Career Doctor Q-TIPS #9:
Quick and Quintessential Career & Job Tips

These tips have been gathered from job-seeker Q&A's with the Career Doctor, Dr. Randall Hansen. For more information, go to The Career Doctor.

Networking cards are essential for career changers and college students. A networking card is just like a business card -- the same size and shape -- and contains all your pertinent contact information, including your name, phone number, email address, postal mail address; Web site address, and cell phone or fax numbers (if you have them). In place of the name of an employer and a job title, you should have your job objective and unique selling proposition.

You can get the cards printed at a local print shop, at numerous places on the Web, and even print them yourself using special business card paper and a template that most word-processing programs supply.

Keep your networking cards clean and crisp, and bring them EVERYWHERE you go -- to networking events (obviously), career and job fairs, social gatherings, holiday parties, weddings, and anywhere else you may run into potential contacts . . . everywhere. These cards are great for the numerous times when a resume would simply be too awkward to handle, but do keep copies of your resume handy as well. Read more in our article, Networking Business Cards: An Essential Job-Search Tool for Career Changers and College Students When a Resume Just Won't Do.

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How should you decide your first career move? Your next educational experience? Start with some self-assessment. Why did you choose your major? Your minor? Have you done any internships or worked -- and if so, what parts of those experiences did you enjoy the most? What types of things do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Use this list to try to develop a profile of your likes, skills, and strengths. Next try to match various careers with your profile.

Once you've identified a few possibilities, consider conducting several informational interviews in which you talk with people currently working in your field(s) to gain a better understanding of an occupation or industry. Read more in the Informational Interviewing Tutorial at Quintessential Careers.

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Logically, you would assume that a medical background is a plus in pharmaceutical sales, but the bottom line is that it is a sales job, not a medical job -- and many companies want previous sales experience. If you have a background in some aspect of healthcare, you may be able to position yourself as a pharmaceutical sales rep; in fact, some companies require some kind of medical background or education. But you will also need to examine the traits of successful salespeople and determine if you have those skills from previous experiences. Try conducting several informational interviews with sales managers in pharmaceutical companies such as Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, Eli Lily, and GlaxoSmithKline, among others, to better understand what these managers want in the field representatives they hire.

Next, identify the skills that make salespeople successful. Obviously, you need superior persuasive communications skills; you need to be "people" person -- able to build and maintain relationships; you need to be highly-motivated self-starter; you need to be well-organized. You'll be able to glean all this information from looking at job postings and from your informational interviews.

Finally, develop a resume that portrays your mix of medical and sales skills and experiences in such a way as to identify you as an ideal candidate for a pharmaceutical sales position. You may need a functional resume. Read our article, What Resume Format is Best for You?

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Thinking about medical school but think you might be too old? Worried about how old you'll be when you finish med school? Ask yourself: How old will you be in six or seven years if you do NOT go to medical school? If you decide to go for it, talk with admissions counselors at a few medical schools and get the straight information on your potential based on your undergraduate record, your work experience, and a realistic goal for the MCAT. If you get a positive response, you can then set about developing a detailed plan for the next several years covering the pre-med courses you need to take, studying and taking the MCAT, and applying and (hopefully) attending medical school.

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It's often a bit harder finding employment when you've relocated than when job-hunting in familiar territory. The first thing to do is sit down and devise a detailed job-search strategy. Set a goal to accomplish at least two or three job-search activities daily. Identify the key companies and hiring managers for your area of expertise. Join at least one professional organization and one community organization -- and get to work networking. Contact friends, family, and associates in your current locale and see if any of them have connections in the area to which you wish to relocate. If you attended college, contact your college's career-services office and see about job-search help for alums -- including potential alum network contacts in your new area. Contact some of the colleges and universities there to see if they offer any kind of career assistance. Consider working with recruiters/headhunters. Check geographic-specific job sites. Watch the Sunday classifieds and other resources for job-postings. Read our article, New City, New Job: How to Conduct a Long-Distance Job Search.

