Readers:
Dr. Randall Hansen, a nationally recognized career expert, is the Career Doctor.
Discover more about Dr. Hansen, read about the purpose of this column,
and find previous issues of this column at the home of The Career Doctor.
If you have any college, career, or job-related questions or comments that Dr. Hansen could
provide valuable assistance with, please
feel free to email him at: careerdr@quintcareers.com.
Dr. Hansen writes this column on a biweekly basis.
Keith writes:
Dr Hansen, I am currently moving up the ladder in my career in the IT world. I have a lot of varied
experiences, and think my skills are in pretty high demand. I’ve been thinking of putting together
an online portfolio to showcase my work experience. Any thoughts? Pros? Cons?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
Career portfolios are a hot subject around my office -- and among career
professionals and recruiters alike.
I think one of the emerging career trends is that of managing your online
visibility or presence. We’ve invented a new verb -- and I know some of you
purists won’t like it -- but we’re now “googling” potential job candidates --
especially those in mid- to higher-management, as well as freelancers and
consultants.
Prospective employers want to see some proof of your accomplishments.
And traditional print career portfolios are a way to show that proof in a job
interview, but an online portfolio is a way to have those accomplishments
available 24/7, adding to your “Google” rating. Besides an online portfolio,
articles that quote you and projects that cite you will also add to your rating.
By the way, it’s also a good idea to check for anything controversial that shows
up with your name attached to it.
I don’t see any negatives to developing an online portfolio -- unless you don’t
put the necessary energy into it. For example, if the design is flawed or the
content is weak (or becomes outdated). Or, if you put unprofessional material in
your portfolio. I would think that for an IT professional, whether actively or
passively job-searching, an online portfolio is a great tool.
We also found -- according to a recent study titled Career Portfolios: Proof of
Performance, and conducted by Quintessential Careers -- that job-seekers
learn more about themselves and their qualifications by preparing a career
portfolio, thus boosting their confidence and preparing them for job interviews --
regardless of how they actually use the portfolio.
Here are some of the things a job-seeker could put in his/her portfolio: resume(s),
reference list, career goals summary, list of accomplishments, work samples, leadership
experience, performance reviews, awards and honors, transcripts, degrees and certifications,
professional-development activities, professional memberships and volunteering/community service.
Most of the research participants in our study recognized the value of online portfolios,
but think that the emphasis is -- and should be for the short-term at least -- on print portfolios,
suggesting that job-seekers develop an online portfolio after they have created the print version.
Several reinforced, however, that online portfolios make the most sense for white-collar
professionals, especially those involved with the Internet.
In a time when many employers are skeptical of the claims many job-seekers make on their
resumes concerning their experiences and contributions, a career portfolio can be just the
tool to use to show rather than tell.
Jim writes:
What do I tell my current employer when I am scheduled for
another interview during business hours?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
I was really hoping this question was a hoax, but I fear it is not.
The simple answer is this: Do NOT conduct any job-hunting activities
while on the clock with your current employer!
You have a couple of options for job interviews, and many, if not most,
hiring managers will work with you. You can schedule interviews for early
in the morning or after hours. Some will even do it over lunch. And if you
have a prospective employer who will only schedule interviews 9-5, take a
personal day (or half day). Do not use a sick day.
Part of job-hunting is impression-management. Some stuff you can’t control,
but most of it you can. And the message a prospective employer gets from
an applicant cheating their current company by interviewing for a new job on
company time is one you will never recover from.
Q:
Janet writes:
Thank you for your helpful career advice columns!
I have a question about following up on job leads: If a job posted on the
organization's web site requests 1) that you email in your application, and 2)
"No phone calls, please", I assume I should not *call* a week after emailing in
my resume and cover letter. I am assuming it would be better to *email* my follow-up.
What do you think?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
No, no, no. Yours is a common misconception among most of the job-seekers
I talk with. When employers state “no phone calls” they mean they do not want
to deal with initial applications or inquiries via the telephone -- they want it by
mail, fax, or email.
However, follow-up is a totally different issue altogether. I cannot stress enough
the importance of follow-up in job-searching.
All job-seekers -- if you are really interested in the job -- should stay in contact
with the prospective employer. It just does not make sense to mail, email, or fax
your application and then just sit back and wait for someone to contact you.
Instead, take the initiative and follow-up. Following-up is important for a number of
reasons. First, to make sure the employer received your entire application.
Second, to show you interest and enthusiasm for the position. Third, to learn more
about the timetable for when interview might begin.
I know of very few employers who would be offended by a job-seeker politely contacting
them about the status of their application. And those few who do get angry or annoyed?
You probably would not want to work for them anyway!
Just remember to be professional – and do not follow-up too often where you become
a pest.
Finally, remember to always follow-up when you have good news to add to your application,
such as a certification or degree, a promotion, or a major accomplishment.
Anonymous writes:
I was fired from my last position after only 4 months. I have 4 years of good
experience prior to this. I do not want my last employer contacted for a
reference. Do I have to include the job on my resume? And what about on an
application? Can a prospective employer run a background check using your
social security number or by other means that would turn up the omitted job?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
A resume is a marketing document, not a complete history of the applicant.
You should ONLY include items on your resume that will put you in the most
favorable light for the position you are applying.
So, no, you do NOT need to put this job on your resume. I would not put it on
my job application either, but that is a little trickier because some applications
do ask for a complete work history. As for background checks, sure, employers
can discover your full work history… but, again, a resume is not a full work history.
Remember, though, if you have this four-month gap on your resume, at least one
interviewer is going to ask you why you have this gap and what have you been
doing since your last job. Now, the situation becomes trickier. Of course, if you
have been doing something else during this time, such as going to school,
volunteering, consulting, etc., then you can simply talk about that. If you don’t,
then you need to have an explanation about how the job was not the right fit (which
is also why you did not put it on your resume).
Also, before you ditch this job, make sure you don’t have valuable experiences that
would enhance your resume -- even if your tenure at the job was so short.
Finally, being fired can be a traumatic experience, so you may not be thinking too
clearly. Your ego may be bruised. It’s only natural – and those feelings will subside;
the key for you is to not let those feeling cloud your judgment.
Hang in there! You’ll rebound and get a new job soon!
