| Career Corner |
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1. I am a recent college grad and I’m terrified of the current job market. Are there particular industries or parts of the country you think I’d have better luck pursuing? Although the national unemployment rate is hovering close to 10 percent, rates differ from region to region. Google your local community for jobless rates and what industries have been more or less affected. Generally speaking, jobs across all sectors have been impacted — especially in auto, retail and manufacturing. Nonprofits have also been impacted due to a downturn in contributions. But jobs in health care and the government — thanks in part to billions in stimulus money — are good places to look. Teachers are still in demand nationwide, as are skilled workers in construction and technology. Work from home opportunities in direct sales are booming. If you do not have a particular skill, look around, see what might interest you and then consider learning it with an eye toward doing a specific job. You can always switch to something else later, but in the meantime you’ll have a paycheck. For better or worse, as a new grad you’ll be less expensive than more experienced professionals who are also on the market. That offers you an advantage among small businesses, which is a great place to look too. 2. With so many people vying for such few job openings, do I need to move quickly to accept a job offer to ensure that it’s not passed on to another candidate? The short answer: yes. While your education and background may allow you to be picky to some extent, don’t count on it. There are many people in line these days — some much more desperate than you are — and they’d be happy to take the job you’ve been offered, perhaps for less money. This is a buyer’s market, which means check your ego at the door. At times like this, take the job even if it’s hardly perfect, get the steady paycheck and keep looking in your free time. 3. I am looking at changing careers and trying to determine which of my skills are most transferable. What in your opinion are the most important “common” skills I could take from one job to the next? The best common transferable skills are the ones that are going to make your new employer money. Someone with an ability to teach or persuade people — a teacher, for example — might do very well in sales using those same skills. Make a list of specific tasks that you do well — then compare them to skills that are required in the new career that interests you. An employer can teach you its industry, but you’re expected to bring the drive and ambition to get results. You’ll want to have concrete examples of how you’ve done just that in your previous roles. 4. I’m a new mom and my maternity leave is about to expire. How do I approach my employer about working from home? If I need to pursue a new career, what are the best careers that would enable me to work from home? If you’d like to work from home after your maternity leave ends, be prepared to show your employer how working from home will help them and the bottom line, and not exclusively you. That may be an increasingly difficult hurdle in a recession, as companies retreat from some of the perks that were becoming increasingly common such as working from home. Put your request in writing and detail how communication and workflow will be handled. Take baby steps: if you’d like to work three days a week from home, inquire about the possibility of trying one day at first. That way you’re less apt to scare your boss with a concept that might be new to him/her. Suggest a trial period — such as three months — instead of a permanent change. Offer ways to evaluate the effectiveness of this arrangement from all perspectives. There are plenty of legitimate work from home and direct sales jobs out there, but be careful of any opportunity that promises lots of money for little work. Those are scams. 5. In this challenging economy when available jobs are incredibly competitive, is it okay to follow up with a phone call after submitting a resume? I know a lot of postings say "no calls please" but I want to show my enthusiasm and ambition for the position. Even though some HR professionals prefer not to be bothered, I say, yes, pick up the phone to differentiate yourself from the pack in a positive way. Start with an email first to follow up on an initial inquiry about a position. If you get no reply, wait a day or two and then follow up with a phone call. Be polite and explain that you’re highly qualified for the position and just wanted to touch base to show your interest personally. Don’t call to ask if your resume has been received; that’s the kind of inquiry nobody likes, especially since they’re not about to sift through the pile to give you an answer. 6. I was recently laid off from a job where I was paid a very high salary. How do I make sure my former high salary doesn’t knock me out of contention for a lower paying job I’m interested in? For starters, have no reference to your past salary on your resume and if it comes up on an interview, try to deflect conversation away from your previous salary and focus on your interest in the job at hand. If pressed, you can say while you were highly compensated in your previous position, times have changed and you accept that completely. Steer the conversation toward your strong desire to return to work and be clear that you’re open to a wide range of salaries that are commensurate with the requirements of the role. Also, you should discuss the fact that the total compensation package is important to you, which goes well beyond salary. Even issues such as commuting distance and company culture contribute to package. 7. I keep hearing about all the new jobs the President’s economic stimulus package is creating – how do I find these jobs and best take advantage of them? Promising to create or save over 3 million jobs, President Obama signed the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in February. Since then, job seekers have been eager to benefit from the act -- commonly known as the stimulus plan. This page <http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-stimulus_job_watch-794> at Yahoo.com is designed to provide resources that can help, and is updated as new developments warrant. Another source: Your local unemployment office. Check with the Career One Stop to ask where exactly stimulus money is being spent locally on jobs in your area. It may range from infrastructure repair and green jobs to training for emerging needs. 8. I’ve been seriously considering leaving my traditional corporate job for a non-traditional career path in an area that has been a lifelong hobby for me and about which I am truly passionate. How do I decide whether it’s worth it to take the plunge? As someone who went for her passion, I fully support it if you’ve done your homework. First and foremost you need to have a firm grasp on your finances and whether you have enough to support yourself for a year should the new gig be a bust. Second, determine how exactly your lifelong hobby is going to generate enough income. What are the revenue streams? Are your financial projections realistic? Have you thoroughly thought out this new idea in terms of a business? Third, take out two pieces of paper and write down all the plusses and minuses of leaving your current job. Then write down the plusses and minuses for doing something new: compare and contrast both sheets. That should give you some idea if it’s worth going for it right now. 9. I’m about to have my first day at a new job. What tips do you have for making a great first impression? Arrive early. Stay late. In other words, don’t be a clock-watcher. Dress appropriately. Ask questions to get to know your new colleagues—what’s your role, how does it fit in with this department, how long have you been here, what’s your background. Spend time with the boss to establish short- and long-term expectations. What would he or she like you to tackle in the first 30, 60 and 90 days and who will support your efforts to get there. Accept lunch invitations. It’s better to mix and mingle with co-workers to get to know the lay of the land instead of staying sequestered at your desk. Finally, don’t reveal everything about yourself personally. Keep it professional at first so you form a strong initial impression. 10. I have been unemployed for several months and keeping getting the advice that the current economic climate makes this a great time to pursue a higher degree. Do you agree with this advice, and how do I decide whether this is the right path for me? Don’t get a degree just because you can’t find a job. If returning to school is just a reason to put off looking for work and will result in school debt that will affect you and your family, it’s best to keep looking for a new job despite these tough times. If a degree was something you thought of before the recession and you are clear about how it’ll impact your career growth, then it’s wise to look at your options. |
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