Feature Article: Using a Career Journal to Further Your Career Development and Empower Your Job-Search
Special Feature: Why Should I Hire You?
Bonus Feature: Marketing is How You Show Others How You Can Help Them, Including Selling Yourself for Jobs and Promotions
A Quintet of Quick Questions: QuintZine's Q&A with a Career Expert: Carol A. Poore, author of Building Your Career Portfolio.
Quintessential Site: Featured Career Web Site of this Issue
The Career Doctor: Answering Your Questions
Latest Additions: What's New on Quintessential Careers
Q TIPS: Quick and Quintessential Tips to Guide Your Job Search
Notes from the Editor: About this Issue...
As confirmed by new research from
global human resources consulting firm DBM
(see our Q-TIPS section), fall is a key time
for job-hunting. As such it's a pivotal time
for underpinning the job search with solid
principles of marketing.
That's what this issue is about, and with
another strong showing from contributors,
we've brought you several variations on the
notion of marketing yourself in the job search.
Using a Career Journal to Further Your Career Development and Empower Your Job-Search
by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
How much time do you commit each day -- each week
-- to really thinking about your career? If you're
like most of us, your answer is not much time at all.
Sure, we would all love to have the luxury to daydream
about our futures, but unfortunately, all too often
the realities of the present keep us a bit too preoccupied.
Do you find yourself in any of these situations: Do you
have a vision of your perfect job or career, but no pathway
leading to it? Are you thinking of making a career change,
but have no real clue about your next career? Are you stuck
in a dead-end job -- or worse -- have you remained in your
current position while others around you have been promoted?
Are you a student who is trying to get a handle on both a
major and a career path?
Our jobs, our careers, and our lives would -- or could --
be so much better if we used a modified version
of an
age-old device many of us used when we were younger, the
diary or journal. The career journal that is advocated in
this article, while sharing some common aspects with a
personal journal, is much more structured -- focused on
a specific career-related goal -- and designed to empower
your career development or job-search.
So, why should you consider writing a career journal?
Because whether you are a student searching for career
direction or an established job-seeker thinking of a job
or career change -- or anywhere in between these two extremes
-- you'll discover untold things about yourself, about your
career field, and about job-hunting, all from simply keeping
a career journal.
And check out the
Quintessential Careers Journaling Course,
a comprehensive online course that includes exercises designed to help you achieve career and job fulfillment.
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The other day I was speaking with a young fellow who
had been laid off from his job at a large consulting
firm. His education and work experience were exceptional
so I was surprised to learn he had been out of work for
eight months. "Why so long?" I asked him. He launched
into a list of things he couldn't do, experience he didn't
have, and technology he didn't know. All of these
deficiencies plus "the economy" were why he was still
looking. It wasn't until I asked him what he wanted
to do in his next job that a glimmer of passion entered
his voice.
Being out of work for an extended period is certain to
erode even the most confident job seeker. That's why it's
so important that you stay focused on your strengths and
how your special qualities, skills and abilities can
benefit a potential employer. Remember you are the only
person in the world who knows everything about what you know!
Marketing is How You Show Others How You Can Help Them, Including Selling Yourself for Jobs and Promotions
by Richard Stooker
Many people, especially including techies, look
upon sales and marketing as disgustingly selfish.
Having been taught to be good girls and boys who
take turns and do things because they're right,
we don't want others to think of us as so
nakedly self-interested. At best,
some of us realize that
sales and marketing are evils necessary to the
functioning of a capitalistic system.
So when we hear that if we're seeking a job or a
promotion we must "sell ourselves," we inwardly rebel.
Few of us actually do a good job selling ourselves.
Those who do get more and better jobs, more and better
promotions and make more money.
Carol A. Poore, MBA, is the author of
Building Your Career Portfolio
(May 2001, Career Press).
"I call volunteerism a career 'secret weapon' because
it's an investment that can enable you to gain new
skills and add a passionate cadre of focused, caring,
committed people into your professional network," notes
Carol A. Poore in the Q&A we did with her.
"Volunteerism is key if you want to expand your skills
and scope of influence beyond your job," Poore explains.
"It can be the perfect answer, not only if you desire
successful lifework, but hunger to
reap the rewards of
living purposefully. And, the network of valuable volunteer
contacts can help you land on your feet in case you lose
your job to downsizing, mergers/acquisitions, or numerous
other causes of marketplace risk."
