field. It appears that opportunities are growing rapidly, at least according to the article, "Green Jobs Take Root and Proliferate."

LIFE AFTER LAYOFF: HERE WE GO AGAIN

Seems like only yesterday that I wrote the article, "Life After Layoff: Three Keys for Speeding Up Reemployment." Actually, it was 2002 when it was first published - and now, unfortunately, it is in vogue again.

This morning, major layoffs are in the news, e.g., General Motors. Workers begin to wonder - am I next?

If you find yourself facing a layoff, your mindset will become the biggest factor in how quickly you get reemployed. As you shift into job search mode, take care of yourself - exercise, eat healthy, get plenty of sleep - and look at career management as your new temporary full time job.

Today I was interviewed on Kansas City's Fox 4 TV morning news about how to survive a layoff. Watch this interview, read my article, and if you are currently employed, take immediate steps to safeguard your job security.

In other words, don't take your job for granted. Now is the time to touch base with your network of contacts, dust off and update your resume, and become alert to what's happening in the marketplace. You never know when your time may come, when you need to make your next career move. It's a lot easier to change jobs by choice, not by default.

NETWORKING MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER

According to the Silicon Alley Insider, "Monster's employment index fell 4.8% year-over-year in January -- meaning companies were looking to fill fewer positions online this month than they were a year ago."

Although networking has always been the #1 way to find a new job (some estimates as high as 80% for the best job search method), while online job search has accounted for 5-15% of successful new jobs, networking is definitely now more important than ever if you want to find your right position.