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Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Do you need a mentor?
If you have ever found yourself struggling with a decision and questioning what direction to take, you could need a mentor.
Behind almost every successful person, chances are there's a mentor. In fact, finding a good mentor is one of the best career strategies you can make this year, and it is worth your time to start watching those who could help provide you with the organizational insight and wisdom you need to move ahead.
Start by focusing on what you need from a mentor. Conduct a career inventory based on your goals you most need to develop. Ask yourself who would be the best person to advise you on ways to grow professionally? Who is a good role model? This is a very important step: You need to develop clear goals before you ask someone to help you.
Finding a mentor is not that hard. The best relationships usually start over a shared project or a common goal. In fact, don't reach out to just one person; you'll benefit more from mentoring relationships with at least two people, because you'll be getting multiple perspectives on key topics.
Should your mentor be someone inside or outside your organization? You probably will get the most well-rounded perspective if you have both. But, the mentor outside your organization needs to understand your career interests and your field in order to give good advice.
The person you ask to mentor you needs to have a genuine attitude of care and concern. When thinking about who would make a good mentor, consider people who not only are more knowledgeable in a certain area, but will inspire you and challenge you to grow. In many cases, choosing someone with a different problem-solving style will give you a unique perspective.
Simply put, you need to feel comfortable with your mentoring relationship, and there needs to be mutual respect and admiration.
When choosing a mentor look for the following characteristics:
? Self-confidence: You want someone who is not threatened by those who want higher goals or greater achievement.
? A desire to help others: Look for a person who enjoys helping people succeed and takes the time to listen to people and give feedback.
? Values your personality: Someone who accepts your differences while inspiring you to grow in areas needed to achieve your goals will have the most impact.
? A keen sense of organizational politics and structure: A person with these strengths can teach you timing and ways to effectively communicate.
? A willingness to share their connections: You want a mentor who can introduce you to their network and help expand your professional connections.
? Emotional intelligence: Someone who adapts their communication style to their audience can work comfortably with diverse groups, a sought-after skill.
Having a mentor makes good career sense, and in today's turbulent market it helps to have someone on your side to keep you grounded.
Do you have a mentor? If so, how have you benefited from your mentoring relationship?
| Jan 18 at 07:03 AM
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Five ways to increase your salary in 2011
Planning for a job search takes a great deal of time and effort, however the least amount of preparation often goes into one of the most important factors associated with employment: compensation issues.
Salary discussions can be intense, especially when the stakes are high and the job market is crowded. Learning how to present your value in a clear and concise way will help pave the road to a salary increase. Whether you are job searching or staying in your current job, increasing your salary begins with planning and researching.
Here are some steps you can take right now to start working toward a salary increase.
The first step is to improve your visibility in your department or company by making an effort to stay in contact with decision-makers while doing your job well. Project a positive image. Volunteer to be on committees where you can build relationships on that common ground. Maintain communication with your boss by asking how you can help, discussing projects and sharing information. Don't wait until you must communicate with your boss, to do so. Developing a good working relationship with your boss is a part of career development.
The second step to increasing your salary is to research the market and make sure your compensation is up to par with your current role, or if you're job searching, learn the going rate for the job you're seeking. What you made in the past really isn't relevant to a salary discussion for a new position. The focus should be on the current market rate for your position. Compensation websites can offer a broad view on the current market rate for a position, but take your research a step further and get more information from your contacts in the field.
The third step you can take is to start a career journal that documents your accomplishments. This serves two purposes: it supports a salary increase and it keeps your resume updated. Record your achievements by citing examples of how you increased productivity, reduced expenses for your employer or created new systems. The more you can quantify your accomplishments, the more memorable they become when talking about salary increases.
The fourth step is go back to school and take classes that will add to your degree or certification. Staying current in your field by continuing education usually pays off when discussing salary issues. Employers are interested in people who display the initiative to improve their knowledge and skill sets.
