Showing posts with label job search - high-tech. Show all posts
Showing posts with label job search - high-tech. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
4 Job Search Tips for New IT Professionals
If you're new to the IT field and you're having trouble getting a job, listen to this advice from DICE:
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Latin PhD to High-Tech Career
We hear stories of people who found success by following their passions. But what if your passion is in a non-commercial field such as... Latin? In the following interview, Jed explains how he pursued his passion for Latin and landed his current job in high-tech.
Susan: I understand that you got your degree in Latin. Did you chose that major with a career in mind that was related to Latin?
Jed: BA in classics (Greek/Latin), and then MA and PhD in Latin. So yes, it's a bit of a swerve. When I started college, I took some computer science courses that I greatly enjoyed, and I also took Homer. When it came to choosing between debugging code for 12 hours a day under fluorescent lights vs. reading Homer with my feet up on the fender, so to speak, I decided on the latter. What followed was 12 years of focus on Greek and Latin, with a passion for linguistics (particularly metrics and pragmatics), and a love of being in the classroom. When I went to graduate school, I didn't have the sense that I was going for a career in research/teaching ancient languages; but I did have that sense after I got my Master's.
Susan: After you graduated, did you try to get a job in a field that was related to your degree?
Jed: Since I went straight to grad school after college, I didn't really interact with the job market outside of my university until I was working on my dissertation. I taught quite a bit as a grad student, and there's a certain amount of competition there, but it's not the same.
Susan: When you applied for the technical job you now hold, how did you list your degree on your resume? Did you try to make your degree relevant to your job objective, or did you lean solely on non-academic experience to support your application?
Jed: I applied and was accepted to be a Technical Assistant at a company that provides visual effects for the entertainment industry (we'll call it ABC), while finishing my dissertation. During the first three months on the job here, I spent my nights editing and tweaking. So I managed to file for my dissertation while ramping up at a job in a completely different career. When I applied at ABC, I was frank about my experience (near zero) and my educational background (almost completely inappropriate). My only hope was, as you said, pointing to my non-academic experience, to which I had devoted a fair bit of my time -- writing collaborative textbook software, educational software for the blind, my own research tools for searching the corpus of Greek and Latin texts on digital media, etc.
Susan: What advice do you have for job seekers with degrees that are unrelated to their job search?
Jed: I think in retrospect one thing I did right was to be frank and open about why I changed my mind about the career I wanted to follow. Now, when I interview job applicants for openings at ABC, I look for the story that comes out of the resume (and better, the cover letter, if they've written one), explaining the course of the applicant's interests and how he or she approaches new problems.
If people have been sincere about their passions, and done things that they like, I'm interested and I want to know more. What I don't want is for us to bring people in who just do things because they think they will look good on their resumes. That makes me feel like our company might just be a resume builder as well!
I want someone who is smart, intellectually flexible, able to learn new things on his or her feet quickly, good at working with people, articulate, and passionate. People with non-computer science backgrounds are shy about applying here, and strong computer science is certainly important; but by the same token, there are people with a formidable checklist of computer science credentials that I think are completely unhirable because they lack the broader qualities that we need in the talent we want to work with.
Also, if you're interested in working somewhere, and you don't think the published job description lines up perfectly with your skills or experience because they're asking for N years of something and you have N-2 or whatever, apply anyway. Do this for three reasons:
Susan: I understand that you got your degree in Latin. Did you chose that major with a career in mind that was related to Latin?
Jed: BA in classics (Greek/Latin), and then MA and PhD in Latin. So yes, it's a bit of a swerve. When I started college, I took some computer science courses that I greatly enjoyed, and I also took Homer. When it came to choosing between debugging code for 12 hours a day under fluorescent lights vs. reading Homer with my feet up on the fender, so to speak, I decided on the latter. What followed was 12 years of focus on Greek and Latin, with a passion for linguistics (particularly metrics and pragmatics), and a love of being in the classroom. When I went to graduate school, I didn't have the sense that I was going for a career in research/teaching ancient languages; but I did have that sense after I got my Master's.
Susan: After you graduated, did you try to get a job in a field that was related to your degree?
Jed: Since I went straight to grad school after college, I didn't really interact with the job market outside of my university until I was working on my dissertation. I taught quite a bit as a grad student, and there's a certain amount of competition there, but it's not the same.
Susan: When you applied for the technical job you now hold, how did you list your degree on your resume? Did you try to make your degree relevant to your job objective, or did you lean solely on non-academic experience to support your application?
Jed: I applied and was accepted to be a Technical Assistant at a company that provides visual effects for the entertainment industry (we'll call it ABC), while finishing my dissertation. During the first three months on the job here, I spent my nights editing and tweaking. So I managed to file for my dissertation while ramping up at a job in a completely different career. When I applied at ABC, I was frank about my experience (near zero) and my educational background (almost completely inappropriate). My only hope was, as you said, pointing to my non-academic experience, to which I had devoted a fair bit of my time -- writing collaborative textbook software, educational software for the blind, my own research tools for searching the corpus of Greek and Latin texts on digital media, etc.
Susan: What advice do you have for job seekers with degrees that are unrelated to their job search?
Jed: I think in retrospect one thing I did right was to be frank and open about why I changed my mind about the career I wanted to follow. Now, when I interview job applicants for openings at ABC, I look for the story that comes out of the resume (and better, the cover letter, if they've written one), explaining the course of the applicant's interests and how he or she approaches new problems.
If people have been sincere about their passions, and done things that they like, I'm interested and I want to know more. What I don't want is for us to bring people in who just do things because they think they will look good on their resumes. That makes me feel like our company might just be a resume builder as well!
I want someone who is smart, intellectually flexible, able to learn new things on his or her feet quickly, good at working with people, articulate, and passionate. People with non-computer science backgrounds are shy about applying here, and strong computer science is certainly important; but by the same token, there are people with a formidable checklist of computer science credentials that I think are completely unhirable because they lack the broader qualities that we need in the talent we want to work with.
Also, if you're interested in working somewhere, and you don't think the published job description lines up perfectly with your skills or experience because they're asking for N years of something and you have N-2 or whatever, apply anyway. Do this for three reasons:
- You want to work there, so apply!
