Ask-A-Recruiter: Getting A Full-Time Salary After A Part-Time Career

istock_000005168521xsmall1.jpgContributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart

I have been working for the past six years on a part-time consultant basis (as a corporate communications specialist) and want to get back into full-time. How do I land that 6-figure job?

I have the experience for sure: newspaper reporting, financial writing, sales, 5 years off to have children, then consulting and teaching as a university adjunct and now 6 years in marketing/public relations as a part-time consultant. I have a Master’s Degree in Corporate Communications. Where do I start?

There are two questions here: how do you go from part-time to full-time; and how do you get the salary commensurate with your role and experience?

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Ask-A-Recruiter: How do you manage multiple interview rounds?

istock_000005168521xsmall1.jpgContributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart

I must be doing something right because I called in by employers to interview several times. But then I don’t get an offer. I get good feedback but no offer. What can I do to manage these marathon interviews?

There are a few issues here. First of all, congrats on getting to the later stages of the process. This means that the market recognizes your value, and you must be communicating that effectively. You’re not going to get every offer where you’re a finalist because things happen – the job opening changes, the chemistry isn’t there, the competition is just a better fit. This is why it’s good to have multiple companies in play.

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Ask-A-Recruiter: How do you manage multiple searches?

istock_000005168521xsmall1.jpgContributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart

I cast a wide net in my job search and interviewed with some companies that I am not that interested in just to practice and get out there. Well, I am far along in the process with some of these and just beginning with my first choice companies. I am afraid that an offer will come along that I don’t really want. At the same time, in this market I am afraid to turn down a sure thing with just the hope of something better. What can I do to buy time?

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Ask-A-Recruiter: What happens to job offers after an acquisition?

istock_000005168521xsmall1.jpgContributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart

I accepted a job at a company where I was supposed to start next June. Now this company is being acquired and they have not said definitely what is happening to the offers they extended. How long do I wait for them to get back to me? Can I continue looking for a job or will people look askance if they find out I accepted another offer?

This is a tricky situation because normally it’s bad form to continue interviewing after you have already accepted an offer. However, there is a chance that your offer is void due to the acquisition, and the fact that the prospective employer can’t give you a definitive answer suggests that you should move on.

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Ask-A-Recruiter: Everyone Needs A Resume

istock_000005168521xsmall1.jpgContributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart

I’ve seen a lot of advice about having an up-to-date resume. Since I’m not actively looking and my job seems pretty safe, do I still need one?

Everyone needs an up-to-date resume. Even if you are not actively looking, updating your resume forces you to take stock of your career on regular basis. You will not let too much time lapse in the wrong area or industry or level. You will continually remind yourself of your achievements and what is truly important in your job. This will prevent you from getting stuck in the day-to-day minutiae of the job.

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Ask-A-Recruiter: Manage the Crush of Fall

istock_000005168521xsmall1.jpgContributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart

I am dreading getting back into fall, when my kids are back in school so the morning routine is crazy, the pace is faster as everyone returns from vacation and needs things yesterday, and the days seem shorter. What are some ways to take back control?

Knowing that things will be more hectic, block out time now while you have a moment to choose your priorities. Take out your daily planner or log into Outlook and actually block out the following:

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Ask-A-Recruiter: In Crisis Mode, You Still Need Career Planning

Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart

istock_000005168521xsmall1.jpg

I just got laid off so I’ve been applying to as many jobs as I see posted or hear about, but none of them seem quite right. Can I afford to wait for the right opportunity?

If waiting implies doing nothing until the exact dream job arises, then, no, you cannot afford to wait. But even when you are laid off and in need of another job quickly, applying to everything in sight isn’t a good strategy either. You might think that stepping back and taking time for career planning is a luxury. In fact, career planning is a necessity that can both minimize current harm and prevent future damage. In a time- urgent situation, such as a job loss, career planning needs to balance coping with the present while building a foundation towards the future.

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Ask-A-Recruiter: Playing The Waiting Game

Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart

istock_000005168521xsmall1.jpgJob searches seem to be taking longer given the poor economy. How can I use the wait to my advantage?

A lot of recruiting is waiting: you send a resume and wait for an interview; you go on an interview and wait for more interviews; you go on more interviews and wait for the offer; you negotiate the offer and wait for the response; etc. In a shaky economy like the present, the waiting can be even longer as budgets are slow to be approved. To keep this waiting time from wasting time:

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Ask-A-Recruiter: Informational Interviews

Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart

I’ve heard that nobody agrees to informational interviews anymore because they know that people are just fishing for jobs. Should I spend my job search time on getting some or is the info interview passé?

An informational interview is a meeting to get information about a specific career, job, or industry. For example, an aspiring entrepreneur might interview established business owners. A career changer might interview people in the new target career. It is distinct from a job interview because you the candidate initiate the meeting and the interviewee does not necessarily have a current open position.

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Ask-A-Recruiter: Managing Your Interviews

Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart

Many interviews I have don’t include questions that I think are relevant to the job. I get questions about unrelated topics, personal questions, or sometimes I get questions about things on my resume that I don’t want to emphasize. How do I prepare for interviews with people that don’t know how to interview?

You can and should prepare for interviews, but the fact remains that you are interacting with another human being. You cannot control their behavior and therefore cannot fully control the outcome of your interview. However, you still have control over yourself, so you can and should manage interviews to your advantage:

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