Temporary Jobs with the U.S. Census Bureau

Today’s Chicago Sun-Times “Money Maker” section carried a brief article on temporary openings with the U.S. Census Bureau.  The position will only last a few months (Dec. 2009 – June 2010), but if you are stuck in your current job search, this could be an opportunity to consider. 

What if you find a full time job while you’re in the middle of your “commitment” to the USCB?  Quit.  We have seen every industry, including government on all levels have no shame or sorrow or qualm in laying off workers or, worse still, strong-arming them to take furlough days.  It is time that we as workers take the same attitude toward employers.  Lay off your employer – fire them – when a better opportunity comes your way. (Ideally, leave in a way that burns no bridges.)

To learn more about positions at the Census Bureau, you can call 866-861-2010 or go online at http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/

Gen X Looking for New Jobs

Today’s Chicago Tribune has an excellent feature on Gen X (age 28-44) and how they are being affected by the current recession.  As the article notes, many members of this generation began their working careers during the Dot.Com Bubble, which makes them even more skeptical about their future. 

To read this informative article, click here.

Sabbath, November 15, 2009

(Sabbath is a Sunday feature that looks at how we work in all parts of life.)

Discipline

It’s been a tough year for sports fans in Chicago.  Cubs, White Sox, and Bears, all have been so disappointing in 2009.  Fans everywhere hate to see their teams lose.  In the process, we often forget something: athletes on every level, professional to high school, work very hard.  We can all learn from their example.

Athletes work hard on several levels.  Of course, they practice the skills that let them master games.  At the same time, they run, lift weights, and stretch.  Coaches are harder on players than any boss in the work place (when was the last time a boss made you run laps?). 

Great athletes become even better through practice, focus, and discipline.  Michael Jordan entered the NBA as a player who could score points.  At the peak of his career, he had developed all aspects of his game.  He inspired his teammates to raise their games and work hard.  He led by example.

Superior workers follow a similar path.  They think in a way that makes them conscious of the skills that make them great.  They work hard to improve their performance.  For some, this means professional training.  For others, like professional in crafts and trades, it’s a matter doing work that demands focus and caring about quality.  In every case, someone who does their job with attention to detail and quality exemplifies the practice of discipline.

No coach or manager can make a player or employee perform well consistently.  Discipline requires a personal commitment that transcends what we think of as a job.  When we dedicate ourselves to any task, the result is more than a paycheck.  We embrace work as part of life.  In turn, that activity gives us life.  

We all need to find our true work – our discipline.

“Why?” A Question That Can Shape Your Career

Seth Godin has a fantastic blog.  In the broadest terms, its focus is Godin’s professional specialty, marketing.  But the ideas explored in this space have a much broader application and interest.

For example, in a post titled “The Why Imperative,” Godin explores how companies define themselves and how they fail to change when they should.

“If the only reason you don’t do something is because you never did, that’s not a good reason. If the environment has changed dramatically and you are feeling pain because of it, this is a great reason to question yourself, to ask why.”

These same words can be applied to the way we manage our careers and look for jobs.  Too often, we limit ourselves by staying on a career path or in an industry that does not match our interests or strengths.  We ignore the hard question:  “Why?”  Why am I stuck in a rut?  Why do I hate my job?  Why do feel so bad?  We face these questions, but we stay in the dead end positions that Godin described so well in his book on change, The Dip.

Change will come when we confront our “why” questions, and answer them with action.  Make it happen.

Who Gets the Job?

I was reviewing the best book ever on career management, What Color Is Your Parachute? By Richard N. Bolles, and I found a quotation that really sums up the job search.  Bolles is quoting career expert Richard Lathrop, who said:

“The person who gets hired is not necessarily the best person for the job, but the one who know the most about how to get hired.”

It’s not enough to be able to do the job.  You have to learn and engage the skills needed to get hired, which means having a good resume and being able to interview well.  It also requires that you know the industry in which you want to work, which will let you target potential employers.  It’s not an easy task.  But you will be more successful if you understand the rules of the game, practice your skills, and play hard.

Telling Stories during Interviews

One of my clients was preparing for an interview recently.  She was worried because a recruiter in Human Resources told her to expect situational questions, the kind that need to be answered with a story.  This direction terrified my client.  She said, “I can’t tell stories.”

Her panic is natural.  Job seekers often wrestle with answering direct questions. How can we tell stories during an interview in a way that we can remember details?  Keep it simple. 

I suggest following this three step formula that will let you tell good, concise stories that will impress employers.