Read more of Poore's thoughts on the concept of career
investment, the importance of a statement of personal purpose,
and how the time demands on our lives keep us from
living purposefully in our complete
Q&A with Carol A. Poore.
An important element of marketing yourself is ensuring
that the people you've listed as references are saying
positive things about you. MyReferences.com, a paid service,
checks your references before you submit them to an employer.
The potential employer/reference contact may dramatically
affect your future, the outcome of which is far too important
to be left to chance. Having your references checked is an
accurate way to confirm that these references will enhance
your chances, rather than stand in your way of securing
the position you desire.
MyReferences.com provides written, comprehensive employment
reviews of professionals and executives being considered for
employment. Four levels of service are offered, dependent upon
the level of candidate and amount of information being
researched: College Student, Basic, Professional, and Executive.
The Last Job Search Guide You'll Ever Need: How
to Find -- and Get -- The Job or Internship of
Your Dreams! (For College Students and Recent Grads Only)
has just been published by our friend Steve Rothberg, and
it's a gem.
The book contains must-read contributions from 149 of
North America's top employment experts, including the folks here at
Quintessential Careers. You can receive it risk-free for
the next 90 days through the
link to this Website.
Latest Additions: New Sites Added to QuintCareers
AACSB International: Jobs in Management Education --
where business school faculty and administrators can browse international job openings at the executive,
administrative, and faculty levels. Ability to post resume/vita being added in the near future.
Free to job-seekers.
HiTechJob.com
-- where job-seekers searching for technical employment opportunities can search for jobs, post your
resume, use a job-search agent, and more. Registration required to use any services. Free to job-seekers.
Networking for Professionals
-- an online networking group designed for professionals from numerous occupations, where you can
build your business, improve your client base, and/or advance your career. Privacy is controlled by
you. First month of membership is free, each month thereafter is fee-based.
WorkForce New Jersey
-- where job-seekers interested in working in the Garden State can search for jobs,
find online and local job resources, learn about job and career events (such as job fairs),
and more. An excellent site for all types of job-seekers. Free to job-seekers.
Find even more career and job site additions to Quintessential Careers by visiting our
Latest Additions section.
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take the first step...from Liz Sumner, M.A., Whole Life Coach
Laura writes: "Since moving to Daytona Beach five years
ago, I have worked for 10 employers and also tried
self-employment. (Four of the jobs were temporary.)
Only one of those employers was a good match for me,
but unfortunately, the firm went out of business nine
months after I started working there. I am a highly
qualified accountant/bookkeeper, but it seems this town
is unwilling to pay a decent salary to someone with my
skills and over 25 years experience. My age (over 50)
may also have something to do with my inability to get
a good job offer. I have been on several interviews,
but I seem to come in second or third choice."
Terita writes: "I have a spotty career history.
My chosen major in college was public relations,
and after two positions in the field I realize that
this is NOT what I want to do. I have spent the past
10 months looking for a job, and I have four calls
and two interviews to show for it. Needless to say,
I am desperate to find out what it is that I am doing
wrong, and why I can't even seem to get an interview.
I have sent out more than 1,000 resumes since then."
JS writes: "My new prospective employer has already
made me a job offer, which I have accepted. They have
provided the offer letter to me
that states that the offer is contingent upon successful completion of the background
checks, which include criminal, drug, and credit history.
I am concerned only about the credit history because my wife
and I filed for bankruptcy and had our house foreclosed on
recently. What are the chances of them checking my credit?
If they do check my credit, what are the chances of them
retracting their offer due to my credit? It is a financial
institution, which I have heard is typically more concerned
with prospective employees' credit reports [than are other employers]."
Elsa writes: "I recently completed my MBA program,
which has been partially reimbursed by my current
employer. Part of the reimbursement agreement is to
stay with the company for 12 months following graduation.
The current job I'm in is extremely limiting and stressful
and I'm not sure I can endure it for another 11 months.
How likely is it that a new employer will cover any
higher-education expenses that may not be reimbursed
if I leave my current employer?"
THE QUINTESSENTIAL CAREERS JOURNALING COURSE
A comprehensive online course that includes exercises designed to help you achieve career
and job fulfillment.
Learn more about
the Career Journaling Course.
CAREER KICKSTART COURSE -- NOW OFFERING COACHING OPTION!
A quick and comprehensive course that will teach you everything you need to know to launch a career and find a job
Learn more about
the Career Kickstart Cource.