- I know from first-hand experience how hard it is for an employer to craft a job listing that will draw the perfect applicant. The listings are a clear but general picture, and they rarely describe the best applicant perfectly. That's because the best applicant brings to the table his or her own best qualities and these may ultimately outweigh any deficiencies. In particular, if an employer asks for "Quality X or Equivalent," this opens the door wide for you to define "equivalent."
- Even if you're not quite right for the listed job, a recruiter might see a good fit somewhere else in the organization, perhaps for a job that hasn't even been listed yet.
I'm not saying apply for things you are clearly unqualified for - that's annoying, and nobody likes to have their time wasted - but do apply for things you want to do and think you could be good at, and look forward to the chance to make your case in an interview.
Thank you very much for your insight, Jed. I wish you much success in your career! -- Susan
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
New Zealander on US Job Hunt
From a Job Lounger:
I moved from New Zealand to America last year; my wife is an American citizen. I have a few resume-related questions.
Question #1:
I have not yet been issued my Green Card so I have a valid Employment Authorization Document to use in the interim to gain employment. All my work history on my resume shows that it was based in New Zealand so I am not sure if I should exclude any mention of my legal work status from my resume and hope that they ask questions rather than just ignore me. If not, how should I present my status on my resume? My concern is that ‘work authorization document’ may confuse and deter some employers because it shows I am neither a citizen or permanent resident (yet) so they may think that I require sponsorship.
Answer
I suggest you write "Currently hold a Work Authorization Document (WAD). Green Card (or US citizenship) anticipated 2009" at the end of your resume. Large US companies with human resources departments will understand what this means, and small companies will know to ask you about it (or easily look it up online).
Question #2:
How do I convey the extensive experience I gained while working in an IT Service Desk back in New Zealand? I don’t want to bore the employer with long-winded details, making my resume span to three pages, but I fear the title “Service Desk Operator” could be misinterpreted as under-qualified despite the responsibilities held in that position (systems and network administration, application support and some application development). I feel obligated to put the official job title that was on my contract, “Service Desk Operator.” Is it common or accepted practice to manipulate the job title, in my case to something like “IT Systems Support”?
Answer
Using a combination resume format (a chronological format with accomplishment statements organized by skill headings under each job title), here's how to list your most recent experience:
Question #3:
I have one great letter of recommendation. Is it acceptable to attach this to my resume when submitting job applications or should I only submit it if asked? Should I take it to the job interview?
Answer
You'll need to make a case-by-case decision on this one. If you're applying online, you won't have an opportunity to include a letter of recommendation. If you're applying via snail mail, you could include the letter although it's not expected that you do so. Definitely bring it to the interview and offer it if asked about references.
I moved from New Zealand to America last year; my wife is an American citizen. I have a few resume-related questions.
Question #1:
I have not yet been issued my Green Card so I have a valid Employment Authorization Document to use in the interim to gain employment. All my work history on my resume shows that it was based in New Zealand so I am not sure if I should exclude any mention of my legal work status from my resume and hope that they ask questions rather than just ignore me. If not, how should I present my status on my resume? My concern is that ‘work authorization document’ may confuse and deter some employers because it shows I am neither a citizen or permanent resident (yet) so they may think that I require sponsorship.
Answer
I suggest you write "Currently hold a Work Authorization Document (WAD). Green Card (or US citizenship) anticipated 2009" at the end of your resume. Large US companies with human resources departments will understand what this means, and small companies will know to ask you about it (or easily look it up online).
Question #2:
How do I convey the extensive experience I gained while working in an IT Service Desk back in New Zealand? I don’t want to bore the employer with long-winded details, making my resume span to three pages, but I fear the title “Service Desk Operator” could be misinterpreted as under-qualified despite the responsibilities held in that position (systems and network administration, application support and some application development). I feel obligated to put the official job title that was on my contract, “Service Desk Operator.” Is it common or accepted practice to manipulate the job title, in my case to something like “IT Systems Support”?
Answer
Using a combination resume format (a chronological format with accomplishment statements organized by skill headings under each job title), here's how to list your most recent experience:
200x - 2008, Service Desk Operator (equivalent: IT Systems Support)
Company, City, Country
Systems and Network Administration
- An accomplishment statement that demonstrates you have this skill.
- An accomplishment statement that demonstrates you have this skill.
- An accomplishment statement that demonstrates you have this skill.
Application Support
- An accomplishment statement that demonstrates you have this skill.
- An accomplishment statement that demonstrates you have this skill.
- An accomplishment statement that demonstrates you have this skill.
Application Development
- An accomplishment statement that demonstrates you have this skill.
- An accomplishment statement that demonstrates you have this skill.
- An accomplishment statement that demonstrates you have this skill.
Question #3:
I have one great letter of recommendation. Is it acceptable to attach this to my resume when submitting job applications or should I only submit it if asked? Should I take it to the job interview?
Answer
You'll need to make a case-by-case decision on this one. If you're applying online, you won't have an opportunity to include a letter of recommendation. If you're applying via snail mail, you could include the letter although it's not expected that you do so. Definitely bring it to the interview and offer it if asked about references.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Resumes for IT Professionals
What makes an IT professional's resume different from other professional resumes? A few things:
1. Achievement statements are more modest, relying on technical responsibilities that indicate the job seeker's level of competence. Avoid flashy bottom-line oriented achievement statements, which might be totally appropriate on a sales person's resume but simply don't fit with the IT culture.
2. Keywords are absolutely essential, especially the keyowrds that define you not only as an IT professional but as a specialist in your field. Some recruiters can use just one or two keywords to find the particular IT professional they're looking. What are the one or two keywords that set you apart from other IT pros? Make sure those terms are in your resume.
For useful tips on creating a resume for the experienced IT professional who wants to land a higher-level IT job, check out Eight Resume Tips for the Experienced IT Pro by Toni Bowers.
1. Achievement statements are more modest, relying on technical responsibilities that indicate the job seeker's level of competence. Avoid flashy bottom-line oriented achievement statements, which might be totally appropriate on a sales person's resume but simply don't fit with the IT culture.
2. Keywords are absolutely essential, especially the keyowrds that define you not only as an IT professional but as a specialist in your field. Some recruiters can use just one or two keywords to find the particular IT professional they're looking. What are the one or two keywords that set you apart from other IT pros? Make sure those terms are in your resume.