1.  Describe a situation or problem that addresses the interviewer’s question.

2.  How did you respond?  What action did you take?

3.  What was the result? 

For example, if an interviewer asks to you describe a situation where you had to demonstrate leadership skills, start by framing the situation.

1.  Our catering department lacked focus and received low customer satisfaction scores. As a new manager I had to turn this situation around quickly.

Next, describe your action.

2.  My first action was to assess surveys and figure out what our customers needed.  Once I determined what actions needed to be taken, I held a department meeting.  I didn’t start by telling my team what they had to do.  Instead, I asked them what they think we could go to improve customer service and wrote their answers on a flip chart.  Then I wrote the answers from the customer surveys.  My workers agreed with the customers.  We set priorities, and everyone bought into the change.

Finally, conclude with a result – a success story.

3.  When the next survey was taken in 6 months, our department’s customer service rating increased for 5.5 to 8.2.  My manager complimented me and the team on a job well done.  I am confident that I can bring similar success to your company and value to your customers.

Following this model will let you tell well organized stories and enhance them with strong examples and facts.  Before you go on your next interview, practice telling 4-6  stories, and then be ready to adapt those stories during the interview.  As you practice and get better at telling stories, you will be able to tell new stories during interviews when an interviewer asks a question you are not prepared for. Telling good stories is fun.  It also helps convince an employer that you can do the job.  Practice story telling!

Unemployment and Families

Today’s New York Times has a great article on how unemployment affects families.

Tips for a Seasonal Job Search

In last week’s Chicago Sun-Times, Francine Knowles discussed three good tips from snagajob.com.  In the green spirit of “recycle and reuse,” I’ll pass these strategies along with some of my own ideas.

1  “Go back to where you worked before.”  They know you and will not have to train you.  This is good advice to which I would add:  Don’t burn bridges.  If you maintain good relationships with former employers and co-workers, they might be able to help you in the future.  Keep contact information and follow up with them.  It is often possible to find former bosses and co-workers on LinkedIn. 

2.  “Broaden your search.”  Snagajob suggests that someone looking at retail should also look at shippers, portrait studios, and tax companies.  This advice is O.K. as far as it goes.  A good job search starts with what kind of work you want to do.  Not everyone is cut out for retail.  Define your marketable skills, and find an employer who needs them.

3.  “Be positive.”  Employers value a good attitude (30%) more than previous experience (27%).  All I can say to this point is, “Yes” and “Amen.”  Employers pick up on negative attitudes and that is one of the biggest reasons they will pass on someone who seems to have the skills and experience to do the job.  Present yourself as some with a “can do” attitude.

This advice targets seasonal jobs, but it would also work in full time job searches, especially the point about keeping a positive attitude.  Three cheers to Snagajob and Francine Knowles for giving job seekers news they can use.

Postcript:  Snag a Job is a website that focuses on hourly and part-time jobs, click here to check it out.

 

Email Networking Campaign

When launching a new job search, it is important that all of your personal and professional contacts know you are on the market.*  Send them an email with the following information:

1.  Describe what kind of job you are seeking.  If you are changing careers, take a couple of sentences to help your network understand the move you are making.  With this knowledge, they will be able to recognize positions and companies that fit your goals.

2.  Name specific companies you would like to work for.  The magic of networking is that your contacts know many people.  Ask if they know anyone at these companies or know anyone who has contacts.  Often it is the second or third level of a network, someone you do not know, who can open a door or produce a contact name.

3.  Ask for any kind of advice your contacts might have about how to find a new job or move forward in your career.  Many of the responses you receive might seem obvious, even a waste of time.  However, a good network contact will often see aspects of your professional value that you do not recognize.  Only one response out of ten might be new information, but that one response will be golden in helping you move forward.  Ask for advice.

4.  Always say thank you.  Let your contacts know that you will help them whenever you can. 

Go one step beyond email.  Identify people in your network who can be especially helpful, and meet them for lunch or coffee.  Take extra time with these people so they understand what you need and how they can help.  One simple rule – pick up the tab.

* A clarification: If you are currently employed, be very careful about how you advertise your job search.  In many states, especially those with “at will” employment laws, an employer can fire you because you are looking for a new job.  Keep your job search confidential and only contact professional acquaintances you can trust if you are currently employed.

A Good Sign – More Temp Work

More people are being hired from temporary agencies, which is usually a sign that the job market is about to improve.  I’ve seen this in other downturns.  Companies don’t want to commit to full time employees until they are confident that their businesses can support that cost.  Once they see steady business, they will hire full time employees.

To read more about this story, click here.