Creative Job Search Strategies in a Challenging Job Market © 2009 Career Treking LLC A Workshop for The Boston College Career Summit Hosted by Career Treking LLC June 24, 2009 Susan Kennedy Mary Gibbs www.careertreking.com (781) 237-2252

Agenda Job Search Recommendations Setting Career Direction Realistic Job Goals Strategic Job Search Strategies Job Search Action Plan © 2009 Career Treking LLC

Job Search Recommendations

Setting Career Direction

Realistic Job Goals

Strategic Job Search Strategies

Job Search Action Plan

Our Job Search Philosophy Get the right job the first time Job satisfaction: 64% turnover first three years Close the “recession” compensation gap: 9% pay differential for those who graduate in a recession

Get the right job the first time

Job satisfaction: 64% turnover first three years

Close the “recession” compensation gap: 9% pay differential for those who graduate in a recession

The Recession Compensation Gap National Bureau of Economic Research: 9% pay differential Can last for up to a decade The recession grads often take the first job; often outside their chosen field; can loose career time Columbia University study: 70% of Canadians 1976-1995; 2 recessions Learn and develop the skills you will need.

National Bureau of Economic Research:

9% pay differential

Can last for up to a decade

The recession grads often take the first job; often outside their chosen field; can loose career time

Columbia University study: 70% of Canadians 1976-1995; 2 recessions

Learn and develop the skills you will need.

Career Treking Recommendation Identify your dream job List the skills and experiences required for the job Create a plan to acquire those skills; when job market rebounds, candidate is ready

Identify your dream job

List the skills and experiences required for the job

Create a plan to acquire those skills; when job market rebounds, candidate is ready

How to Thrive in A Tight Market Key Job Search Elements Focus Identify dream job, wide net of related jobs, locations Target robust, strong companies/industries Prepare Stand out in job search materials & interviews Demonstrate contribution to company priorities Engage Network into companies Get involved & show capabilities © 2009 Career Treking LLC

Focus

Identify dream job, wide net of related jobs, locations

Target robust, strong companies/industries

Prepare

Stand out in job search materials & interviews

Demonstrate contribution to company priorities

Engage

Network into companies

Get involved & show capabilities

Setting Career Direction © 2009 Career Treking LLC Your Profile Skills Degree Achievements Interests Preferences Potential Careers Job Goals Goal A Goal B Goal C Translate Profile to Careers Careers, Industries Jobs Stimulus Package Jobs Learn From Others Network Informational Interviews Test Reality Job Shadowing Internships Volunteering Part-time Work

Converting Profile into Careers University of Tennessee Career Converter http://career.utk.edu/students/majors.asp Occupational Outlook Handbook bls.gov/OCO Wetfeet.com Job, company, industry information Career Treking Stimulus Package Jobs careertreking.com © 2009 Career Treking LLC

University of Tennessee Career Converter

http://career.utk.edu/students/majors.asp

Occupational Outlook Handbook

bls.gov/OCO

Wetfeet.com

Job, company, industry information

Career Treking Stimulus Package Jobs

careertreking.com

Set Wide-Net of Job Goals Identify your career aspiration Set a range of inter-related, prioritized job goals Goal A your desired job, links to your career goal Goal B a related job in desired industry or entry level position with industry consumer, vendor Goal C showcases your core skills & performance desirable for Goal A Fill background gaps, energize resume Identify a flexible, wide range of locations © 2009 Career Treking LLC

Identify your career aspiration

Set a range of inter-related, prioritized job goals

Goal A your desired job, links to your career goal

Goal B a related job in desired industry or entry level position with industry consumer, vendor

Goal C showcases your core skills & performance desirable for Goal A

Fill background gaps, energize resume

Identify a flexible, wide range of locations

© 2009 Career Treking LLC Jane’s Career Goal Business Development in Renewable Energies Short-Term Goal A Target Employers Time Frame Sales in Renewable Energy Company (REC) enXco Second Wind Berkshire Wind Power X months Short-Term Goal B Target Employers Time Frame -Customer service in REC -Receptionist/administrative role in a green architect firm • Four Seasons Wind Power • JEI Energy Solutions • Sustainable ABC.com • Solar Design Associates X months Short-Term Goal C Target Employers Time Frame Retail sales Insurance sales Home Depot Aetna Cigna X months Resume Background/Energy Gap Filling the Gap Knowledge of renewable energy RE Certificate program Involvement in renewable field Volunteer activities in RE

enXco

Second Wind

Berkshire Wind Power

Home Depot

Aetna

Cigna

Robust Industry Opportunities Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Biotech Political science Economics/business Sociology, psychology Communications Healthcare policy Financial analyst, consulting Counseling, HR, marketing Corporate communications

