I’m real funny about asking people for recommendations, referrals and introductions. I reserve the request for when I really need it and only when I think the person being asked to comment on me knows me well enough to make one of the three types of commentaries –and they are all different – comfortably, honestly and knowledgeably. You can imagine I get downright prickly when people I barely know ask me for introductions, much less recommendations directly or on LinkedIn. Let’s define what each approach is so we are clear and you don’t offend others or embarrass yourself: • Recommendation – This is an endorsement of someone, their skills, character, etc. The recommending person has firsthand experience with the person in question (you). This is the stuff references are made of and the recommender’s comments should speak to specific competencies, not a recitation of your résumé. He or she has Learn more...

I have a good friend whose position is being eliminated soon. She doesn’t know when; her boss (owner of a small business) is flexible as to when she needs to leave, within reason. She has gotten the owner to agree to a 4 day workweek so she can schedule job interviews one of the days during the week. She is weighing getting paid for the 4 days against collecting unemployment, which she knows is all but inevitable. I have suggested she consider leaving now, asking for whatever severance pay (however small, always worth asking for), free herself to devote 100% of her time to her job search and collect unemployment (God knows I don’t know how much longer that will be available either, if at all). She is still ramping up in terms of refining her search strategy and revising her résumé. Her thought is to send out a bunch Learn more...

As I put the finishing touches on my book, Career Mapping: Don’t Waste Another Minute, Find Your Dream Job Now!, I’m looking for anecdotes about successes and roadblocks that people have encountered from people who are in transition – you might have been out of the market for a year or more, could be returning from a sabbatical, family business or military service. You might also be starting a business after having had a more traditional “job,” or vice versa, looking for a traditional “job” after having been self-employed for some time. I welcome your stories and appreciate your assistance.

..on Derrick Ashong’s show last Saturday talking about job hunting tips. I’m about 25 minutes into the segment. Click Here or go to: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/7308444

Take a second to answer two quick questions and receive a preview chapter from my upcoming book, Career Mapping: Finding Your Dream Job When who you are, what you do, and what you believe are integrated into the kind of work you do, feelings of satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment will abound. But you have to take responsibility for your career.

While many people are wringing their hands over needing to find a job, there are some who have landed them, but are embarrassed by their job. It’s not even that they don’t like the job (although that will likely follow without a change in thinking), they just didn’t see themselves in this industry, company or role. I can appreciate needing to take “anything that pays” to cover student loans family medical bills or rent, but don’t overlook what the employer might see in you – namely your ability to get the job done based on your past work experience and/or personal qualities. • Avoid “group think,” especially if you are coming out of school where you’ve been living in an arguably artificial environment. Have your own mind and confidence in your choices. As an example, consumer packaged goods and advertising are NOT “the only” industries within which to earn your Learn more...

Many of us are having to pursue job opportunities in areas we hadn’t considered or are being pushed out of jobs we are no longer skilled in or can’t stand any longer. How do you effectively transition into a whole new field? • Entry Level: Review early jobs and coursework that appealed to you. Determine the characteristics that might align with job functions and industries that currently have the highest demand for jobs. • Mid-Level: This is the ideal time to transition. You have a history of performance to talk about. You need not have performed the specific function, but are able to demonstrate a deep understanding of the function and/or industries and link those to your earlier exposure and experience to create a compelling case for transitioning. • Executive Level: You might be feeling locked into a certain track and expected to “go the distance.” Resist the temptation to Learn more...

The government is seeking to put the pieces back together of a damaged economy with its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”). Certainly job losses of 3.6 million in this current recession dwarf the recessions of 1990-91 and 2001. Regardless of your political views on whose fault it is or how the government and/or the private sector should get us out of this, the fact remains you need a plan to secure employment if you’ve lost your job or to keep your job if you are employed. I vote for creating your Personal Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“PRRA”). Unlike the government’s plan, the PRRA does not necessarily involve spending money. It does require recovering the skills, education and other currency you might have left on the table and reinvesting those assets to build your value as an employee or consultant. You can jump-start your career and job opportunities Learn more...

I was talking to a friend recently who is a VP of human resources. We work out at the same health club and commented on how shocking it is when people with whom you establish eye contact – and to whom you might even say “hello” (because you’ve seen them every other day at 6:00am for 5 years) can’t bring themselves to smile, much less say “hello.” She mentioned the name of someone I know who behaves this way and I know this person is out of work. Now wouldn’t you think someone in job search mode would be completely gracious, respectful and outgoing as often as possible? You never know when you are encountering someone who might be in a position to help you professionally. You simply can’t afford to judge people based on appearances, especially when you are not in a professional or business setting; that means at Learn more...

One of the most important parts of managing relationships and effective networking is being able to tell someone about yourself in only a couple of minutes – the length of an elevator ride. What exactly would you say if you found yourself on an elevator or at a cocktail party with the hiring manager for a job you really want and you had 2-3 minutes? Here are some do’s and don’ts to help perfect your pitch: • Don’t try to cram your entire career into 60 seconds. • Do give highlights of most prestigious and recent roles, including company name and title. • Don’t assume people know or understand your space. • Do describe and quantify – industry segment, budget, revenues, employees, etc. • Don’t oversell or ask favors – you are meeting for the first time. • Do be clear about what you think your strengths are. • Don’t Learn more...