For useful tips on creating a resume for the experienced IT professional who wants to land a higher-level IT job, check out Eight Resume Tips for the Experienced IT Pro by Toni Bowers.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Age Discrimination in Engineering
Question
Age discrimination, although never stated directly, is a problem for many job seekers and is a particular problem in the engineering field. Can you offer some advice on what to say in a resume so it conveys experience without emphasizing age?
Answer
Dates on your resume give clues to the reader as to how old you might be. As a rule of thumb, you're not expected to go back more than 10 years on your resume, however, you can if it's to your benefit.
To help you figure out how far back to go, consider these two things:
1. How relevant your earliest positions are to your job objective; and
2. How old you want to appear on your resume.
Age discrimination is illegal but, like it or not, employers usually try to figure out your age using the dates you give. Most employers have an age range they consider to be ideal for a particular job, based on salary expectations, skill level, ability to supervise or be supervised, and amount of experience needed (mind you, age discrimination works both ways -- too old and too young). A well written resume uses dates to lead the employer to deduce that you are at least the ideal age for the job you're after, regardless of your actual age.
To understand how dates on your resume make an impression about your age, use the following formula:
x years of experience + 20 = y years old
Translation: Subtract the earliest date on your resume from today's date (using years only, no months). Add that number of years to 20(as a ballpark figure for how old you might have been when your experience started) to get a total of "y." That means you are at least y years old.
A case in point:
Ted, 43 years old, is applying for a job as a software engineer. He thinks employers are probably looking for a professional in his early 30s -- a go-getter who will work long hours without expecting as high a salary as someone who has been in the field for many years.
To present himself in his resume as the ideal candidate, Ted decides to go back only 10 years in his work history (since the reader will most likely take 20 years old as a starting point, add the 10 years of work experience shown in his resume, and arrive at the conclusion that Ted is at least 30 years old). Likewise, he states his degree but does not give his graduation date since it would give away his age.
The dates on his resume are all honest, they just don't tell all. In the interview he will have the opportunity to sell himself with his enthusiasm, professional manner, and appropriate salary request -- thereby fulfilling the employer's expectations of the ideal candidate.
On the flip side of the coin, what if you're starting out in your career and don't have a lot of experience, but you do have enthusiasm, smarts, and a willingness to learn? How can you play up what you have accomplished (even if it was from a non-engineering job)?
Use the formula we just talked about to maximize your experience and make yourself look more mature than your actual age. Let me tell you about a job seeker with exactly that situation.
For example: Sam is a new grad who has worked in his dad's hardware business all through high school and college. He's a remarkable achiever and is ready for more responsibility in the workforce than most his age. He applies for a position as project manager, knowing that if he can just get his foot in the door he can convince the owner he can handle the job.
He decides that the employer is probably expecting to hire someone in his late 20s. So on his resume, Sam goes back in his work history eight years to when he started working for his dad in low level positions, and shows his progression over the proceeding years. He states that he has a degree but does not give the date since it might indicate that he is only 22.
Everything on Sam's resume honestly paints the picture of someone who has the experience and maturity of a 30 year-old without ever saying his age.
By the way, dates in your Education section are optional. List them if they make you "look" the right age for the job. Delete them if they lead the reader to deduce that you are older or younger than you wish.
Age discrimination, although never stated directly, is a problem for many job seekers and is a particular problem in the engineering field. Can you offer some advice on what to say in a resume so it conveys experience without emphasizing age?
Answer
Dates on your resume give clues to the reader as to how old you might be. As a rule of thumb, you're not expected to go back more than 10 years on your resume, however, you can if it's to your benefit.
To help you figure out how far back to go, consider these two things:
1. How relevant your earliest positions are to your job objective; and
2. How old you want to appear on your resume.
Age discrimination is illegal but, like it or not, employers usually try to figure out your age using the dates you give. Most employers have an age range they consider to be ideal for a particular job, based on salary expectations, skill level, ability to supervise or be supervised, and amount of experience needed (mind you, age discrimination works both ways -- too old and too young). A well written resume uses dates to lead the employer to deduce that you are at least the ideal age for the job you're after, regardless of your actual age.
To understand how dates on your resume make an impression about your age, use the following formula:
x years of experience + 20 = y years old
Translation: Subtract the earliest date on your resume from today's date (using years only, no months). Add that number of years to 20(as a ballpark figure for how old you might have been when your experience started) to get a total of "y." That means you are at least y years old.
A case in point:
Ted, 43 years old, is applying for a job as a software engineer. He thinks employers are probably looking for a professional in his early 30s -- a go-getter who will work long hours without expecting as high a salary as someone who has been in the field for many years.
To present himself in his resume as the ideal candidate, Ted decides to go back only 10 years in his work history (since the reader will most likely take 20 years old as a starting point, add the 10 years of work experience shown in his resume, and arrive at the conclusion that Ted is at least 30 years old). Likewise, he states his degree but does not give his graduation date since it would give away his age.
The dates on his resume are all honest, they just don't tell all. In the interview he will have the opportunity to sell himself with his enthusiasm, professional manner, and appropriate salary request -- thereby fulfilling the employer's expectations of the ideal candidate.
On the flip side of the coin, what if you're starting out in your career and don't have a lot of experience, but you do have enthusiasm, smarts, and a willingness to learn? How can you play up what you have accomplished (even if it was from a non-engineering job)?
Use the formula we just talked about to maximize your experience and make yourself look more mature than your actual age. Let me tell you about a job seeker with exactly that situation.
For example: Sam is a new grad who has worked in his dad's hardware business all through high school and college. He's a remarkable achiever and is ready for more responsibility in the workforce than most his age. He applies for a position as project manager, knowing that if he can just get his foot in the door he can convince the owner he can handle the job.
He decides that the employer is probably expecting to hire someone in his late 20s. So on his resume, Sam goes back in his work history eight years to when he started working for his dad in low level positions, and shows his progression over the proceeding years. He states that he has a degree but does not give the date since it might indicate that he is only 22.
Everything on Sam's resume honestly paints the picture of someone who has the experience and maturity of a 30 year-old without ever saying his age.
