Tips for Landing a Job: Life in a Tight Labor Market

Presented to the City of Chula Vista May 2009

Pamela J. Sanchez and Randy Spicochi 1

Tips for Landing a Job1. Transition

2. Self-awareness

3. Organize

4. Research

5. Resume

6. Network

7. Interview

8. Negotiate

9. Websites

10.Articles2

Transition• Tough Economic Times• You are not alone• Friends and Family• Financial inventory• Social activities• Physical activities• Mental focus• Focus on what you can control• Be pro-active• Look for opportunities to improve yourself;

take a class• “211” Community Resource Services or

www.211sandiego.org

Understanding transition + planning =Reduced anxiety

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Self-Awareness• Self Assessment

– Strengths and Interests– What Color is Your Parachute?

by Richard Nelson Bolles

– Myers-Briggs MBTI• Do What You Are by Paul D.

Tieger & Barbara Barron-Tieger

– The Riley Guide• http://www.rileyguide.com/assess.

html

• Employment Trends– Bureau of Labor Statistics

• http://www.bls.gov/

• Explore– The Riley Guide - employment opportunities and job

resources on line– Occupational Outlook Handbook

• http://www.bls.gov/oco/

– Bureau of Labor Statistics• http://www.careervoyages.gov/

• http://online.onetcenter.org/– Career One Stop Centers

• http://www.acinet.org/

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Organize your search• Identify all possible career

options (A-Z)• Keep your mind open• Let people know • Have a professional e-mail

account• Contact references• Create Business Cards

Industry/Field – i.e. education, HealthcareFunction – HR, finance,

Operations, teacherLocationSize of organizationCulture

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Research

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Resume Format

• “Current” Style– Summary– Accomplishments– Chronological or functional

• Education• Training• Technical Skills• Community Involvement• Professional Associations• Military Experience

Resume Tips

RESUME

• 2 pages max

• Pronouns - eliminate them (I, me,

my, our, their…)

• Past tense (unless still working)

• Numbers – use actual number

(“10” instead of “ten”)

• Keep it Simple - avoid fancy

fonts or symbols (scannable)

• Market appropriate - conduct a

market check for keywords in

your field (refer to ads)

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Sample Summary

Resourceful Administrative professional with extensive experience providing support to executives and departments. Skilled in coordinating conferences, projects, meetings and travel arrangements. Able to balance the needs of management, provide excellent customer service, and maintain confidentiality and schedules with ease. Utilizes strong organizational, planning, and communication skills towards improving operational efficiency. Proficient in MS Outlook, Word, Excel and Powerpoint.

Sample Accomplishments• Reduced customer complaints by 22% in a 6-month period by conducting more than

45 service technician training programs throughout Southern California• Created safe and healthful work environment by conducting monthly meetings to

focus on safety and housekeeping that resulted in zero lost time accidents over 8 years

• Negotiated “key account” status with major vendors, eliminating inefficient suppliers and qualifying for “preferred pricing” with new partners, reducing material costs by 22% within first year

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Network• Networking events

– http://www.thompsonsearch.com/newsletter/sdevents.htm– www.job-hunt.org - local networking and job search support by state

• Job Fairs – San Diego Career Fair

Thursday, June 18, 2009 and Wednesday, September 30, 200911:00 AM to 2:00 PMSan Diego Convention Center111 West Harbor DriveSan Diego, CA 92101

• Social Networking• Volunteer

www.serv.org

www.volunteermatch.org

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Online NetworkingWhat is it?

• Individuals connecting through electronic means

• Communicating personal brand 24/7

• Services—LinkedIn, Facebook, Spoke & others—helping users grow and manage personal and business networks online

• Access to people in more locations, industries, professions

Who is doing it?

• Jobseekers, business owners, recruiters, active networkers

• All Fortune 500 companies represented on LinkedIn, all at director level and above

• More than 145,000 CEOs on LinkedIn

• 30+ million experienced professionals around the world, representing 150 industries

• Your LinkedIn profile will appear in a Google and Yahoo Search

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Interview Tips• Understand Behavioral or

Traditional• Be Positive - Positive – Positive• Review your accomplishments• Listen • Talk in concrete terms• Keep it brief• Ask questions• Provide Project Samples• Keep Confidentiality• Send Thank you note

Prepare to Interview• Dress Professionally• Bring a Portfolio or Folder to

Organize• Research the Company• Have a professional answering

phone message• Know how do you qualify, the

competencies needed for the position

• Research salary

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Interview Questions Tell me about yourself Why did you leave your last job?  What did you dislike about your previous job?  What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What is your work/management style? What are your future career plans? Why are you interested in our company? How did you get along with your last manager? How would your peers, subordinates, manager describe you? What are your salary requirements? Tell me about a time when your work was criticized. Tell me about a time when you were not successful in coping with a pressure situation. Tell me about a time when you were not successful in adapting to change.

