The Naked Job Description

The Naked Job Description Ive had a dream lately that there is a new kind of job description.  Im specifically talking about the postings for hiring candidates, not the I have a job, here is my description so I know what Im supposed to do. Steve Levy wrote Pick MePick Me!  (Steve is one of my favorite recruiting bloggers)  In his post he says: Boring, generic titles that are backed up with equally boring, generic job descriptions do little to pique the curiosity of game changers:  â€œOh, a job responsibility of a software developer is to code? I didn’t know that…”  With these approaches you’re trying to sell the job based upon salary to anyone with a pulse rather than matching the needs of the role, the group, the company with the career needs of a person. As a job seeker I wasnt astute enough to pick through postings and see the boring and generic I simply saw a list of requirements and hoped to match my skills and experience to that list.  So that didnt bug me as much as it bugs people who are in-the-know. Ill tell you what did bug me.  TO NO END.  I hated, loathed, detested, abhorred (yes, I can use online synonym tools) seeing a job description that fit me to a T, but didnt have any compensation information. Many years ago hiring companies went from disclosing how much they would pay to not telling anything.  The problem is, I might see a title and description that Im well-suited for but not realize you are paying 50% of what Im expecting to make. Cant we just cut to the chase and get that out of the way? Lets say that I have to make $80,000/year.  I find three job openings that are practically identical, and somehow find out that one pays $50,000, one pays $85,000, and one pays $240,000. The problem is that the first one is simply too low, and I cant afford to live on that.  I would like the job, but it is just too far off and I dont want to get a second job to bridge the gap. The third one is three times what Im hoping to make of course, anyone would love to make three times what their need is, but if I see you are paying $240k, and Ive not made more than 100k before, Im going to wonder if you arent looking for someone with a lot more depth of experience than I have.  I can use this number to determine that Im really not the right guy (but hey, I met someone who might be a perfect fit can I introduce you?). This now-secretive number makes it so much harder for a job seeker to look at a posting and try and figure out if it is even a possibility. What if we could go back to the olden days and JUST SHARE THE SALARY RANGE! I know, I know, its really too much to ask.  But a guy can dream, cant he? The Naked Job Description Ive had a dream lately that there is a new kind of job description.  Im specifically talking about the postings for hiring candidates, not the I have a job, here is my description so I know what Im supposed to do. Steve Levy wrote Pick MePick Me!  (Steve is one of my favorite recruiting bloggers)  In his post he says: Boring, generic titles that are backed up with equally boring, generic job descriptions do little to pique the curiosity of game changers:  â€œOh, a job responsibility of a software developer is to code? I didn’t know that…”  With these approaches you’re trying to sell the job based upon salary to anyone with a pulse rather than matching the needs of the role, the group, the company with the career needs of a person. As a job seeker I wasnt astute enough to pick through postings and see the boring and generic I simply saw a list of requirements and hoped to match my skills and experience to that list.  So that didnt bug me as much as it bugs people who are in-the-know. Ill tell you what did bug me.  TO NO END.  I hated, loathed, detested, abhorred (yes, I can use online synonym tools) seeing a job description that fit me to a T, but didnt have any compensation information. Many years ago hiring companies went from disclosing how much they would pay to not telling anything.  The problem is, I might see a title and description that Im well-suited for but not realize you are paying 50% of what Im expecting to make. Cant we just cut to the chase and get that out of the way? Lets say that I have to make $80,000/year.  I find three job openings that are practically identical, and somehow find out that one pays $50,000, one pays $85,000, and one pays $240,000. The problem is that the first one is simply too low, and I cant afford to live on that.  I would like the job, but it is just too far off and I dont want to get a second job to bridge the gap. The third one is three times what Im hoping to make of course, anyone would love to make three times what their need is, but if I see you are paying $240k, and Ive not made more than 100k before, Im going to wonder if you arent looking for someone with a lot more depth of experience than I have.  I can use this number to determine that Im really not the right guy (but hey, I met someone who might be a perfect fit can I introduce you?). This now-secretive number makes it so much harder for a job seeker to look at a posting and try and figure out if it is even a possibility. What if we could go back to the olden days and JUST SHARE THE SALARY RANGE! I know, I know, its really too much to ask.  But a guy can dream, cant he?

