My Campus Chronicles
Our college blog dedicated to helping students prepare for life outside of college.
April 2007 archive
Yes, I know that summer is still a month or two away, but if you're like me, I am already planning my long-awaited (and much deserved if I don't say so myself) vacation. And I feel confident that I'm not alone given Spherion's survey findings that 67 percent of workers planned to take a vacation last summer.
When I think back to my vacation last year, I can't help but also remember the stress, anxiety and frankly, dread, that seemed to hang over my head as I thought about the work that was sure to pile up and await my return. This year, I'm not going to let that happen. Here's how...
I'm going to plan ahead by scheduling my time off well in advance. This will provide me ample time to prepare both at work and at home.
Then, I'm going to alert key contacts that I work with and rely on both within my company and outside clients. I'm hoping that by giving them ample notice of my vacation plans, we can tie up any loose ends or finish any important projects before I jump ship. There is nothing worse than leaving for vacation with an unfinished project waiting in the wings. I know myself, and I'll think about it while I'm away, and dread finishing it when I return.
Using my recruiting expertise, I think I'll recruit a back-up in my department who can handle any emergencies and/or maintain key aspects of my job while I'm away. Most importantly, I will designate this person to act as my contact person, giving them exact instructions as to how and when it is best to contact me (only for true emergencies).
Finally, I'm going to prepare for my return before I even leave by writing down a list of projects or priorities for when I get back to the office. I believe this will help me avoid feeling overwhelmed after my time off. This includes cleaning and organizing my office before I depart.
With any luck this preparation will go a long way in making my retreat an enjoyable and stress-free one. Let me know if anyone out there has any other tips to help vacationing workers relax and refuel.
Job hunting requires hard work and a smart strategy, internet or no internet. However, we all know (perhaps no one better than our blog readers) that technology can enhance your job search process. Here are four quick reminders about how to optimize your cyber hunt for the best job or position:
1. Put first things first. As with traditional job hunting, update and polish your resume. Revise your resume weekly so that it appears higher in an employer's search results. You can create "confidential" resumes, which allow employers to see your experience but not your name. Label your resume appropriately - how you name your resume can impact how often it is viewed. An employer is much more likely to click on a resume title "Senior Financial Consultant" than on one titled "Sam's Resume." Most resume postings must be made in ASCII (plain text). Online sites can help with this.
2. Use proper ‘netiquette.' Think before you send a message, and realize the impression you are making. Electronic correspondence requires the same level of professionalism as traditional methods. Avoid being too casual when online. Keep the length of your message reasonable, and use correct grammar and spelling. The way you communicate using email is just as important as the way you communicate face-to-face. You must have an acceptable email address (i.e. your name/initials@xxxx.com). Do not use email addresses that are unprofessional, too casual or just have no relevance (like BigMomma@yahoo.com).
3. Mega sites. Start browsing mega career sites that offer multiple resources and services for free. Network through bulletin boards , newsgroups and user groups . Set up job search agents on all the sites you visit to receive the latest openings as soon as they are listed. Job search engines alow you to search many of the major job databases at once. Though helpful, don't limit yourself to posting your resume or applying only to jobs you find on these major job sites.
4. Niche sites. Search the niche job sites in your respective profession. Search local job sites and Chamber of Commerce sites. Check the newspaper Help Wanted ads, both online and off. Some employers still only use the classifieds offline to advertise job openings so be sure to use every available resource.
Using technology when job hunting helps, but is should be used as a set of tools. The most effective strategy is to use a variety of job seeking methods. Make finding you as easy as possible for the employer whether that is through technology based or traditional methods.
In a recent blog post on Career Solvers by Barbara Safani discusses how and why you should keep up with your contacts even after you've landed a new job. Some of the ideas that Safani addresses are:
- Updating contact information: Safani suggests that when candidates start their new job they contact their network about their new address and email.
- Staying connected to colleagues: Safani suggests that by staying connected to colleagues candidates can put themselves in a position to return favors, should any previous colleagues decide to look for work.
- Keeping professional memberships active: By candidates staying up to date on association newsletters and event networks are more easily contacted and grown.
Some of the other areas to consider when keeping up with and staying connected include inviting some of your key contacts to lunch or dinner. Individual meetings outside of the workplace can be very effective in developing and maintaining key connections.
If you have difficulty remembering to keep up with your network, set up reminders in your work calendar so that when you do have some open time, you can use it wisely by contacting someone you have been meaning to call or email. Many people now have their own blogs or pages on social networking sites, such as Facebook or MySpace, that also serve as an easy way to stay in touch with your network.
And remember, if you stay in constant and sincere contact with your network of connections they will be more willing to help out when you really need them.