Finally, if you feel your career has been stagnating and there is not a clear upward path, consider starting a job search. A new job might be just what you need to increase your compensation. As always, take the time to do your due diligence, and if a job sounds too good to be true, or the pay seems too high, stop and think before accepting.
While not everyone wants a promotion, people do want to be rewarded for a job well done. Only you can know when it's time to move on.
How have you negotiated a salary increase?
| Jan 11 at 09:16 AM
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Five job-search habits that are keepers
Habits can be a double-edged sword, some are great and others can be your worst enemy, keeping you from achieving your career dreams. This is a good time to look at your habits and jettison those that do not add depth to your career growth and enhance your job search.
When you think of a job search, think in terms of many pieces that are combined with a personalized touch to form your introduction. These include: Chemistry, work experience, and a communication style that makes you unique. While everyone has a unique job-search experience, there are core habits that create a solid foundation that every successful job seeker has in common.
The top five job-search habits that you should keep this year are:
1. Be persistent: being persistent with your job-search goals helps keep you focused and on track. It's easy to let your job search go by the wayside when employers are not responsive, but the one habit that will energize your search is persistence. Having a tenacious attitude keeps you moving forward.
2. Follow up: Following up is one habit that can make the difference between those who land a great opportunity and those who miss out. There are so many ways to follow up with people including e-mail, texting, phone calls, social networking, in-person meetings and letters. Remember that following up is a powerful way to keep your name in front of a decision maker and the perception you send is one of motivation.
3. Be resilient: Staying resilient will keep your attitude in check and help you thrive in a competitive job-search market. While resilience is partly a trait one is born with, it can be developed, and it helps you cope with the unplanned events life often brings. Being able to regulate stress and bounce back is key component in a good job search.
4. Stay connected: Keep yourself in the loop by maintaining a good presence online as well as in person. Stayconnected to the trends in your field by attending professional association meetings and reading trade journals that discuss current and future trends in your field. Those who stay connected increase their chances of uncovering a great opportunity.
5. Give back: A successful job search is made up exchanging information. It's a two-way street of sharing conversation, time and information with people. Volunteering is a great way to help people and keep your skills current. Giving back sends a message of goodwill that comes back to you in unexpected ways.
Keeping these five habits will help your job-search efforts and your career in general. Success in life largely depends on the habits you keep, and developing awareness of what works for you is crucial as you move into 2011. Good habits free you from an unproductive job search, and at the end of the day these habits will give you a sense of achievement.
| Jan 04 at 08:34 AM
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
More on making 2011 the year of the great job
I ran this list of job-search resolutions in my Sunday, Dec. 26, Houston Chronicle column, but there's so much information out there to help you get off to a great 2011, that I've got the same list here, plus I've added links to resources that can help you take these points from job-search resolutions to job-search solutions.
If your job search has not been as productive as you were hoping, or the thought of staying in your same job much longer evokes feelings of dread, it might be time to try some new techniques .
Here are resolutions to ramp up your job search:
1. Know your interests you before you start your search. This will ensure you conversations produce information you can use.
2. Lead your conversations. Write down the strengths and skills that make you unique. Be able to communicate in a clear way and focused way. Start each conversation with the goal in mind.
3. Be aware that employers hire individuals they like. If you need to strengthen your rapport-building skills, start attending networking events.
4. Develop a job search plan and review it weekly, making necessary updates to reflect that week's successes.
5. Stay flexible. If you've been searching for months and haven't had any breakthroughs, try something different.
6. Make wise use of your time by spending your days on job-search activities that give you information about opportunities and help you expand your list of contacts. Don't ask for a job, ask for information.
7. Stay motivated by maintaining a good attitude and remembering that it takes time to land a good opportunity. Take a few steps every day and stick with your plan.
8. Practice the art of follow-up. Make it a habit to follow up on all information you receive. It's almost impossible to predict where your next job will surface. Add follow-up dates to your plan.
9. Focus on where you are going and not where you have been. Don't try to duplicate your old job, move forward.
10. Incorporate learning into your search. Many times the act of researching information will open doors and provide fresh ideas.