Four Steps to Take When Youve Been Downsized - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Four Steps to Take When Youve Been Downsized - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career When you have been downsized, the first inclination for many people is to hit the job boards and begin searching for their next job. But doing that right after a layoff or termination may be more difficult than you think. Many people start a new search before theyve had a chance to prepare and unwind, and they rush to find a new job, not even waiting to make sure its the one they really want. Steps to take before looking for the next job Here are four steps to take when youve been downsized or let go from your last job. 1. Decompress for a Few Days Youve just been given a vacation, hopefully a paid one. Enjoy it for a few days before you start working again. Chances are youre going to be released on a Friday, so in no uncertain terms should you start polishing your résumé or looking at the job boards. For one thing, your emotions are frazzled, youre stressed, and youre not in a good place mentally to start this process. Take the weekend to unwind, and then take a few more days. Theres no reason to hit the ground running on a Monday. Take a couple days to work around the house and enjoy the time off. Sleep in, spend time with your family, hang out at a couple local coffee shops and read a book. Then, by Wednesday or Thursday, youre ready to get started. 2. Line Up Some Informational Interviews Call some people youve never met, but who work in the industry you want to work in. Schedule an informational interview with them â€" be sure to explain why you want it â€" and meet them for coffee or lunch. If you can swing it, buy their coffee or lunch. If you cant, meet in their office. Find out who the big players are in the industry, whether there are any industry associations or networking groups, and see if you can attend. Find out what path the person took to get to the position theyre in. And when youre all done, ask who else should I talk to? DO NOT ask for a job. Dont ask if they know of any positions. Theyll know why youre looking, so if they know of anything, theyll tell you. Theyll also be more willing to share contacts with you if youre seeking information and not begging for work. 3. Start a Consulting or Freelance Business It takes a laptop, a mobile phone, and some business cards. You dont need an office, a desk or cubicle, or a company car. You need a phone number, you need email and a website (a WordPress.com site and a domain name will be plenty), and you need a way to tell people how to get a hold of you. This isnt going to be a permanent move, but a way to keep your résumé up to date, your knowledge fresh, and your skills sharp. Reasons you need to take these steps You need to do this for a few reasons: You need to generate some income while youre looking for a job. And you might end up being successful enough that you dont need a new job. You need to keep your skills and knowledge sharp. If you dont get a job in your chosen industry right away, you could miss out on some important new developments while youre still searching. You dont want any gaps in your résumé. Ran my own business for 1 year looks much better than perused the job boards and hoped someone would call. Best of all, youre going to meet with the decisions makers who hire consultants. Do you know who else they hire? Employees. Know how they got there? Through the long and arduous hiring process through HR. But youll have front door access to the decision makers; just pick up the phone and ask for a meeting to discuss how you can help them. Help them enough, and youll either make a decent salary, or theyll eventually decide to make you full-time. Then, when you land a new job, you can shut down your business, unless you find youre making way more money than you were in your old job. Your first client call? Your old employer. See if they need any contractors â€" they usually get paid from a different budget than salaries, so no layoffs â€" then charge at least 25% more than your original salary; 50% more if you think theyll pay it. Or go to work for a contractor and get hired back at your old company. Also if youre freelancing, your informational interviews (#2) can often lead to this type of work. 4. Find Some Networking Groups in Your City Most people who work for corporations never get a chance to join any networking groups, so nows your chance. Check out your local Chamber of Commerce and any business networking groups. Start attending their events, and be prepared to meet new people. This is where youre launching your consulting business. Meet decision makers and influential people, schedule one-on-one meetings with them, and see how you can help each other. Conduct more informational interviews. Being laid off is very stressful and carries a lot of fear. Dont let the fear and stress cloud your judgment or cause you to make hasty decisions. Take some time to plan your next move, and then use some nontraditional methods to find a new job, instead of the same tired tactics everyone else is using. Author: Erik Deckers is the owner of Professional Blog Service, and the co-author of Branding Yourself: How to Use Social Media to Invent or Reinvent Yourself. His new book, No Bullshit Social Media: The All-Business, No-Hype Guide to Social Media Marketing, which he wrote with Jason Falls, is in bookstores and on Amazon now.