By the way, dates in your Education section are optional. List them if they make you "look" the right age for the job. Delete them if they lead the reader to deduce that you are older or younger than you wish.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Networking to a New High-Tech Job
Question
I'm 27 with a degree in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics. My dream job would be to do character design/animation for video games. Since graduation (2001) I've done a lot of temp work, mostly admin or database entry/management to pay the bills.
I'm currently unemployed after working a 10-month contract job as a Learning Management Systems Administrator and I'm receiving unemployment checks until March. I did database merging and cleaning projects, data management, and even some training in the previously mentioned position. I'm good at analyzing, organizing, and noticing details but I want to steer my career towards my dream job now.
I want to work my way into a video gaming company or at least some type of multimedia/interactive design firm. I know I need to go back to school for computer animation and will do so once I have found a full-time permanent job.
I know that I'm technically unqualified for junior design or animation job openings due to my lack of experience with 3D software, Photoshop, etc. I know that these companies really want designers, progammes, or artists.
My job search hasn't gone well (I've been using mostly the internet) and I'm starting to think cold calling might be in order. Is cold calling effective and if so how does and introverted person like myself prepare themself to do it? Also is the library a better place to research companies than the internet?
Answer
Warm calling (aka networking) is far more productive than cold calling. Please read two articles by Susan Joyce: Tapping the Hidden Job Market: Push and Tapping the Hidden Job Market: Pull to understand how to network effectively.
To answer your question about researching at the library or on the Internet: Why not do both? If your library has up-do-date periodicals and trade publications in your field, you could save money by reading them in the library rather than buying them. And while you're at the library you can use their computer to go online if there's something you want to research that way. Unlike the library, the Internet is open 24/7, so you can always gather tons of info on the web from home or anywhere you take your laptop.
To get help developing employment contacts, consider working with a job search coach. As the coach on my Job Search Team, Roberta Rosen has helped many introverts get high-tech jobs. Feel free to call her to see how she can help.
I'm 27 with a degree in Computer Science and a minor in Mathematics. My dream job would be to do character design/animation for video games. Since graduation (2001) I've done a lot of temp work, mostly admin or database entry/management to pay the bills.
I'm currently unemployed after working a 10-month contract job as a Learning Management Systems Administrator and I'm receiving unemployment checks until March. I did database merging and cleaning projects, data management, and even some training in the previously mentioned position. I'm good at analyzing, organizing, and noticing details but I want to steer my career towards my dream job now.
I want to work my way into a video gaming company or at least some type of multimedia/interactive design firm. I know I need to go back to school for computer animation and will do so once I have found a full-time permanent job.
I know that I'm technically unqualified for junior design or animation job openings due to my lack of experience with 3D software, Photoshop, etc. I know that these companies really want designers, progammes, or artists.
My job search hasn't gone well (I've been using mostly the internet) and I'm starting to think cold calling might be in order. Is cold calling effective and if so how does and introverted person like myself prepare themself to do it? Also is the library a better place to research companies than the internet?
Answer
Warm calling (aka networking) is far more productive than cold calling. Please read two articles by Susan Joyce: Tapping the Hidden Job Market: Push and Tapping the Hidden Job Market: Pull to understand how to network effectively.
To answer your question about researching at the library or on the Internet: Why not do both? If your library has up-do-date periodicals and trade publications in your field, you could save money by reading them in the library rather than buying them. And while you're at the library you can use their computer to go online if there's something you want to research that way. Unlike the library, the Internet is open 24/7, so you can always gather tons of info on the web from home or anywhere you take your laptop.
To get help developing employment contacts, consider working with a job search coach. As the coach on my Job Search Team, Roberta Rosen has helped many introverts get high-tech jobs. Feel free to call her to see how she can help.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
A New Career at 52
Question
I've been a software developer for 13 years and just got laid off after only 3 months with the company. I am getting older (52) and don't have the energy I once had to work 50-60 hours a week. I would like to try a different career path and do something a little less stressful. Continue reading...
I've been a software developer for 13 years and just got laid off after only 3 months with the company. I am getting older (52) and don't have the energy I once had to work 50-60 hours a week. I would like to try a different career path and do something a little less stressful. Continue reading...
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Checkered Work History
Question
I have a checkered work history. I recently have been working in my assigned career field involving PC and LAN installations in major hotel chains and other chain stores, but this is only for a temporary installation. For 10 years I have mostly worked in the IT technical services field, but because of the nature of IT services, if you do not work directly for the employer you are working through one of their contract companies such as Volt. The reason why I am mentioning this is the fact that I have gaps in employment, and most recently had to take a low paying security job lasting four years because I could not find an IT job after September 11th and feel these contract companies will frown on it. I feel that as a male the gaps in my employment history are working against me.
Because of my low pay I could not afford to pay my wife’s living expenses and go to school to update my skills in IT services (such as obtaining my MCSE). I have worked in a low paying security position because my wife threatened to kick me out of the door unless I bring in some income. I have been chastised by at least one employer during the interview because of the security job, for not doing enough to elevate my job experience.
How can I explain in the cover letter that my work in security was necessary to pay the bills? Does it show a sense of desperation? It’s very depressing, and because of my security work my wife had to subsidize me to pay the bills, which put her into credit card debt on the order of $30k. The IT market is now rebounding here in Vancouver, BC but credentials from other countries are not recognized. For example, there are pilots, doctors, chemical engineers, and nurses who immigrated here and ended up working as vacuum salesmen, taxi cab drivers and in other low paying positions. So I could not go back into my former line of work as an automotive mechanic or aviation. How do I explain my work history in my cover letter or is that just shooting myself in the foot?
Sincerely,
Frustrated
Answer
by John West Hadley, Career Search Counselor, “Helping Job Seekers Who Are Frustrated With Their Search”
Before you even think about your cover letter, I would advise you to take a step back and carefully examine:
1. What is your career goal? Don’t think just about the job you want right now, imagine where you want it to lead, and what you want to be doing in 5-10 years.
2. What do you need to achieve your goal? What skills, type and depth of experience, and qualities will you need to demonstrate to be able to get there?
3. What would be a good next step in your career that would put you on the road to developing the package you will need?
4. How does the package you have today align with that next step? This is your ‘reality check’ where you take a good hard look at whether this is an achievable next step.