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Sometimes in the process of getting hired for one job and then being promoted or transferred, we end up somewhere that either bores us or fails to challenge us, or doesn't coincide with our career interests and passions. If this dilemma happens to you, you need to rediscover your career interests and passions. Sit down and make a list of the skills and experiences you enjoy -- either in your work experience or in hobbies or volunteer work. Now make a list of stuff you never want to do again -- things you dislike about your job. The next step is then discovering the types of jobs that match your skills and interests. If you're having trouble -- or just for some fun -- you might want to take one or more of these career assessments. Read our article: Research Your Next Job by Targeting Your Preferences and Ideal Companies. Finally, take advantage of the resources we have in the career change section of Quintessential Careers.

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Are you a job-hopper? Consider a functional format for your resume. Read more in our article, What Resume Format is Best for You? You'll also need to have a good response planned for interviews when you're asked about your job-hopping -- one employers will believe. You can find help in the interviewing resources section of Quintessential Careers. Be sure to take the time to really address -- for your sake -- the reasons for your restlessness. You will be much happier (and healthier) in a career field and job that challenges you and you enjoy doing.

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Unless you are going to a top-tier MBA program, the most important factors when choosing an MBA program are: (1) scope and breadth of reputation, (2) strength of the MBA placement, (3) fit with education program, and (4) costs and financial assistance. To elaborate:

Scope and breadth of reputation. Do some research with various employers and recruiters as to the strength of an MBA program. Many schools now offer MBAs, and while the degree is the key, the school's reputation is critical. And if you are confident that for the next five years or so you will live in a certain area, focus your attention on the schools with the greatest reputation in that area. Once you're about five years out from your MBA, where you got it won't matter except for bragging rights in the locker room.

Strength of MBA placement. You want an MBA program that can deliver companies and recruiters to you so that you have multiple job offers. Placement is related to a program's reputation, but a school can have a solid reputation with a weak placement program. Ask for placement results.

Fit with education program. There are numerous types of MBA programs, from what we call vanilla programs (usually one-year programs) to very specialized MBA for medical professionals, educational leaders, etc. Find a program that offers the specific classes and education you need to move to your next career step.

Costs and financial assistance. The ideal scenario, of course, is when your current employer pays for your MBA. When that's not the case, take a hard look at the costs, any possible financial assistance, and your expected financial returns from the MBA; think of it as a cost-benefit analysis for each MBA program.

For further guidance, please read our article, The Master of Business Administration: Is the MBA Worth the Time, Effort, and Cost?

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Will enrolling in an MBA program that's not in the top rankings affect prospective employers' perceptions of you and make you less marketable? If your ambition is to work at a Fortune 500 or top global corporation, a degree from a "known" program (one in the top of the various rankings) will certainly give you a big edge, but it is NOT the most qualified job-seeker who get the job, but rather the most prepared job-seeker who excels in job interviews. We see rankings as purely public relations opportunities for the programs and bragging rights for the graduates.

If working for a Fortune 500 company is not your ambition, the real key is the program's (and university's) reputation in your area. Contact people in your professional organization, local area chambers of commerce, and people in your current company to seek their opinions of the school and its MBA. Contact the school and ask to see a list of alumni placements for the past few years.

Perhaps the bigger question for you is whether an MBA will be worth it at this point in your career. For these reasons, you may want to read our article: The Master of Business Administration: Is the MBA Worth the Time, Effort, and Cost?

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When you decide to decline a job offer, it's smart and courteous not to burn any bridges because you never know when a new opportunity will arise with that employer. Declining letters are fairly easy to write. You basically want to thank the employer for the opportunity, praise the employer, stress the difficulty of making the decision, and offer best wishes for continued success. That's it -- short and sweet. Three paragraphs. As with any other job correspondence, be sure to edit your letter and check (and double-check) for typos. You can go to Quintessential Careers for a sample letter declining a job offer.