6 Productivity tips to put time on your side

6 Productivity tips to put time on your side Its telling that some of the most popular blogs focus on productivity. I learned this when I interviewed productivity gurus about their best time-management tips last year and it became the post that bloggers link to most often on Brazen Careerist. How to get more things done is a hot topic for younger workers especially, and one that has seemingly endless angles. Thats because young people are good at multitasking, and yet feel as though true productivity goes a step further than simply working feverishly on more than one task at the same time. Here are six productivity-blogger tips with some new takes on the old idea of blowing through your to-do list to feel good about your day. Whats interesting to note is that each piece of advice actually encourages people to get more done by slowing down to focus rather than multitasking nonstop: Having goals is more important than the content of the goals Productivity should be aimed at meeting goals rather than merely keeping up with ones to-do list. Its a question of the big picture versus the little picture, and we need to be sure to have some big-picture ideas about our life or we wont be able to steer it. So often, though, we dont set goals because were worried theyll change. But theyll change regardless, and we dont want the same things throughout our whole lives anyway. As Eric Nehrlich says on his blog Unrepentant Generalist, The particular goals arent as important as the process of setting goals and working to meet them. Knowing you can meet goals encourages you to set more, and setting more encourages more conscious thinking about what youre doing. That may well be the very core of productivity. •  Get information at scheduled times In a world where most of us are knowledge workers, the person whos best at taking in information and synthesizing it is going to stand out. The last thing youd want to do, then, is stop taking in information. But theres limitless information, so you have to set your own limits. Tiffany Monhollon at  Little Red Suit  suggests scheduling when precisely you take in your information. This means that it doesnt interrupt you constantly, which really undermines productivity, but it also doesnt elude you, which is the sure way to become obsolete in the workforce. •  Make your to-do list doable A lot of us get stuck because everything on our to-do list is daunting. As Gina Trapani explains at  Lifehacker, each of us has two selves the boss and the assistant. The boss self comes up with things that are cool to do, as well as things that are awful to do but that need to get done anyway. The assistant self has to execute all of it, and sometimes the boss self makes life impossible for the assistant self. Ideas that have no execution strategy, projects that have 50 (or more) steps, and administrative tasks that arent essential all drive your assistant self crazy. Trapani explains how to make sure your boss self and assistant self are working together to create a to-do  list that doesnt stop you in your tracks. You actually need to put a lot of thought into how you manage yourself. Maybe thats why the best reader for this column is your philosopher self. •  Do something youre passionate about Every Monday,  Zen Habits Leo Babauta blogs about productivity and organization. That in itself is a great productivity lesson: If you schedule something important for certain days or certain times each day, youll get into the habit of getting the important things done. Zen Habits No. 1 productivity tip is to do something youre passionate about. Why? Because when youre enthusiastic about something youre better at it, and you dont mind trying harder and putting more time into it. Its the work you dont really want to do that you put off or do slowly and without much attention. •  Do important tasks instead of urgent ones Steve Pavlina  shows how to make a distinction between the important tasks and the urgent tasks on your to-do list. Examples of important items on your list could be learning new skills, finding a new relationship (or working on the one you have), or starting a new project. Note that these items are for you, not for someone waiting for a response to your e-mail. Steve calls this paying yourself first. Ask yourself if it will matter in five years whether you did a particular task or not. Taking that class youve always wanted to take passes the test itll surely matter in five years. On the other hand, not answering that e-mail from an impatient coworker right this minute probably wont matter in five years. What does this have to do with productivity? You cant be truly productive if youre wearing yourself out by taking care of other peoples needs. If you decide that 5 out of 10 things on your to-do list wont really be important in the long run, then youll be much more productive by making time to work on those less-urgent but more-important items first. •  Focus on outcome Just because youre getting something done doesnt mean it matters. In the long run, youll feel better about the time you spend if youre making a difference with the outcome. We often put things on our to-do list that take much more time to accomplish than theyre worth, but we focus so much on getting them done that we dont think about if they were worth the time. Chris Michel has an equation for this on his blog  Found|Read: Take the desired outcome (value) and divide it by actions (cost), and you have the return on your investment (time). Michael theorizes that looking at tasks this way will inspire you to come up with ways to get to the outcome with fewer wasted actions. Timing Is Everything As you try to implement new productivity tactics in your life, keep in mind a study from the  Center for Creative Leadership  that says we each have ways of doing things that are hardwired, and if we get stressed out well revert to those ways. So even though its tempting to try new productivity methods when you need them the most, youll have more success making the switch if you wait until a relatively calm  period of  your life.