Q TIPS: Quick and Quintessential Career & Job Tips
DBM, global human resources consulting firm, advises
job seekers to step up their networking efforts during
the next two months as companies look to fill any open
slots before year end, as well as start to plan for their
2003 staffing needs. "For many firms, it's a 'use it or
lose it' headcount situation as year-end approaches,"
says Tom Silveri, President, DBM. "Companies are still
only replacing existing critical staff as needed, but we
are seeing a small up-tick in activity. It's not a tidal
wave, but there is an increase in the number of job postings
and interviews being conducted."
DBM also offers this new research on career transition trends:
Seventy-five percent of job-seekers obtained their next
position through networking
Six percent of job seekers found a job through a search firm
Seven percent of job seekers found a job through the Internet
Some general downward pressure on salaries
Finally, DBM's ABCs for Job Seekers:
Aggressively network. Re-establish contact with
everyone you know and put your networking activities
into high gear.
Broaden your horizons and investigate job options
in different fields and industries. Many individuals
are disillusioned with corporate America and seeking
out opportunities in academia and not-for-profit sectors,
as well as starting their own businesses.
Consider temporary assignments or project work.
Volunteer with various groups to gain new skills
and network.
Dedicate some time every day to making contacts and
researching companies or new business ideas.
Elaborate but don't fabricate. Hiring managers have
heightened their screening requirements and are looking
for the perfect candidate, so make sure you highlight
how your experience matches their exact needs. However,
be truthful about your experience because companies
have also increased their background and reference checking.
Be Flexible in your salary requirements. The increased
number of available candidates is starting to put downward
pressure on compensation.
According to U.S. Department of Labor, 3.8 million
people are surviving today's economy by working a
full-time job while moonlighting with a second,
part-time position. Another 1.6 million people have
two part-time jobs, and more than 300,000 work two
full-time jobs.
Students, you need this! Portfolios are a great
way to market yourself. If your school is not offering
a service like Penn State is providing to students,
you need to talk to your administrators. Students capitalizing
on a new online portfolio service launched this fall will leave
Penn State with more than just a transcript and a resume.
The portfolio service guides
undergraduates through the process of collecting, selecting,
and reflecting on evidence of their academic and co-curricular
activities. Students can use free personal Web space accounts
to "publish" that evidence in an e-Portfolio that demonstrates
who they are, what they think, and what they've learned to
faculty, potential employers, and graduate schools. "Employers
can learn more from an online portfolio than from a resume
and a 45-minute interview," says Glenn Johnson, project manager
with the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences' e-Education
Institute. The Web site includes examples of portfolios developed
by students from several academic programs. One student's
e-Portfolio landed him an internship after his paper application
got lost in the mail. Read the full story by Dana Bauer.
We'd Love You to Link to Quintessential Careers!
If your school, organization, business or other
entity has a Web site, we welcome you to link to Quintessential Careers.
If you already have a link from your site, we want you to know we
appreciate it. If you don't have a link to us, please
send a request to your site's Webmaster to establish a
link to Quintessential Careers. Thanks so much!
For more details (including sample HTML copy), see our
Link to Us page.
QuintZine: Topics in Upcoming Issues
WATCH FOR feature articles on these topics in upcoming
issues of QuintZine:
* How to create and publish a Web-ready resume
* Crafting a successful e-mail resume
* The interview as sales call
* Getting the raise you deserve
* 10 things I wish I'd known before starting college
* 10 things I wish I'd known before starting my first job
* Letters of recommendation
* 10 ways to develop job leads
* Why, how, when to use a career coach -- and whom to choose
* Employer research: step by step
* Learn about careers through job-shadowing
* Balancing career and family
* 10 job-search reality checks
* Is job flexibility right for you?
* First days on the job: Strategies to get ahead
* Dealing with a bad boss
* Making your case for telecommuting
* A day in the life of a recruiter
* Don't wait by the phone: Following up on all job leads
* Dining etiquette
* The relationship between personality and career choice
* What employers are really looking for
* How to resign from your job gracefully
* New series: 10 mistakes to avoid in: resumes, cover letters, interviews, salary
negotiation, career change, networking, job-search
* Quintessential Career Profiles of YOU, our readers
* Q&As with well-known career experts
* Book reviews
. . . and much, much more!
Don't ever want to miss another issue of QuintZine? Get a free subscription to
the email version of QuintZine by completing our
subscription form.
Quintessential Careers Advertisements
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Quintessential Careers also offers writing services
for those who have been asked to give a speech and
need assistance in researching and writing their
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Need a speaker for your career-oriented conference or
event at your college or organization? The Quintessential
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