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There are any number of myths and misconceptions about job-hunting, and one of the biggest ones is that you'll find a new job if you post your resume on a couple (or even many) job boards such as Monster, FlipDog, CareerShop, etc. The truth is, sadly, that only a small percentage of job-seekers actually find a new job through this method. Job ads of any kind -- in newspapers, journals, or online -- can play a role in your job-search strategies, but they should only play a small role. You will probably have better success with a direct-mail campaign to key employers than you would simply responding to job postings.

Another problem with job postings is that there is often no way for a job-seeker to follow-up with the employers; and in fact, we've heard many employers actually discourage follow-up from Net job postings. So what can you do? You can expand your job-search strategies beyond job boards and focus on job-search techniques that have great success, such as networking (by far the best technique), using employers' career sites, mounting a direct-mail campaign, and contacting the alumni or career services office of your alma mater for contacts.

You may want to read our articles on job-hunting on the Internet: Navigating the Muddled World of Internet Job-hunting: A Quintessential Careers Annual Report 2002, Maximize Your Internet Job Search, and The New Era of Job-Hunting: Strategies for Finding Employment on the Internet.

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How do you get noticed? Well, of course you need to have an exceptional cover letter and resume, but you also need to be the squeaky wheel and follow up all your job leads. We suggest our article, 15 Myths and Misconceptions About Job-Hunting, which contains insights on how to change and improve your job-search strategies.

Regardless of the economic climate or employment trends employers will rarely call you and knock down your door; job-seekers MUST be proactive. One of the things we stress when reviewing cover letters is that job-seekers MUST insert a sentence about following-up with the employer within a specific amount of time (usually a week to 10 days). This statement puts employers on notice that you plan to contact them about the job you are applying for -- but, of course, this strategy only works if you then take the initiative and contact the employer.

If you've sent out resumes, get on the phone right now and call each recipient employer. Make sure they received your resume and ask about the search process and timing. Make a case for yourself to be interviewed. If you get someone's voicemail, leave a short message, but be prepared to call back again later in the day; certainly do not expect the employer to return your call (though some may actually do so). You might be interested in reading through our follow-up tips, Critical Job-Hunting Tips: Key Follow-Up Advice.

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Long-distance job-searching is both an art and a science. There are certain strategies you should follow -- that's the science -- but sometimes getting a job offer (or offers) before you actually move is the art -- your finesse at finding opportunities, phone interviewing, and more -- and sometimes, it's just pure luck. Find out about companies in your desired locale through any number of sources, including state government or economic development Web sites, local chambers of commerce, local phone books, geographic-specific job books, and more. Once you've made a list of these companies, contact them directly or through their Web sites. Look into local chapters of professional organizations or clubs that you currently belong to -- or that you want to join. Contact your alma mater's career services or alumni offices to get contacts of alums living in your desired location. Visit the Web site of the local newspaper(s) and/or subscribe to the print version. Look into recruiters. Use geographic-specific job sites. Consider traveling to your desired area and establishing some contacts. And read our article, New City, New Job: How to Conduct a Long-Distance Job Search.

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The biggest problem job-seekers who have been terminated face is themselves. The great majority of us have been fired, terminated, downsized, or rightsized at one time or another. Unless there was a criminal reason for your termination, prospective employers don't need to know you were terminated from your last job. Perhaps you chose to resign. If the reason was simply corporate rightsizing or restructuring, or personality clashes, or some other non-criminal reason, simply state that it was a mutual decision between you and your former employer and that you were seeking new challenges and opportunities -- a chance to offer your key skills and education to help other organizations excel. Always put a forward-thinking, positive spin on your answer -- always with an push toward helping prospective employers excel; helping solve their problems. Never be negative, never feel you need to explain, but also never lie about it.