Which Office Stereotype Are You (INFOGRAPHIC)

Which Office Stereotype Are You (INFOGRAPHIC) The process of applying and interviewing for a job entirely revolves around professional and related previous experiences. What this means is that in any workplace, the staff are all there because they share one common set of skills. This is obviously the most sensible way of building a workforce in any industry. However, one thing which it doesn’t totally account for is the many different personalities within the team. While a team of employees may all share the same professional skill set, it in no way guarantees that they have anything else in common. This sometimes means that there can be somewhat of a clash of personalities, something which no one really wants in the workplace. There’s a handy post on The Muse which discusses exactly this difficult situation and how you can attempt to navigate these tricky situations. In any workplace, it becomes quite easy for employees to pigeonhole each other for their differing characteristics. We all know how easy it can be to apply a stereotype to someone who has a particular quirk or two. However, have you ever stopped to think what your colleagues think of you? Now you can find out what stereotype is attached to you by answering a few simple questions on a new infographic from silverdoor.co.uk. It’s called ‘Which Office Stereotype Are You? and you can try it for yourself by taking a look below.

Tips For Resume Writing With UMN

Tips For Resume Writing With UMNIf you've never done resume writing before, it is very important that you take the time to learn about what is needed in order to create a resume that will stand out from the rest. You want your resume to be exceptional, and it is possible to do so if you know what to put in it. That being said, below are some tips for making the most of your resume.Always have a clear objective when you are creating your resume. This is the only way to ensure that you are setting yourself up for success. You need to have a clear picture of how you want to move forward and what you want to accomplish.When you make your resume for the first time, you should be sure to include realistic goals. These should be short and precise. They will help to direct your thinking about what you want to accomplish and how you want to accomplish it.Most resumes include a 'cover letter' that helps to provide further details about the applicant. The cover letter should also be relevant to the job that is being sought. If the organization you are applying to does not require a cover letter, do not put it on your resume.Include details of your experience as well as any interesting facts that will make an impact. If you have a favorite website, include it. Have any personal hobbies or interests that you think might be of interest to the employer? Make sure that these are included.If you have an interesting story to tell, you can get a great job. If the employer is interested in learning more about your past work experience, they will be willing to listen. A nice story is a great way to boost your resume.Your resume should also include your contact information such as email and phone number. This will give the employer an opportunity to contact you at any time during the interview process. It is also a good idea to provide your name, address, and phone number.Completing a resume is not something that you should put off if you haven't done one before. Don't wait until yo u are in desperate need of a job to try to get a resume written. You can learn more about how to write a great resume today by visiting UMN Career.

10 Signs You Need a Career Change - CareerAlley

10 Signs You Need a Career Change - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Do you love your job? Or, is it sucking out your soul? If you are unhappy at work, you are not the only one. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), approximately 42% of the labor force will leave the jobs during the current year. This is supported by a recent survey which indicated that 34% of the workforce are actively looking for a new job,presenting a real possibility thatthe 60% of us unhappy in our workwill make a change in the coming year. For most, this willmean changing theiremployer and for others it is likely to mean displacement leading toa complete career change (due to downsizing, elimination of certain industries, etc.). For those who are displaced, they may need to learn new skills by takinghome learning courses. It can, however, be easier to stick with what you know, with the old adage of the grass is not always greener on the other side ringing in your ears. It may be that the time has come to swap the drudgery of the commute to a job you dread, to commuting to one that you love (and look forward to!). But how can you tell? Here are 10 signs you need a career change #1 Sunday night dread This doesnt just affect just Sunday night but can impact on any evening before you are due to go to work in the morning. If you work a Monday to Friday job and slump on a Sunday evening on the sofa, dreading what Monday will bring, it may be time to look at making a change. More importantly, if you lose sleep over work, the time has REALLY come for a change. #2 Your future full of promotions or murky, dim and full of menacing shadows Is it a job or a career? There is a fine line between the two. Some people seem happy to turn up. Do their thing and go home, confident that at the end of the month they can pay the bills. If, however, you want something more like a promotion or a career ladder to make your way up and your current job is not offering these chances, maybe this is enough to convince you to look elsewhere. #3 The passion is gone Work is a relationship. When the passion is gone and the va-va-voom non-existent, then the soul-sucking starts. The feeling of being stuck, being used and of no real future in it makes you feel degraded and unchallenged. The time has come to change and we are only reason number 3! #4 Feeling undervalued When you feel undervalued the outcome is obvious is all to see de-motivation. It is the key cause of someone feeling rubbish about what they do, feeling they achieve little and that frankly, if they didnt turn up tomorrow, it really wouldnt matter. #5 Trapped This can be a physical sense as well as a psychological one, and being stunted by not being able or allowed to grow in your role. It may be that you are doing a disservice to yourself by sticking with something that is essentially, unfulfilling. Isnt it time you tap into your true worth? #6 Just soul-sucking all round Some work place cultures are created when management are not transparent, with one false promise after another. The truth is, some workplaces are just not healthy work environments and the negative impact of this on you and your emotional well-being is not to be underestimated. Unless you are seriously in love with your workplace, it is time to hot foot it out of there. #7 Dragging-clock syndrome We all know the agony of watching the clock tick slowly by. Every passing minute seems to last for hours and hours. Constant boredom kills passion, motivation and any sense of self-respect that you started your job with. If your eight-hour shift is passing so very s-l-o-w-l-y the time has come #8 The pay is rubbish In some cases, low pay is part and parcel of economic conditions but some people find that when they compare their rate of pay with that of others in the same or similar role with another employer, they find that their rate of pay is incredibly low. #9 The green-eyed monster When you hear the joys expressed by friends or family as they talk about work, do you mask your envy with a wide grin? If so you know the drill. #10 You no longer recognise yourself When work is a source of an identity crisis, there should be no other reason that you need to start looking for a new job. But rather than heading for the same old job, doing the same old thing, why not consider re-training with a home learning course? Career Tip of the Day: NCC Home Learning offer a range of home learning courses that can propel you from a job to a career. Better still, they offer incredible support packages that make learning from home even easier. Making learning fun again is key for many students, something that many find is part and parcel of working with a leading online home learning course provider such as NCC. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+ Visit Joeys profile on Pinterest What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Find out how to find the opportunities that help you grow your best career. Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. 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Emergency on Interview Day. Really, how about growing a pair

