Ask-A-Career-Coach: The Versatility of Specific Graduate Degrees

jobsearchContributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart™

I recently have graduated with my BS in Business Administration, Finance. I’ve been accepted into University of Richmond to study the Masters of HR Management. I find HR very interesting and want to learn about the subject, but what if later on I decide to focus on a career outside of HR? Will this masters degree hinder me? Since my undergrad is in business, I have absolutely no desire to go for my MBA. They seem like a dime a dozen these days. How would the MHRM be viewed to recruiters in terms of managing other areas of a business? Other departments?

If you ask 10 recruiters the same question, you will get a range of answers. Careers are not an exact science and vary based on an individual’s goals, skill set, personality, drive, etc. In this case, the only thing I am sure about is that you will find some recruiters who highly value the MHRM, some who dismiss it and some who will be in-between.

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Ask-A-Career-Coach: When Networking Doesn’t Lead To The Hidden Job Market

jobsearchContributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart™

I often hear from people who think that networking means spending lots of time discussing their job search with family and friends. Then when they have exhausted their contacts’ patience and still don’t have a job, they wonder why they haven’t been able to crack this hidden job market everybody alludes to.

The hidden job market does exist and is significant since 80% or more of jobs are filled outside of job postings and recruiters. But the hidden job market is not about employers hiring friends and family. Your BFFs won’t get you a job. The reality is that the winning leads are more likely to be 3 or 4 connections removed. So when you network, in order to tap that hidden market, you need to move out from your comfort zone. If your friends could help you, they would have already. For career changers, friends are especially dangerous b/c they probably have a set way of seeing who you are and what you do and therefore wouldn’t be able to help, however well-intentioned.

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Ask-A-Career Coach: Getting Back Into the Career Game

jobsearchContributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart™

In the past three weeks, I’ve had three questions about career re-entry:
I had a high-level sales job but took seven years off to focus on family. I’ve done some non-profit volunteer work. How do I get back to for-profit and paid?
I sold my company and have been consulting part-time since. How do I ramp back up to a full-time career?
I retired but want to come back. How do I start?

Career re-entry is similar to career change in that you are moving into a substantially different circumstance from where you are now. In the case of career changes, sometimes you change the industry: the stay at home mom in the above example is moving from education where she has done most of her volunteer work to luxury goods where her target re-entry will be. Sometimes you change the function: the company founder went from CEO to consultant and wants to go into investments. Sometimes you change the geography: the retiree is coming back to a similar position but is launching a national search and open to relocation.

In all cases, you want to clearly demonstrate how your value translates from one circumstance to the next. Read more

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Ask-A-Career-Coach: Prioritizing Your Job Search Activities

jobsearchContributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart™

I recently coached a young professional who wants to change careers but has done nothing with his search because he is juggling working full-time and attending graduate school. He feels like he doesn’t have any extra time, so his $64,000 question for the session was: “if I am limited in what I can do, what should I be prioritizing?”

Your best time management strategy will depend on your specific circumstances, your working style, your timetable, and your search goals. But here are some considerations to get you started:

Use your circumstances. This person had a brand name graduate school with a strong career services office. Part of his search should be to learn exactly what resources are available to him, including coaching and workshops, information products and research material, networking events and job leads (with deadlines entered into his calendar in advance). Read more

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Ask-A-Career Coach: How Does a Company Select From a Big Pile of Resumes?

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jobsearchContributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart™

I was recently on a recruiting project, helping out a non-profit with dozens of open jobs. You would not know there is 10% unemployment at this place because they can’t hire fast enough to keep up with their needs. I see this feast or famine phenomenon often as a recruiter – either the company has nothing and no reason to call people in; or they are so busy, they don’t have the time to call people in.

Either way, companies are likely not going to call people in for interviews.

WHAT?!?! Am I saying that companies need to find the best and the brightest but they won’t take the time to do that? Yes, I am saying exactly that.

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Ask-A-Career Coach: What Are The Market Prospects For 2010?

jobsearchContributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart™

I often get market-related questions: what are employment prospects; what are the hot industries; who is hiring. Keep in mind that employment statistics are not worth following for your career planning. Fears of 10% unemployment are misplaced. The statistic you care about is either 0% or 100%; it’s are you employed or not. The next question to ask is, “Are you in the job you want or not?” So regarding market prospects for 2010, the short answer is, “Why should you care?”

Focus on your individual career. Yes, all things being equal, I would pursue growing over shrinking industries. But all things aren’t equal. It is more important to know your values, skills and interests and align them with the correct industry, function and company, rather than picking employers and force-fitting yourself into them. Read more

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Ask-A-Career Coach: “What Do You Think Of Facial Hair?”

jobsearchContributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart™.

Okay, that question did not come from the Glass Hammer demographic, as it came from a male audience member in a recent panel that focused on Big Career Mistakes. But now that I have your attention, I wanted to highlight a few points to ponder inspired by the above question that do relate to Glass Hammer readers:

When you have the opportunity to get feedback, ask big questions. The panel was for senior executives and featured former recruiters and executive coaches from a variety of backgrounds. This was a golden opportunity for participants to get candid insight into job search and career planning. This participant was clearly torn about whether his moustache was sabotaging his career, but I recommend focusing on the bigger picture items.

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Ask-A-Career Coach: Gratitude As A Career Management Tool

jobsearchContributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart™

Given the upcoming holidays, I thought about writing about holiday networking, job search during the holidays or perhaps office party etiquette. Here’s why gratitude works not just around the holiday table but for your career as well:

Gratitude puts you in a spirit of plenty – of having, instead of lacking. This leads to confidence, energy and a position of strength that is attractive to the people around you, whether it’s prospective employers or senior management looking for whom to tap for leadership.

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Ask-A-Career Coach: Is It Possible To Over-Prepare For An Interview?

jobsearchContributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart™

In just this past week, several of my clients have sounded tired during our interview practice. I even got a very detailed response that was related to, but not quite exactly on point to what I had asked. These are hardworking jobseekers who I know are diligently working through the coaching assignments. Is it possible to over-prepare for interviews?

Most jobseekers don’t prepare enough. So don’t use this column as permission to slack off your search. You still need to research the company, industry and specific individuals you will be meeting. You still need to stay abreast of current events and be able to engage in timely discussions. You still need to have the 3-4 key message points that will present you in the best light and position you appropriately for the specific job at hand. So there is much work to do, and over-preparation is a rare problem. Read more

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Ask-A-Career Coach: Don’t Forget To Share Your Success

jobsearchContributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart™

I am often asked for my biggest networking pet peeve. One of my tops, if not the top, is when people whom I have helped don’t let me know what happened.

The best time to look for a job is when you have one. We all know that instinctively. Yet, when most job seekers get a job, the first things that go out the window are the good job search strategies that won them the new job. Now I’m not saying that you start posting your résumé updated for your new position while you fill out your new hire paperwork, but I am saying that you maintain your network and do all the good habits that support your career maintenance. One of the best habits gained during a job search is networking. One of the best ways to maintain your network is to give your thanks and share a success update.

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