5. Network with others in the field and see what they think. Come up with your strongest marketing message, and results-oriented description of your package, and test-market yourself to those in your network. If you consistently hear that your chosen next step isn’t going to be achievable, find out from them what you would need to do to get there – is there a smaller next step you can take, or critical certifications or training that would make you marketable?
6. Given the multiple-year gap, seriously consider pursuing additional training or certifications anyway – these will show that you haven’t just been doing something unrelated, but have done some work to keep yourself fresh and marketable.
7. What is your set of past accomplishments that will help sell you for this role? Spend a lot of time turning those into compelling, concise results-oriented stories.
8. Does your resume perform its intended role as a strong sales brochure for your candidacy? Given the checkered history, you will probably need to take a ‘functional’ approach to your resume instead of the standard chronological format.
9. Now you can start to think about your cover letter.
Your cover letter needs to show your passion for the particular job, company and operation, so you will need to do a lot of research before composing it. Find people you can network with who work for the company now, or who used to work for the company, or who know something about the operation (e.g., vendors who provided the company services or consultants who have done work for them).
Your letter needs to make a convincing case for why you would be a great addition to their operation. Think about the issues they face that you can help them deal with. Include bullet points that describe related accomplishments and the results you produced for past employers.
The cover letter also needs to describe briefly the package of skills, qualities and experience that you bring to the table, as it is relevant to this role and company. It doesn’t need to repeat everything in your resume, but should highlight the critical pieces that would make a hiring manage sit up and take notice of you.
Finally, it needs to close with confidence. It shouldn’t just express your hope that they will agree to meet with you. The strongest letters assume they will want to bring you in, present dates you are available, and state a specific date and time you will follow up.
Now, to your question about what to reveal about your checkered work history: You need to admit to it, because otherwise you will lose any credibility when it is noticed. The trick is to state it simply, matter-of-factly, without dwelling on it, and then to move on to why the potential employer shouldn’t be concerned about it. Your message is, in effect, “Because of the economic downturn after 9/11, I took a stopgap position in security. In the interim, I have done x, y and z to stay abreast of the market. I’m now ready to return to (your target role), and here is why I believe I would be an outstanding candidate.”
I have a Career Tips email newsletter that each month presents valuable advice on marketing yourself for a career search. I invite you to check out the contents of past issues and then sign up at www.JHACareers.com/Newsletter.htm.
Good luck!
Susan Ireland’s Two Cents
How about trying to slide back over into the high-tech field? Maybe you could identify a high-tech firm in Vancouver that you’d love to work in. Apply to that company for a position in security. Once you have that job, network within the company, learn about IT openings, and maybe you’ll have a better chance at winning the job as a company insider.
I have a checkered work history. I recently have been working in my assigned career field involving PC and LAN installations in major hotel chains and other chain stores, but this is only for a temporary installation. For 10 years I have mostly worked in the IT technical services field, but because of the nature of IT services, if you do not work directly for the employer you are working through one of their contract companies such as Volt. The reason why I am mentioning this is the fact that I have gaps in employment, and most recently had to take a low paying security job lasting four years because I could not find an IT job after September 11th and feel these contract companies will frown on it. I feel that as a male the gaps in my employment history are working against me.
Because of my low pay I could not afford to pay my wife’s living expenses and go to school to update my skills in IT services (such as obtaining my MCSE). I have worked in a low paying security position because my wife threatened to kick me out of the door unless I bring in some income. I have been chastised by at least one employer during the interview because of the security job, for not doing enough to elevate my job experience.
How can I explain in the cover letter that my work in security was necessary to pay the bills? Does it show a sense of desperation? It’s very depressing, and because of my security work my wife had to subsidize me to pay the bills, which put her into credit card debt on the order of $30k. The IT market is now rebounding here in Vancouver, BC but credentials from other countries are not recognized. For example, there are pilots, doctors, chemical engineers, and nurses who immigrated here and ended up working as vacuum salesmen, taxi cab drivers and in other low paying positions. So I could not go back into my former line of work as an automotive mechanic or aviation. How do I explain my work history in my cover letter or is that just shooting myself in the foot?
Sincerely,
Frustrated
Answer
by John West Hadley, Career Search Counselor, “Helping Job Seekers Who Are Frustrated With Their Search”
Before you even think about your cover letter, I would advise you to take a step back and carefully examine:
1. What is your career goal? Don’t think just about the job you want right now, imagine where you want it to lead, and what you want to be doing in 5-10 years.
2. What do you need to achieve your goal? What skills, type and depth of experience, and qualities will you need to demonstrate to be able to get there?
3. What would be a good next step in your career that would put you on the road to developing the package you will need?
4. How does the package you have today align with that next step? This is your ‘reality check’ where you take a good hard look at whether this is an achievable next step.
5. Network with others in the field and see what they think. Come up with your strongest marketing message, and results-oriented description of your package, and test-market yourself to those in your network. If you consistently hear that your chosen next step isn’t going to be achievable, find out from them what you would need to do to get there – is there a smaller next step you can take, or critical certifications or training that would make you marketable?
6. Given the multiple-year gap, seriously consider pursuing additional training or certifications anyway – these will show that you haven’t just been doing something unrelated, but have done some work to keep yourself fresh and marketable.
7. What is your set of past accomplishments that will help sell you for this role? Spend a lot of time turning those into compelling, concise results-oriented stories.
8. Does your resume perform its intended role as a strong sales brochure for your candidacy? Given the checkered history, you will probably need to take a ‘functional’ approach to your resume instead of the standard chronological format.
9. Now you can start to think about your cover letter.
Your cover letter needs to show your passion for the particular job, company and operation, so you will need to do a lot of research before composing it. Find people you can network with who work for the company now, or who used to work for the company, or who know something about the operation (e.g., vendors who provided the company services or consultants who have done work for them).
Your letter needs to make a convincing case for why you would be a great addition to their operation. Think about the issues they face that you can help them deal with. Include bullet points that describe related accomplishments and the results you produced for past employers.
The cover letter also needs to describe briefly the package of skills, qualities and experience that you bring to the table, as it is relevant to this role and company. It doesn’t need to repeat everything in your resume, but should highlight the critical pieces that would make a hiring manage sit up and take notice of you.
Finally, it needs to close with confidence. It shouldn’t just express your hope that they will agree to meet with you. The strongest letters assume they will want to bring you in, present dates you are available, and state a specific date and time you will follow up.
