At our August 2012 networking night, career transition expert, Jim Collins, offered a wealth of helpful insights about job-search strategies for communicators.

1. IABC
A Few Perspectives On
Managing Your Career
James B. Collins, Ph.D. LPC

2. Key Questions
• How bad is it out there?
• How do I ensure career stability and success?

3. How Bad Is It Out There?
• As communicators, you know better than to
pay attention to the press clippings
• It’s not the 90’s, but it’s better than you think

4. Unemployment – (BLS)
• U.S. - 8.3%
– A steady, gradual decline from the peak of 10% in
October of 2009
– Expected to “tick down” to 8% by year end
• Metro DC – 5.4%
– DC – 9.1%
– NOVA Counties – 4.3%
– MD Counties – 5.4%

5. Communicator Job Opportunities
• Indeed.com over 60 ads within a 25 mile
radius (all within last 30 days)
o Entry-Level: 25+ postings
(coordinator, assoc., asst., intern < $60K)
o Mid-Level: 25+ postings
(mgr., specialist, writer, asst. editor $60 - $100K)
o Senior-Level: 10+ postings
(editor, director, VP $100K+)

6. Communicator Job Opportunities
• This is a crude analysis
• Most of these jobs not appropriate for any given
individual
• However, this is 60+ communications job postings
in a 1-month period
• Extrapolated annually – 300 to 350 jobs? The
opportunities are out there
• The vast majority won’t be right for you, but a
handful will be.

7. How Do I Ensure
Career Stability & Success?
• A tough question
• Business & industry increasingly turbulent &
job market reflects that.
• Opportunities & needs are in constant flux
• No control over their availability or the hiring
decisions of others
• Pathways are ambiguous at best

8. How Do I Ensure
Career Stability & Success?
• People have diverse professional priorities
that shift throughout life
• No matter who you are or what you’ve
accomplished, people will find reasons to
exclude you
• There are no formulas or cookbooks
• However, some strategies are better than
others

9. Recognize That
The Game Has Changed
• The 25+ year trend continues to intensify
(SHRM)
• Increasing shift:
– From Long-Term Job Security
– To Long-Term Career Employment Security

10. Understand Nature of the Job Market
Proactive Market Reactive Market
• Ads – Print & Web
• Agencies
• Job Fairs
• Unadvertised Jobs • Recruiters
• Pending Jobs
• Jobs That Don’t Exist – Created
• Posted Ads Thru Networking

11. Steps In The Selection Process
The One
Proactive Approach May Reference
Enter At These Point 1 Candidate
Check
1 – 3 Candidates Final Rounds
3 – 6 Candidates Employment Interviews
6 – 12 Candidates Screening Interviews
25 - 50 Resumes HR Screening
50 to 500
Reactive Approach
Resumes Computer/Clerical Pre-screen
Enters Here

12. Know Thyself:
Have A Cogent Professional Summary
• A Clear Brand:
• Defines your professional identity
• Hard Skills
• Specific functional competencies & expertise
• Soft Skills
• Key characteristics & attributes
• Value Your Bring
• The impact or results you deliver

13. Get Known Beyond
Your Piece Of Paper
• Myth - It’s not what you know but who you
know
• Reality – It’s:
 Who you know (contacts)
 Who knows what you need to know (strategic)
 What you know (information)
 Who knows you (visibility)

14. Continually Expand Your Tool Box
• Being “Graduate Ready” is necessary but not
sufficient
• This shouldn’t be a mystery
• “Life-Long Learning” is not a new concept
• It’s simply gaining increased freight as the
pace of change accelerates
• Be strategic within your area of passion

15. Be A Good Citizen
A Counter-Intuitive Thought
• Focus not on building your career
• Focus on building relationships & adding value
• Get engaged & involved