Political science

Economics/business

Sociology, psychology

Communications

Healthcare policy

Financial analyst,

consulting

Counseling, HR, marketing

Corporate communications

Robust Industry Opportunities Financial Services Customer-facing positions Insurance companies Credit unions Regional banks All majors relevant Benefits: Training, track record, skills

Customer-facing positions

Insurance companies

Credit unions

Regional banks

All majors relevant

Benefits: Training, track record, skills

Robust Industry Opportunities Utilities/Alternative Energy By 2030, one in four jobs projected to be in renewable energy Biggest trends: Solar, wind, marine Environmental and liberal arts majors appropriate

By 2030, one in four jobs projected to be in renewable energy

Biggest trends: Solar, wind, marine

Environmental and liberal arts majors appropriate

Stimulus Package Opportunities Education Energy Healthcare Infrastructure © 2009 Career Treking LLC Small companies Government Suppliers and vendors www.recovery.gov • www.recovery.org • www.usajobs.gov

Education

Energy

Healthcare

Infrastructure

Small companies

Government

Suppliers and vendors

Find the Employers Fewer Jobs Posted in a Down Market Reach Out © 2009 Career Treking LLC

Fewer Jobs Posted in

a Down Market

Reach Out

Success Rates by Job Source

Strategic Job Search Strategies Networking Linked In/Twitter Career Services Faculty and Alumni Association Job Boards Internet Searches Newspapers Temporary Agencies Internships

Networking

Linked In/Twitter

Career Services

Faculty and Alumni Association

Job Boards

Internet Searches

Newspapers

Temporary Agencies

Internships

Networking Activities © 2009 Career Treking LLC Face-to-Face Planned Reach out Nurture relationships Online Pick 1or 2 sites Engage fully Spontaneous Initiate Be prepared, follow-through Events/Meetings Join an industry association Look for unique events

Face-to-Face Planned

Reach out

Nurture relationships

Online

Pick 1or 2 sites

Engage fully

Spontaneous

Initiate

Be prepared, follow-through

Events/Meetings

Join an industry association

Look for unique events

Comfort Zone © 2009 Career Treking LLC Friends & FOF Friend's Parents Family & FOF Community Alumni Professors Bosses & Coaches Associations

Online Networking: LinkedIn Develop expanded connections Get networked into jobs and companies Join and engage in groups Pose and answer questions regularly © 2009 Career Treking LLC

Develop expanded connections

Get networked into jobs and companies

Join and engage in groups

Pose and answer questions regularly

Online Networking: Twitter Twitter regularly Describe what you’re looking for Offer useful information Follow others selectively twitter keyword search twitterjobsearch.com © 2009 Career Treking LLC

Twitter regularly

Describe what you’re looking for

Offer useful information

Follow others selectively

twitter keyword search

twitterjobsearch.com

Targeted Job Search Plan © 2009 Career Treking LLC Goal B: Customer Service Rep Employer: Swift Rivers Company Activities Actions Done Networking Informational Interviewing LinkedIn and Twitter Alumni association Comfort zone & expanded networks Renewable Energy Association Google alert for Swift Job Shadowing Internship Swift Rivers Human Resources Volunteering Part-Time/Temp Work Hydroelectric initiative Temp agency

LinkedIn and Twitter

Alumni association

Comfort zone & expanded networks

Renewable Energy Association

Google alert for Swift

Beefing Up Job Search Skills © 2009 Career Treking LLC Search Activity My Skills 1(low)-10 (high) Resources to Build Skills Due Date Set career direction, job goals, industry targets Networking and informational interviews Resumes and cover letters Interviewing Assertive, company-specific job search Organization, follow-through

Takeways Thriving in a challenging job market entails: Set a wide range of career goals Have a plan to develop the skills needed Create a job search action plan Make networking a habit

Thriving in a challenging job market entails:

Set a wide range of career goals

Have a plan to develop the skills needed

Create a job search action plan

Make networking a habit