Now, to your question about what to reveal about your checkered work history: You need to admit to it, because otherwise you will lose any credibility when it is noticed. The trick is to state it simply, matter-of-factly, without dwelling on it, and then to move on to why the potential employer shouldn’t be concerned about it. Your message is, in effect, “Because of the economic downturn after 9/11, I took a stopgap position in security. In the interim, I have done x, y and z to stay abreast of the market. I’m now ready to return to (your target role), and here is why I believe I would be an outstanding candidate.”
I have a Career Tips email newsletter that each month presents valuable advice on marketing yourself for a career search. I invite you to check out the contents of past issues and then sign up at www.JHACareers.com/Newsletter.htm.
Good luck!
Susan Ireland’s Two Cents
How about trying to slide back over into the high-tech field? Maybe you could identify a high-tech firm in Vancouver that you’d love to work in. Apply to that company for a position in security. Once you have that job, network within the company, learn about IT openings, and maybe you’ll have a better chance at winning the job as a company insider.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Following Up After Accepting Job Offer
Question
I am working for the largest telecom company of my country. I got a very good packaged job offer matching my salary and role expectations. The company is an offshore startup IT company and is part of a multi-billion dollar foreign telcom. This company will be dedicated to serving the IT/software needs of that parent telcom only. The foreign telcom company has never done any business where they are setting up this startup.
After I got the job offer (in PDF) on 18th of April I accepted to join the company on 16th of June 07. Post to this, I did a couple of follow-ups and as of today the company has not yet setup their HR guidelines, still building a Workplace and there is still confusion as to whether the new employee orientation would be done in the foreign country or by taking a temporary place near the offshore development center.
16th of June is the joining date and I have left my job at this stage. How should I communicate to them so that I get full clarity without letting them feel "This guy is now in a mess," or "This guy does too much follow-up"?
---Angshu
Answer
by John West Hadley, Career Search Counselor, “Helping Job Seekers Who Are Frustrated With Their Search”
Angshu:
First off, what was going on between when you received the offer on April 18 and when you accepted 2 months later? Were you negotiating a better offer? What sort of follow-ups were you doing during that period, what forms did those follow-ups take, who were you in contact with, how often were you talking with various people, and what reactions did you get? What you did during that period, and how you handled those follow-ups will already have set the stage for how you are perceived at your new company.
At this point, you may be building on the strong, professional image you created during the past 2 months, you may be in damage control mode trying to rebuild the reputation you created, or you may be in a relatively neutral situation. Now is the time to get squarely focused on doing everything you can to ensure you are creating outstanding first impressions with your boss and co-workers.
You definitely want to continue to maintain regular contact with your new boss, showing that you are very interested in the job and the challenges you are going to help them solve, and that you are eager to make the best possible contributions to their operation as quickly as possible.
Instead of trying to explicitly set up a discussion on the uncertainties you are concerned about, I would recommend scheduling a meeting or phone conversation with your new boss to explore deeply the challenges he/she and the operation face, how you fit into those, and the expectations for what you are to accomplish on the job in the first weeks and months on the job. In the course of that discussion, it will be natural to ask questions about anything you are uncertain about, so that you will get the information you seek, but with the context focused on what you can do for the operation. If there are any key questions still unsettled at the end of that discussion, particularly ones that are more of a technical or HR-related nature, ask whom the boss might suggest you contact to get those resolved.
You might also ask for any suggestions your new boss can make on what you can do to get up to speed quickly. Perhaps there are product guides, operations manuals, or general industry/company readings he/she can offer you. See if you can get an organization chart, both for his/her operation and the company as a whole. Ask if there are other key members of the operation it would be helpful for you to meet before you start. Then you’ll be in a position to do a lot of research, using LinkedIn and other sources to find out everything you can about the company and the key players that you will be meeting shortly.
For more of what you need to think about when starting a new job, I invite you to check out my articles. One you will find particularly relevant is “Hit The Ground Running In Your New Position.”
You might also be interested in my Career Tips email newsletter. You can check out the contents of past issues on my website.
Good luck!
I am working for the largest telecom company of my country. I got a very good packaged job offer matching my salary and role expectations. The company is an offshore startup IT company and is part of a multi-billion dollar foreign telcom. This company will be dedicated to serving the IT/software needs of that parent telcom only. The foreign telcom company has never done any business where they are setting up this startup.
After I got the job offer (in PDF) on 18th of April I accepted to join the company on 16th of June 07. Post to this, I did a couple of follow-ups and as of today the company has not yet setup their HR guidelines, still building a Workplace and there is still confusion as to whether the new employee orientation would be done in the foreign country or by taking a temporary place near the offshore development center.
16th of June is the joining date and I have left my job at this stage. How should I communicate to them so that I get full clarity without letting them feel "This guy is now in a mess," or "This guy does too much follow-up"?
---Angshu
Answer
by John West Hadley, Career Search Counselor, “Helping Job Seekers Who Are Frustrated With Their Search”
Angshu:
First off, what was going on between when you received the offer on April 18 and when you accepted 2 months later? Were you negotiating a better offer? What sort of follow-ups were you doing during that period, what forms did those follow-ups take, who were you in contact with, how often were you talking with various people, and what reactions did you get? What you did during that period, and how you handled those follow-ups will already have set the stage for how you are perceived at your new company.
At this point, you may be building on the strong, professional image you created during the past 2 months, you may be in damage control mode trying to rebuild the reputation you created, or you may be in a relatively neutral situation. Now is the time to get squarely focused on doing everything you can to ensure you are creating outstanding first impressions with your boss and co-workers.
You definitely want to continue to maintain regular contact with your new boss, showing that you are very interested in the job and the challenges you are going to help them solve, and that you are eager to make the best possible contributions to their operation as quickly as possible.
Instead of trying to explicitly set up a discussion on the uncertainties you are concerned about, I would recommend scheduling a meeting or phone conversation with your new boss to explore deeply the challenges he/she and the operation face, how you fit into those, and the expectations for what you are to accomplish on the job in the first weeks and months on the job. In the course of that discussion, it will be natural to ask questions about anything you are uncertain about, so that you will get the information you seek, but with the context focused on what you can do for the operation. If there are any key questions still unsettled at the end of that discussion, particularly ones that are more of a technical or HR-related nature, ask whom the boss might suggest you contact to get those resolved.