A career transition can be a new start, if you accept change and use it for growth. Now is a great time to reflect on what you have been doing and consider adding goals to your search.
Planning can make the difference between those who land a job and those who go through a search "free floating." Start out the year by incorporating these resolutions into your job search, and see what happens.
| Dec 28 at 07:00 AM
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Free job hunt help from national outplacement firm
Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., the outplacement company, will provide free job search and employment transition via telephone on December 27 and 28, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm CST.
Normally Challenger is hired by companies to help laid off workers find new jobs. The two-day call-in is the only time non-clients can get help from the firm's professional counselors.
Who is eligible: anyone who is looking for a job, whether they are unemployed, wanting to switch jobs or re-entering the job market after a long absence. Job seekers can reach a counselor by calling 312-422-5010. Standard phone charges do apply.
| Dec 23 at 08:03 AM
Monday, December 20, 2010
Memorable 2010 job-search stories
Here's the best one I've heard this year: It happened to a someone who landed a great job in very short time -- three weeks -- during the recession. She also got an increase in compensation when there was nothing but bad employment news all around her.
What made this one so memorable was that she landed it without a resume, through her contacts and supported by strong references. The power of who you know is always significant, and although a resume plays a role in your search, it's not necessarily why you get hired.
Here's her background: She had been in one job for several years, but things started to be unstable after a series of company reorganizations. The first wave of layoffs eliminated several positions, and got her attention and she started thinking ahead.
She kept her job through several months of organizational change, but earlier this year, her position finally was eliminated. So, how did she land her next job so quickly?
There are several factors that contributed to her successful, and quick, job search.
? She accepted the idea that she might need to find another job, even though she still was working full time. That gave her time to plan.
? While she was under no pressure to look for a job, she started reaching out to her contacts.
? Researching the trends in her field helped her develop good questions she used when networking.
? She made it a priority to attend professional and social events.
? While she was still working, she stayed in touch with her references.
What makes a job search memorable? When it confirms that who you know is often all you need to land a great job in record-breaking time. Most job seekers tend to overlook the power of contacts and spend an enormous amount of time on the formalities of a search.
You do need a strong resume, but never discount the importance of who you know.
Use the comments below to share some of your memorable job-search stories.
| Dec 20 at 12:06 PM
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Free technology tutorial for small businesses
The U.S. Small Business Administration and Microsoft have developed a free guide to using technology to improve the small business owner's chances for success. Business Technology Simplified is available in a printed format in SBA district offices and local SBA resource partners, or it may be accessed online as an electronic publication and as an electronic distance learning course. It offers practical tips on simplifying work tasks, do it yourself marketing, cloud computing, time management, finding and cultivating customers, and much more.
To access the course, go to www.sba.gov/training, then click Business Technology Simplified in the "Highlighted Courses" section. It is one of nearly 30 online tutorials offered by the SBA, and is available 24/7.
| Dec 14 at 08:18 AM
Does your holiday job search have you stressed?
Keeping your job search moving during the holidays is a smart move, but it can add an extra measure of stress to the season. It's a balancing act of enjoying family and holiday activities while staying motivated to land that job.
Staying enthusiastic about your search takes energy, and it can be challenging to keep a positive attitude when job-related numbers keep wavering.
Keep in mind that a job search can be described as a marathon rather than a sprint, and staying with it is really a mental exercise that involves maintaining a healthy stress level.
Holidays bring an enormous number of expectations, many of which involve a constant stream of shopping ads and endless lists of gifts. Add these holiday expectations to the uncertainty of the job market, and if you're not careful, stress can put a damper on your festivities.
It helps to recognize what can cause holiday-related stress. You can find it in family traditions, wishful thinking, disrupted schedules, financial pressures, having the perfectly decorated house and the pressures of family gatherings.
There are a number of strategies you can use to stay enthusiastic about your job search during this time of year so you can enjoy the holidays while taking care of your employment goals.
The key to managing stress is to take care of such priorities as your health and keeping family communication open.
Ways to manage holiday stress:
Keep your job search active, and spend time on it every day.