Rise above the bad feelings you may be having about losing your job and focus on putting a new shine on your cover letters, resumes, and interviewing style. Now is the time to take advantage of your network to search out new opportunities and new directions; and don't forget to take advantage of the alumni and career resources of your college. Read our article, Getting Fired: An Opportunity for Change and Growth with its helpful advice, strategies, and resources for helping you rise above and move forward.

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If you're confused about whether you're in the right job or career, check out our Workplace Values Assessment: Do You Know the Work Values You Most Want in a Job and an Employer -- and Does Your Current Employment Reflect Those Values?. Once you've identified your core workplace values, take the next step and develop a personal mission statement. Reading this article should help you accomplish the task: Using a Personal Mission Statement to Chart Your Career Course. The article also has links to various sample mission statements.

Third, take your self-assessment one step deeper and complete a SWOT analysis on yourself and your career. A SWOT analysis has you examine your job/career strengths and weaknesses while examining the potential opportunities and threats in various career choices. Read: Using a SWOT Analysis in Your Career Planning.

Fourth, whether or not the first three steps helped you or not, you could also consider using a professional career counselor or coach -- who can help you with some one-on-one advice and guidance. You can find a directory of career counselors by going to the Career Counselors Consortium and a coach at our Quintessential Careers Directory of Life and Career Coaches.

Finally, remember that Quintessential Careers has tutorials on job-hunting, as well as articles on job-search strategies, career change, relocating and long-distance job-search, and much, much more.

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Are you interested in the field of social work? There are some great resources for people considering social work as a career. Check out the Social Work Career Quiz, The New Social Worker Online, and from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook: Social Workers, which is simply a fantastic resource. Finally, Barry University's School of Social Work also has a nice section on Careers in Social Work. Use your network -- or develop a network -- and seek expert advice. If your college offers sociology or social-work courses, speak with the professors about your career goals.

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If you're one of the job-seekers who is smart enough to realize the importance of thank-you letters, congratulations on helping yourself stand out from the crowd of other job-seekers who don't bother to write thank-you letters. Thank-you letters are fairly easy to write, and there are variations to cover specific issues that may have arisen from the interview, such as dealing with a negative issue or perceived problem. Your goal is simply to thank the employer (and be sure to send thank-you letters to every person who interviewed with you) for his or her time, and to stress your interest in the position and your fit with the organization. You'll find some great samples by going to this section of Quintessential Careers: Sample Job Interview Thank You Letters. It may also be helpful to read this article: FAQs About Thank You Letters.

Finally, don't forget that you can't just sit back once you've mailed (or emailed) the thank-you letter. Follow up with the employer after you send the letter, making sure to express your interest and enthusiasm for the job and inquiring about the status of the job search. Have more questions? Read our article, The Art of Follow-Up After Job Interviews.

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Here's the scoop on references. First, never, ever list names of references directly on your resume. References belong on a separate sheet of paper that matches the look and feel of your resume, but is simply titled "References." And never give references to employers until they are requested.

Second, think strategically about reference choices. You want the people who will make the strongest recommendations for you. Former supervisors do not have to be references, especially if they did not know all your accomplishments or you fear they will not have glowing things to say about you. Sometimes former co-workers make the best choices. Again, the key is people who will say positive things about you.

Third, you ideally want about three to five references -- people who can speak highly of your accomplishments, work ethic, skills, education, performance, etc. For experienced job-seekers, most references should come from previous supervisors and co-workers, though you may also choose to list an educational (mentor) or personal (character) reference. College students and recent grads have a little more flexibility, but ideally you have several references from internships or volunteer work in addition to professors and personal references. Avoid listing family members; clergy or friends are OK for personal references.

Fourth, get permission. Before you even think of listing someone as a reference, be sure to ask whether the person would be comfortable serving as a reference for you. Most people will be flattered -- or at least willing to serve as a reference -- but you still need to ask to be sure.

Fifth, get complete information from each reference: name, title, company, address, and contact information (daytime phone, email, cell phone, etc.).