You might also ask for any suggestions your new boss can make on what you can do to get up to speed quickly. Perhaps there are product guides, operations manuals, or general industry/company readings he/she can offer you. See if you can get an organization chart, both for his/her operation and the company as a whole. Ask if there are other key members of the operation it would be helpful for you to meet before you start. Then you’ll be in a position to do a lot of research, using LinkedIn and other sources to find out everything you can about the company and the key players that you will be meeting shortly.
For more of what you need to think about when starting a new job, I invite you to check out my articles. One you will find particularly relevant is “Hit The Ground Running In Your New Position.”
You might also be interested in my Career Tips email newsletter. You can check out the contents of past issues on my website.
Good luck!
Friday, March 09, 2007
Over 50 and Changing Careers in High-Tech
Question
I’m 52 and have been self-employed for over 20 years. During that time I have owned and managed two different boutique marketing services companies that specialize in creating, developing, and managing 3-D marketing environments and face-to-face marketing events. My client base has always been hi-tech/ telcom. My work has been project based, mostly large integrated B-to-B initiatives. My client contact level has always been VP or C level.
Within the next 5 – 7 years I would like to relocate to a new market, one where I currently have no presence, nor can gain it because of the geographic distance.
The market I’d like to move into is smaller and has a growing community of small/medium sized internet based advertising/marketing firms, primarily B-to-C. While I have the management and client interface skills that might be attractive to firms like these, I have no practical experience with web-based advertising/marketing.
My thoughts are this –
• In my current market, I could get a job working for a company similar to ones in my future market in account service/management, even if it’s an entry- or mid-level job.
• Due to my lack of specific experience I don’t think I’m hirable in any other area within my target companies, nor do I have the luxury of time to learn.
• Also dealing with clients, interpreting their needs, and communicating those needs to a creative/technical production team is one of my strong skill sets, though I would require additional OJT for the internet-based technical production.
• This would give me 3 – 5 years of specific practical experience before I make my move.
After this diatribe, here are my questions –
• Will anyone hire me in an entry level/mid-level position at age 52, specifically considering that the firms I would look to are populated with 25-35 year olds (though I do have the ability to engage and work well with that group)?
• How would I structure a resume to get considered? Moving into a new and smaller market, will I be employable with this addition to my resume at age 57-58?
Any other thoughts? Thanks for your time.
-- David
Answer
by Bridget Oakes, Senior Search Consultant
Monster has an interesting article, Career Change and the Seasoned Worker by Susan Bryant. While the advice in this article applies to your situation in a general sense, I’m sure it’s not the whole answer.
Let’s take your questions one by one:
Will anyone hire me into an entry level/mid-level position at age 52, specifically considering that the firms I would look to are populated with 25-35 year olds (though I do have the ability to engage and work well with that group)?
I want to be clear: Age discrimination is a very real problem, but I don’t think that’s the challenge you’ll be facing in your situation. Yes, many of these internet marketing firms are populated by the “wired” generation, but that doesn’t mean that relevant experience isn’t of value in these companies. However, you do have two huge disadvantages here:
How would I structure a resume to get considered?
In a situation like this, a resume is not your friend. This is not a situation where you can apply for positions in the local newspaper or online and expect to see results. Get off the internet and get on the phone. Talk to these people and give them your sales pitch. I’m sure you’ve made cold calls before, and that’s exactly what it’s going to take now.
Moving into a new and smaller market, will I be employable with this addition to my resume at age 57-58?
That will depend on your quality of experience, quality of results, and ability to apply that experience to the new market, all of which will be more relevant than your date of birth.
However you approach the situation, this is going to be a challenge and I make no guarantees it will work.
Some General Thoughts:
David, I wish you the best of luck with this challenging transition.
Bridget Oakes is a Senior Search Consultant with Partners in Technology. With nearly 10 years experience in executive search and recruiting, she is well equipped to provide advice and guidance to candidates searching for new careers, and welcomes the opportunity to do so through The Job Lounge.
Susan Ireland’s Two Cents
Job Lounger, do you have a question? Email (joblounge@aol.com) it to me and I’ll post your question and an expert’s answer here in The Job Lounge.
I’m 52 and have been self-employed for over 20 years. During that time I have owned and managed two different boutique marketing services companies that specialize in creating, developing, and managing 3-D marketing environments and face-to-face marketing events. My client base has always been hi-tech/ telcom. My work has been project based, mostly large integrated B-to-B initiatives. My client contact level has always been VP or C level.
Within the next 5 – 7 years I would like to relocate to a new market, one where I currently have no presence, nor can gain it because of the geographic distance.
The market I’d like to move into is smaller and has a growing community of small/medium sized internet based advertising/marketing firms, primarily B-to-C. While I have the management and client interface skills that might be attractive to firms like these, I have no practical experience with web-based advertising/marketing.
My thoughts are this –
• In my current market, I could get a job working for a company similar to ones in my future market in account service/management, even if it’s an entry- or mid-level job.
• Due to my lack of specific experience I don’t think I’m hirable in any other area within my target companies, nor do I have the luxury of time to learn.
• Also dealing with clients, interpreting their needs, and communicating those needs to a creative/technical production team is one of my strong skill sets, though I would require additional OJT for the internet-based technical production.
• This would give me 3 – 5 years of specific practical experience before I make my move.
After this diatribe, here are my questions –
• Will anyone hire me in an entry level/mid-level position at age 52, specifically considering that the firms I would look to are populated with 25-35 year olds (though I do have the ability to engage and work well with that group)?
• How would I structure a resume to get considered? Moving into a new and smaller market, will I be employable with this addition to my resume at age 57-58?
Any other thoughts? Thanks for your time.
-- David
Answer
by Bridget Oakes, Senior Search Consultant
Monster has an interesting article, Career Change and the Seasoned Worker by Susan Bryant. While the advice in this article applies to your situation in a general sense, I’m sure it’s not the whole answer.
Let’s take your questions one by one:
Will anyone hire me into an entry level/mid-level position at age 52, specifically considering that the firms I would look to are populated with 25-35 year olds (though I do have the ability to engage and work well with that group)?
