Re-entering the work force

Whether you're returning to the paid work force after staying at home, unsatisfied with your current situation or out of a job due to layoffs, sticking to the basics will serve you well:
1.) Keep it simple; 2.) Be confident; 3.) Use your resources wisely; and 4.) Know the market.

1.) Keep it simple. It can be easy to see the job search data, advice and resources available and become overwhelmed. Focus your efforts on defining:

* 3 skills you excel at and love to use
* 3 special abilities you have
* 3 types of knowledge you have developed
* 3 ways you can help a company or organization increase its profits/proceeds or reduce its expenses by using your unique skills, abilities and knowledge and
* 3 employers or industries you are most interested in and want to learn more about.

Note: But, not too simple. Telling people you're good with people and like to organize things doesn't help them help you. What does is being specific - I'm a great people and asset manager that knows the commercial real estate industry in the midwest region well. I'd really like to talk to someone at XX, XX or XX to get their take on where the industry is at. Do you know someone that would be willing to talk to me?

2. Be confident. If you're not confident in your ability to do the job, why should an employer be?

Going through a job search can be demoralizing if you're not taking pro-active steps to maintain and/or increase your self confidence. You can do this by educating yourself, preparing and practicing.

Remember the move from kindergarten to grade school, from high school to college? These transitions seem daunting and exhilarating when you approach them. But before you know it, you're teaching new students the ropes and moving on to the next big challenge. Educate yourself about the employers or industries you are interested in and plunge in. This will decrease your anxiety while increasing your self confidence and excitement about opportunities available.

The first college application you completed may have felt like completing a novel, but the next few were a breeze. You had the basics pulled together, you just needed to customize them to the next school's forms. The same goes for interviews and resumes. Pulling together all the information you need for a resume and interviews can take a while if you haven't kept it up. Approaching friends and re-engaging your network after an absence may feel overwhelming or awkward. Working through that ackwardness with people you know and trust will be easier than and prepare you for submitting your resume and interviewing people you don't know at all.

3. Use your resources wisely. For example, when your creating or updating your resume, take advantage of the great information out there at your local library, job placement office, your alma mater, and great online resources. Ask your friends in the field to share their resume with you as a model. It can be as simple as naming a few jobs you are interested in and then doing a google or other online search for "resume computer analyst", "resume sale association," "resume VP Marketing." Don't recreate the wheel when there are plenty of resources out there to help you.

4. Know the market for the job you're after - If you don't already have a pulse on this information, check out online resources such as www.salary.com and www.cbsalary.com, and ask a trusted advisors or trade association representatives. If you don't know the value of the job to employers and the marketplace, the employer may question whether you really have the skills, ability and knowledge you claim.

Being proactive during times of layoffs

Although they may be appearing more frequently of late, news of layoffs is nothing new. With the rumor or notice of layoffs comes:
§ uncertainty about who will be immediately impacted;
§ uncertainty about who will be next;
§ knowledge that colleagues or direct reports will be impacted before they do;
§ loss of resources and information sources;
§ work load increases and re-distribution, either for the health of the organization or to appear productive during times of change.

Is it any wonder knowledge of an impending lay off may be as stressful as the actual layoffs?

Tips for planning ahead if you know you’re part of a layoff:

• Update your resume, focusing on the value you bring to your current and past employers;
• Activate or begin networking today – let your network know you’re considering new opportunities. Help them, help you by being specific about the opportunities and industries you’re interested in;
• Assess your financial situation;

Tips for discussing with prospective employers:

• Focus on what you bring to the prospective employer. They care more about what you can do for them then they do about your concerns.
• If asked, be honest but don’t elaborate or talk negatively about your current employer. Model the type of professional behavior they can expect from you when you work for them.
  

Tips for dealing with the emotional side of being let go:

• Don’t minimize the impact of job transition. Give yourself time to grieve and accept the support of others;
• Join a transition support group. Check with your local unemployment office or place of worship to locate groups;
• Journal to uncover your emotions and help focus on what you envision for your next role.
• Some great books to read during times of transition are “Transitions” by William Bridges; “Embracing Uncertainty” by Susan Jeffers and “the Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruez; and “Empowering Women to Change the World: Career and Life Strategies for Women” by Julie Moore Rapacki and available at www.polishyourstar.com)

Resumes - You need at least 3, probably more

As the new year begins, many of us update our resume. Here are some tips:

Focus on what your target customer/employer is looking for. Look at the job description or ad and circle the words they use to describe job responsibilities and experience. Make sure your resume shows that you have the identified skills, knowledge and experience and that language matches their job description or ad verbiage. Don’t just leave it to the cover letter or to the hiring manager to assume that, for example, your “extensive computer experience” means that you have used and are proficient with the software product they specifically list as a job requirement.

This means, you're likely to have multiple resumes. Each one tailored to the job you're after. I recommend maintaining 3 versions, depending on the industry/target company. Then you're ready to update, as necessary, for each individual company or organization.

Tell your story with numbers – Employers want to know the scope of the work you’re experienced at and results you’ve achieved. If they need someone to supervise employees, don’t just say you supervised employees. Tell them how long, how many, what caliber, (line level, professional, management) and the scope of dollars or results you or your team achieved.
Avoiding the circular file – Don’t let a recruiter dismiss your resume because of bad grammar, misspellings or disorganized information. Always ask a trusted friend or colleague to proof read your resume.

There are often excellent, free or inexpensive resume writing resources at colleges and unemployment offices as well as great tips on monster.com and other national career websites*. Most of the big outplacements firms are backing off of “retail” (individual paid) career advising. Look for mentors, career and business consultants (like Polish Your Star) and recruiters to help you fine tune your resume.

* http://www.careerexplorer.net/resume_assistance.asp, http://resume.monster.com/
http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/CareerBytes/Articles.aspx