Get outside. Walking is a great change of pace.
Listen to soothing music. Give your mind a break and relax.
Plan a budget and stick to it to prevent unnecessary expenses.
Keep a healthy perspective on the holidays and on your job search.
If you don't have a job-search plan, make one. If you do have one, keep working it. Planning reduces stress, and it gives your efforts direction.
Enjoying the holidays during your job search requires a determined focus and the ability to live in the present while planning for the future. Managing your stress will make the next few weeks more enjoyable and memorable.
| Dec 14 at 07:00 AM
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
What happens at the office party does not stay at the office party
Fewer companies are holding office parties this holiday season, based on the results of a survey conducted by Amrop Battalia Winston, an executive search firm. But, while there may be fewer parties, those that do hold office parties will provide more alcohol.
If your company is sponsoring a party this year, it's a good idea to attend because not only do you have a chance to mingle with coworkers and decision-makers in a relaxed setting, but you show your support for work-sponsored events with your presence.
Here's the thing about office parties: You can have a great time, make some meaningful contacts and relax with coworkers but you need to keep things professional. This doesn't mean you have to be boring, but it does mean you should stay alert to your surroundings.
You can have fun at your office holiday party. In fact, these events give you a chance to practice balancing your social and professional skills.
What happens at the office party does not stay at the office party. Your actions at the party will be remembered by your boss and others who may be observing you for future plans with the company. And, thanks to Facebook and Twitter, what happens at these events can catch the attention of recruiters and hiring decisions-makers who might be thinking of your for a new position.
The key is to remember you are still at work just in a more social and relaxed way.
Here are some tips that will help you make the most of your company's office party:
Check on policies about inviting a guest and RSVP as soon as possible. It helps the people who are ordering food and beverages.
Don't let being anxious in crowds keep you from attending. If appropriate, ask a friend to join you, or attend with a colleague who can introduce you to people.
Prepare to keep conversations moving by planning questions that help you you learn something as well as share information.
Don't gossip. It can put you in an awkward situation when you turn around and find your boss listening to the conversation.
Notice nonverbal language, and pay attention to cues that it is time to change topics or move on to another conversation. Don't try to force a business conversation when you sense a socializing mood.
Don't stay in one group, move around and make contact with as many people as possible.
Avoid discussing work problems. This is not the place to vent your frustrations.
Keep count of how many drinks you have consumed, as alcohol tends to muddle the balance between social and professional settings. Alcohol can make having conversations less stressful, but it also can make professional contacts take a second look at you if things get out of hand.
Use good manners. Show your gratitude even if the food is not quite up to par, for example. Don't complain about the parking, the location or the service.
Dress appropriately. This is a work-sponsored event so treat it as an extension of work. An office party includes those who determine your next career moves.
Although the setting may feel more relaxed, don't ask your boss about salary increases or opportunities to advance your career. Conversations like this can easily put your boss in an awkward position.
What is your opinion of office parties? Are they valuable?
| Dec 07 at 08:22 AM
Thursday, December 02, 2010
White House chides Republicans on unemployment extension
The White House warned Thursday that two million Americans will lose unemployment benefits by the end of December unless Congress extends emergency rules that let the jobless collect benefits for up to 99 weeks, as opposed to the standard 26 weeks.
Nearly seven million Americans will lose the extra weeks of support during 2011 according to a White House report that made an economic as well as a humanitarian case for the continuation of these extraordinary benefits.
"Letting millions more Americans fall into hardship will hurt our economy at this critical point in our recovery and immediately undermine consumer spending," said CEA Chairman Austan Goolsbee.
As previously reported by the Chronicle, Republicans have insited that all Bush era tax cuts be renewed as the first order of business. They argue that unemployment benefits should only be extended if Congress finds offsetting cuts to compensate for the estimated $50 billion cost of a year-long extension of long term benefits.
| Dec 02 at 02:11 PM
Explore how to find, get and keep work with Tom Abate and Kimberly Thompson
By Tom Abate, Kimberly Thompson, Read Bios
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