Sixth, keep your references informed (and perhaps coached). Make sure each reference always has a copy of your most current resume, knows your key accomplishments and skills, and is aware of the jobs/positions you are seeking. Again, the best references are the ones who know who you are, what you can accomplish, and what you want to do.

Seventh, be sure to thank your references once your current job search is complete. Some companies never contact any references, some only check the first one or two, and some check all. Regardless, these people were willing to help you, and thanking them is simply a common courtesy. Read more in our article, References: The Keys to Choosing and Using the Best Job References in Your Job Search.

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Do you get interviews, but not job offers? There could be a whole host of reasons why you're not getting from the interview to the job offer stage, but if in fact you are getting interviews, the obvious answer is that you probably have one or more flaws occurring during the interview.

Questions to ask yourself include: Have I dressed to the level of my prospective employers? Have I answered all interview questions strongly? Have I researched the companies and showcased my knowledge? Have I asked intelligent questions of the employer? Have I projected confidence and enthusiasm? Have I asked for the job - or at least asked about the next step in the process? Have I written thank-you notes to all the people who interviewed me? Have I followed-up my interviews with a phone call? Do I know what my references are saying about me? To answer that one, consider hiring one of these job references services.

A final strategy for finding a solution might be to summon up the nerve to ask one of the people who interviewed you, perhaps one you felt some rapport with, why you did not get a second interview or the job offer. Ideally that person will be honest, and you can move forward from there. Also take advantage of some of the great interviewing resources available on Quintessential Careers.

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Considering a resume-distribution service? They can definitely add value to your job search. The better resume-blasting services send your resume to both recruiters and employers -- and offer you options about the type and location of those recruiters and employers. Check out our section on resume-distribution services, which includes Quintessential Careers partner sites. Just remember that no matter what resume-distribution service you use, be sure to conduct a thorough job search -- one that includes multiple methods of tracking down jobs. Whether it's posting your resume on a couple of Web sites or using a blasting service, you need to avail yourself of every avenue of job searching, especially networking.

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The burn-out rate for teachers is high, so if you're a teacher thinking of switching careers, take some time to learn about yourself and plan your next move. You may want to develop a personal mission statement. If you need help, read this article: Using a Personal Mission Statement to Chart Your Career Course. You might also want to take our Workplace Values Assessment for Job-Seekers. You might consider guidance counseling or curriculum development. Your options are almost limitless. Prioritize your values, your interests, your work preferences, and your career goals -- and then see what jobs/careers arise from that mix.

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Looking at a career in real estate? According to several sources, more than 5 million people in the United States are employed in identifiable real-estate fields such as title insurance, construction, mortgage banking, property management, real-estate appraisals, brokerage and leasing, and real-estate development.

Like all job-seekers, those interested in real estate should begin their quests for information about specific careers? Your immediate answer should be the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. (You can search it directly from this page on Quintessential Careers.) The Handbook provides lots of information (job descriptions, nature of work, training/education required, salaries, future demand, etc.) for "Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents" and "Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers" -- depending on your specific interests within the real-estate field.

Another great source for you as you begin your quest is from the College of Business at Ohio State University. Go to their Careers in Real Estate: Is Real Estate for You? This site has an amazing collection of information and resources, including skills and requirements, key job areas, facts and trends, salaries, and offline and online resources.

Another interesting site, more from a personal perspective of someone in the real estate brokerage business is Real Estate Careers, from Prudential Properties Northwest.

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Consider taking your networking card one step further by turning it into a Resume Highlights Card on which you can print your key qualifications (or summary of accomplishments) on the back of your networking card -- giving you a mini-resume to distribute when carrying your regular resume is not feasible. Read more in our article, Networking Business Cards: An Essential Job-Search Tool for Career Changers and College Students When a Resume Just Won't Do.

Review all our Quick and Quintessential Career & Job Tips.

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