I want to be clear: Age discrimination is a very real problem, but I don’t think that’s the challenge you’ll be facing in your situation. Yes, many of these internet marketing firms are populated by the “wired” generation, but that doesn’t mean that relevant experience isn’t of value in these companies. However, you do have two huge disadvantages here:
#1 – You are competing for jobs for which there are many qualified candidates.
If I was reviewing resumes for entry- to mid-level positions, and I came across someone with your level of experience, I would think, “Not the right experience and way too expensive” and promptly move on to the next resume. Many employers have also had bad experiences with the recently “self-employed”, as they can be unwilling to take direction from others. I’m not saying this is the case with you, I’m saying it’s another hurdle you’ll have to face in the process.
To overcome this, you are going to have to aggressively market yourself to companies in this field, and address these concerns directly. Sell your skills that directly apply to the position (like client interface and management) and your willingness to consider lower level positions to learn this new business. You must be absolutely clear that salary, benefits, management status, title, etc., are your secondary considerations. You are in this to gain experience on the cutting edge of this technology.
#2 – Your motives may not appeal to employers. You are looking to gain experience in your current region with the long-term goal of relocating to a new area in the next couple of years. Many companies will see your attempt to use them as “stepping stones”, which might raise some big red flags.
This is going to be more difficult to overcome, and with the exception of not mentioning your long-term goals, I can’t think of a way around the issue. However, your long-term goals will likely be discussed in any interview, so it’s best to face it head on and honestly, and let the potential employer decide if this is a relationship they are willing to pursue.
How would I structure a resume to get considered?
In a situation like this, a resume is not your friend. This is not a situation where you can apply for positions in the local newspaper or online and expect to see results. Get off the internet and get on the phone. Talk to these people and give them your sales pitch. I’m sure you’ve made cold calls before, and that’s exactly what it’s going to take now.
Moving into a new and smaller market, will I be employable with this addition to my resume at age 57-58?
That will depend on your quality of experience, quality of results, and ability to apply that experience to the new market, all of which will be more relevant than your date of birth.
However you approach the situation, this is going to be a challenge and I make no guarantees it will work.
Some General Thoughts:
Evaluate your plan.
What specifically is holding you back from making forays into your target market now? Geography has never been less of an issue! Along the same lines, what is prohibiting you from maintaining your current client base and business model from a new location?
Get serious about the change.
Make the time to learn these new skills; taking the time to do this is critical to any business let alone a job search. You need to make a commitment to learn about these new technical skills. You cannot expect that someone will be willing to take the time to teach and train you. Making an honest effort to learn these things on your own will be a giant leap in the right direction and will serve you well when you discuss potential employment.
Enlist help.
You may want to try to locate a search firm that specializes in your targeted field, and talk to them about how to approach this career change. You will face challenges here as well because the search firm will have to face these same issues when marketing you to companies.
Examine other possibilities.
Do you have existing clients that could benefit from working with an internet-based advertising/marketing firm? Is this a way to build a relationship with a firm in your desired geographic area and partner with them to expand the services you currently offer?
David, I wish you the best of luck with this challenging transition.
Bridget Oakes is a Senior Search Consultant with Partners in Technology. With nearly 10 years experience in executive search and recruiting, she is well equipped to provide advice and guidance to candidates searching for new careers, and welcomes the opportunity to do so through The Job Lounge.
Susan Ireland’s Two Cents
Job Lounger, do you have a question? Email (joblounge@aol.com) it to me and I’ll post your question and an expert’s answer here in The Job Lounge.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Overcoming Stigmatism of Current Job
Question
My husband has been looking for a job in 3d design for over a year. He is very talented (and not just because he is my husband). He graduated in 2004. He knows that his window of opportunity is closing because of the constant updates in computer programs. He is employed now in a maintenance job. A recent meeting with a company told him that they easily bypass him because of the year he graduated and his current job.
My question is, how does he overcome the stigmatism of his current job and his graduation date? Is there anything he can do to eliminate this problem? Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated! -- Christy
Answer
by Bob McDonald, Director of Career Services
Your husband isn’t alone. I have also been where’s he’s been. Among the items on my resume are moving furniture and selling meat grinders. (Yes, you read right. Meat grinders.)
But all is not lost. First, your husband should remember to keep his 3-D design and computer skills at the top of his resume. I generally recommend in a career transition such as this to go with a Functional Resume format. Also, be sure to focus on Transferable Skills to emphasize as well.
For the interview, have your husband try to give examples from all aspects of his career, including school. This will be especially helpful if the interviewer throws in Behavioral Interview Questions.
Finally, it never hurts to check out the local library or the Web for industry-related periodicals that have articles pertaining to the latest software. That way, though he may not have his hands on the latest software, he’ll be able to effectively evaluate his current software skills.
Note from Susan Ireland
Job Lounger, do you have a question? Email it to me and I’ll post your question and an expert’s answer here in The Job Lounge.
My husband has been looking for a job in 3d design for over a year. He is very talented (and not just because he is my husband). He graduated in 2004. He knows that his window of opportunity is closing because of the constant updates in computer programs. He is employed now in a maintenance job. A recent meeting with a company told him that they easily bypass him because of the year he graduated and his current job.
My question is, how does he overcome the stigmatism of his current job and his graduation date? Is there anything he can do to eliminate this problem? Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated! -- Christy
Answer
by Bob McDonald, Director of Career Services
Your husband isn’t alone. I have also been where’s he’s been. Among the items on my resume are moving furniture and selling meat grinders. (Yes, you read right. Meat grinders.)
But all is not lost. First, your husband should remember to keep his 3-D design and computer skills at the top of his resume. I generally recommend in a career transition such as this to go with a Functional Resume format. Also, be sure to focus on Transferable Skills to emphasize as well.
For the interview, have your husband try to give examples from all aspects of his career, including school. This will be especially helpful if the interviewer throws in Behavioral Interview Questions.
Finally, it never hurts to check out the local library or the Web for industry-related periodicals that have articles pertaining to the latest software. That way, though he may not have his hands on the latest software, he’ll be able to effectively evaluate his current software skills.
Note from Susan Ireland
Job Lounger, do you have a question? Email it to me and I’ll post your question and an expert’s answer here in The Job Lounge.
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