Part of your due diligence in planning your mature work and life is to develop an understanding of changing demographics. We provide our smart corporate clients with demographic studies that help them to understand population shifts and plan their workforce needs. I suggest that you think like a smart company and plan your life and work by learning where your community, or target community, is headed. Take a look at the following examples:
Arizona is our fastest growing state. From 2000-2005, the population grew by 15.8% as contrasted with the U.S. growth for the same period of time at 5.3%. The population at the end of 2005 (the latest census data) revealed that 9% of the population was between the ages of 18 and 24. Twenty-three percent of the population fell between the ages of 45 and 64 and 28% were 65 or older. Where will employers spend their recruiting dollars? If you are a Zonie, how will you compete with such a large population of mature workers?
Californians are working longer. The California Budget Project in Sacramento found that 62% of Californians ages 55 to 64 were employed last year, compared to 54% in 1995. The study found that just over a quarter of those in the 65 to 69 age group were working last year and, according to the study, they were working principally because of financial insecurity.
Washington, specifically - Seattle - ranks as the smartest city (if you equate education with being "smart") in the U.S. as 52.7% of its residents, age 25 or older, have completed a bachelor's degree (or higher) according to a 2007 ranking by the Census bureau. Seattle also has more than its share of residents with advanced degrees: 20.5%. Why is this important? Here's why. Smart cities are voted most likely to succeed in the future. Is Washington the state for your mature years? Or, are other challenges likely to get in the way?
Wisconsin is slated to become one of the most acutely impacted states by the graying of its population. According to Senior Service America, a nonprofit organization, "all of the growth in the working-age population of Wisconsin by 2015 will be generated by persons 55 and older."
What about the demographic outlook in your state? Remember that the future favors the prepared mind and the time to begin planning your future is now.
We've been hearing for a number of years about the knowledge and skills gap that will be left by the impending, and massive retirement of baby boomers. I ran across a recent Forbes article about the fastest growing jobs in America, many of which made the list due to this boomer phenomenon. Here are a few highlights from their article:
- Number one on the list: Home health aides, with estimated growth of 56% in their numbers over the next eight years.
- Medical assistants, dental assistants and physical therapist aides should all see growth of more than 30% by 2014.
- No finance or accounting gigs made the list, which was compiled before the private equity bonanza of 2006.
- There will be 32% more college professors in 2014 than 2004, according to the BLS, and 33% more preschool teachers.
- Technology jobs are growing rapidly. Software engineers and network systems analysts make the top 10 overall.
The exodus of baby boomers from the workforce is certainly one reason for the projected increase in these positions. In addition, the sheer size of the boomer population that is growing older and living longer is also influencing the growth of medical-related professions. Simply put, more people will be needed to take care of this aging generation.
Pursuing a career in any of these industries is a wise decision - just make sure to take advantage of working with the boomers who are still working but near retirement. These mentors will be your best resource for learning skills and knowledge applicable to your new career.
American Idol is a wildly popular TV program and the subject of much debate in workplaces nationwide. Have you ever gotten into a debate at work over the contestants on American Idol?
Q: I'm a contract employee on a six-month assignment, and am told that I far exceed the employer's expectations. Is it out of line to ask about being hired permanently?
- Submitted by Emilly Gower, Jacksonville, NC
A: Dear Emilly,
Emilly, this is a popular question, and we congratulate you and others for seizing the opportunity to demonstrate your value! Temp workers often don't take advantage of the unique exposure they enjoy.
You should also feel encouraged about the possibilities for permanent employment. Employment World calls temping "the single most productive strategy for finding a full-time job." Thousands of workers every year make the leap from temporary to full-time employee.
And to answer your question, it is not out-of-line to ask your company's management about being hired permanently. In fact, you should. But before you do, think about the following:
- If you landed the assignment through an agency or staffing firm, make sure you let them know you are interested in permanent employment.
- Be prepared to provide compelling reasons why you'd be an asset to the organization, concrete examples of the results you've generated, and an explanation as to why you accepted the temporary or contract position in the first place.
- Emphasize the benefits the organization will reap by hiring you. For example, point out that you have already been through the typical learning curve that comes with a new position and you can "hit the ground running." In you, they have a known asset, someone they can trust and have seen perform above expectations.
Finally, if your employer just doesn't have the resources or budget to add another permanent employee, don't despair and don't take it personally. And if you ultimately leave the job to seek a permanent position elsewhere, don't burn your bridges. Keep in touch with your former supervisor and coworkers, who are now part of your valuable network, because you never know when another position will become available.
Best of luck, Emilly!
Seymour
