Contributed by Irene Pokh
“I am an associate at a top law firm and I am keen to change jobs soon, what is the best way to do this and should i start looking now, or wait until after the summer?
The best way to begin a job search is to assess your current situation – figure out what you wish to change, what you want to see in your next job, and you want to eliminate when you make your move. Set your goals and be realistic about your prospects.
Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart
In this down market, many people were laid off simultaneously, so it is taking longer to find a job. Are there are any special tips when you have been unemployed for several months with no job in sight?
The same basic job search rules apply in an up or down market. However, in a down market, the competition is fiercer, everyone is more anxious, and therefore it can be harder to execute a proactive, thoughtful search. Furthermore, if you have been laid off and have been unemployed for several months, there are specific considerations to take into account: your skills may get stale, your motivation wanes, and unemployment benefits or severance may run out before a new job materializes. Here are some survival tips:
Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart
I have been planning a move to another state, where I don’t have a job yet. Should I just move and try to find a job when I’m there? Are employers more interested in candidates who are instate rather than long-distance?
Moving to a new geographic location without a job is obviously riskier than moving with a job in hand. However, while a long-distance job search poses unique challenges, you can be successful with enough planning.
Contributed by Gretchen Anderson and Michelle Kedem
I’ve recently run into a few women I used to know in banking, and they’re now working in the not-for-profit sector. Inspired by their stories, I’m contemplating making this kind of transition myself, but I’d like to get a realistic sense of what this would mean before I put myself out there. How can I demonstrate that I’d be a good choice for a mission-driven organization, even if my whole previous career has been in the for-profit sector?
As you already know, you’re not alone in wanting to make this switch. In today’s job market, there are record numbers of mid-career private sector professionals who are shifting over to the not-for-profit sector. And, while finding a way to give back is often a primary driver for this shift, these people often find a host of other reasons to love their new jobs: a chance to engage with big-picture issues, an improved lifestyle, and a chance to work with colleagues with a different range of experiences, to name just a few.
Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine
I dread calling up HR to ask about my resume or my search status or even just to clarify a job posting. I find recruiters to be very short and difficult to deal with. But I know I need to network. What can I do?
Many people need to deal with recruiters for something — information, advice, help. However, asking something of a recruiter is not the same as asking anyone else. Because recruiters get approached so often, they know it is impossible to help everybody, so they become choosy. Therefore, a good ask of a recruiter has to be better than just a typical ask.
Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart
I am lawyer who is sick of practicing law. I have practiced corporate law for 5 years at a big firm, want to leave the law for a job in business with greater autonomy and better quality of life. How do I market myself? Where should I start my job search?
Last week, my response focused on the importance of deciding where you are targeting your search (i.e., what area of business) before deciding how to market yourself and where to start. For those of you having difficulty in identifying appropriate targets, keep in mind that your ideal job or company is a moving target. Your interests change, companies change, industries change. However, to help find initial targets to start your search, here are some practical tips to try:
Read more
Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine
I am lawyer who is sick of practicing law. I have practiced corporate law for 5 years at a big firm, want to leave the law for a job in business with greater autonomy and better quality of life. How do I market myself? Where should I start my job search?
The above question also tells me some things but not everything. I know this is a career change: law to business. I know this is a lifestyle change: more autonomy and balance. What I don’t know is what sector in business you are interested in pursuing or what company within that sector you have in mind. Any successful job search, whether a career change, lifestyle change, or just a company change within the same field, is a combination of what the target is and how you get there. Most of my clients are fixated on the how: how do I market myself? How do I start?
Contributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart
The following question came up at a recent workshop that I led about career management during a down market:
“My company is downsizing in waves. People are telling me to grab a buyout if I can because future severance packages will probably be less generous. Should I try to hang on or leave as soon as possible?”
There is no one answer to this question. You might welcome a downsizing an opportunity to start fresh somewhere else. On the other hand, many jobseekers are flooding the market at the same time, so looking for a job now may be extra challenging. Early buyout offers may be better than future ones if you think the company might run out of money or be unable to turn this situation around. On the other hand, staying put could give you a chance to prove yourself in a difficult, turnaround situation and be one of the few who survived and thrived.