•

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Negotiate• Postpone any discussions• Research Market • Collect missing information• Salary, Bonus, Benefits, Title, Tuition, Time Off• Stay flexible - but don’t settle • Don’t negotiate for your next job• Remain positive and upbeat• There is always a Probationary Period• Obtain offer in writing

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Resources - Websites• San Diego job search guide - http://jobstar.org/sd/index.php• Occupational Outlook Handbook www.bls.gov – statistics, working conditions, training,

tomorrow’s jobs and future outlook• Career guide www.bls.gov/oco/cg – careers by industry• O*Net Online – http://online.onetcenter.org/ - details of specific jobs, match skills, match

technology• Career Onestop centers – http://www.servicelocator.org/ • Career Overview www.careeroverview.com job source resource guide/ career changes

section• Career Explorer – www.careerexplorer.net training resources• Career Voyages – www.careervoyages.gov career changes section • Volunteer – www.usafreedomcorps.gov

• Google Directory/Jobs - http://directory.google.com/Top/Business/Employment/

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Resources - Websites• Job search resources, networking, articles - www.job-hunt.org • On-line networking www.linkedin.com • On-line networking and instant information http://twitter.com/ • Salary Research - www.salary.com• Meta-job banks – Indeed.com, Simplyhired.com

– www.indeed.com– www.simplyhired.com

• Health Insurance - www.ehealthinsurance.com• Government jobs - www.usajobs.gov• Web based, free content encyclopedia - http://www.wikipedia.org/• Free Business cards – www.vistaprint.com • Research – www.ceoexpress.com

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Resources - Articles• “Tell me about Yourself”

– http://careerdevelopers.com/tellmeaboutyourself.php

• Guide to using Craigslist to find a job – http://www.job-hunt.org/guides/using-craigslist-to-find-a-job.pdf

• Guide to using Indeed to find a job– http://www.job-hunt.org/onlinejobsearchguide/article_guide_to_indeed.shtml

• Stay Cyber safe– http://www.job-hunt.org/privacy.shtml

• One in five employers uses social networks in hiring process– http://shar.es/1h0J

• Cleaning up your digital dirt– http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26904049/from/ET/

• The Beginner’s Guide to Finding a Job with Twitter– http://jobmob.co.il/blog/beginners-guide-find-a-job-with-twitter/

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Resources - Articles• 20 Ways Older Workers Can Sell Themselves

– “http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/careers/2008/11/26/20-ways-older-workers-can-sell-themselves.html

• Top jobs in 10 industries– Top jobs in 10 industries - CNN.com

• Speeding up the Process of finding a new job– WSJ.com - Speeding Up the Process of Finding a New Position

• Laid Off? Volunteer! Here's Why And How–

http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/24/volunteer-layoff-opportunity-leadership-careers_basics.html?partner=email

• In Pictures: Great No-Degree Jobs – http://www.forbes.com/2007/10/09/jobs-opportunity-training-ent-dream1007-cx_ee_1009jobs_slide_2.

html?partner=email

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Resources - Articles• Find Your Job with LinkedIn

– http://articles.mbahighway.com/2009/03/find-your-job-with-linkedin.html

• The Top Jobs for 2009– http://www.fastcompany.com/articles/2009/01/top-jobs-2009.html

• 8 Ways to keep your Career Moving– http://career-resources.dice.com/technical-resume/eight-things-to-do-while-you-are-laid-

off.shtml

• 6 Cardinal Rules of Resume Writing–  http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/3005252/c_2984789

• 9 Things you should never say in an interview– http://www.wetfeet.com/Undergrad/Getting-hired/Articles/Nine-Things-You-Should-Never-

Say-in-an-Interview.aspx

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Questions

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Pamela J. Sanchez, MBA, CCPPamela Sanchez has 20+ years of extensive Human Resources experience in corporations such as GTE, Reebok, Ericsson Wireless, CBS TV and radio affiliate, American Medical Response and currently Right Management.

Pamela is a Career Management Consultant with Right Management working both in the Southern California offices and for the Home Based division in North Carolina. In this position she provides career management guidance to all levels of employees in the classroom, through teleconference webinars and one-on-one settings. Pamela has instructed over 800 classes, workshops, and webinars with over 7,000 participants in addition to supporting a career center. With extensive experience in reductions in force, Pamela provides organizational change expertise and notification services to organizations.

Pamela earned her MBA from Providence College, Bachelor’s degree from Boston College and a Certificate in Human Resource Management from Bentley College. She is certified to deliver 360 degree feedback, DISC personality assessment, and the Birkman Method, specializing in leadership development and talent management. Pamela is a Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) as part of the World at Work organization and a member of the National Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). She has been a guest lecturer at the University of San Diego and the San Diego Community College District.

Randy Spicochi, MARandy Spicochi has over 20 years experience using contemporary consulting techniques to create positive organizational climates while enhancing communication among stakeholders in diverse settings including: biotechnology, telecommunications, semi-conductor, manufacturing, sales/ marketing, acute-care hospitals, and government agencies. Proven history of making a positive impact in cultures where value was placed on results, diversity, career growth, and individual leadership

Professional success linked to the application of the following competencies:

* Organizational Effectiveness * Leadership Development• Employee/Labor Relations • Program Design/Measurement• Workforce Planning/Staffing • Evaluation Models• Qualitative Measurement Design • Soft Skills Coaching• Performance Coaching

Randy has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of Redlands and has a Master of Arts in Organizational Behavior from the California School of Professional Psychology. He has been heavily involved with in the San Diego SHRM organization and served as VP Finance and continues to provide volunteer support to the local and national human resources community

pamelasanchez@me.com rspicochi@cox.net

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