Emergency on Interview Day. Really, how about growing a pair 4 Flares 4 Flares Since starting Corn On The Job Ive read stories from job seekers trashing employers, recruiters, and hiring managers.  Ive sat back and watched, and I have wrote about and agreed with comments regarding how long an interview process can take, the rudeness of a recruiter or manager, and also how completely idiotic certain interview questions are for selection.  Youve all made great points, and many organizations and recruiters are surely at fault, but its about time the recruiters and organizations fire back.  This surely wont be my most popular post, but Ill be damned if Im not the one to finally say Job Seekers:  Its time to grow a pair, and stop making excuses As recruiters, weve learned that scheduling an interview doesnt necessarily mean our candidate is going to show up.  In our early years, we may have experienced a bit of shock and some anger at your lack of consideration, but over the years we just come to realize that its all part of the job.  Weve heard every excuse in the book, two or three times over.  Here are some of the most common: Car broke down Cat/Dog is sick Son/Daughter is sick Im sick Alarm never went off   Couldnt find the office There are others that fall a bit on the ridiculous side, and Im sure my recruiting buddies can share some hilarious excuses theyve heard.    No matter what the excuse is, its hard for a recruiter to buy it.  As a recruiter, we naturally begin to question how bad you want the job, if at all.  We may give you another shot at rescheduling, but well hold our doubts.   In a situation where you have changed your mind or decide the job isnt for you, just call us!  Even a simple e-mail will do.  Give us plenty of time before the scheduled interview so we can inform anyone actively involved with the interview process.  Canceling  the day of is incredibly frustrating for everyone involved, and at times can  embarrass  the recruiter.  You can also damage a recruiters reputation, especially those on the staffing agency side.  Just do us a favor and call us plenty of time before the scheduled interview if your feet start dropping in temperature. Are you a victim of Boy Cried Wolf syndrome We do understand that sometimes your cat, Buttons, really is sick, or maybe you really have had stomach problems the morning of the interview (stay off Taco Bell and Chipotle the night before).  Even though you really might have an emergency on interview day, we arent going to believe you.  Luckily, in most situations youll be granted a chance to reschedule.  This is your opportunity for redemption, and to be successful you must follow these critical steps: When you must cancel, but really do want the job: Notify your recruiter immediately when unable to make an interview Apologize with sincerity, and beg/plead for a chance to reschedule Schedule a time that you can make, at all costs Thank the recruiter and apologize again at the end Show up extra early (30 minutes) or so to prove that you are excited and do want the job Thank your recruiter, interviewer, and interviewing team for rescheduling and apologize again for missing the first scheduled interview When you burn us once, you need to come at us three times as strong the second time.  Failure to show up on the second attempt results in crossing your name off of our list.  Do as I say, and those suffering from Boy Cried Wolf syndrome will redeemed.