Skills For Success

March/April 2002

SKILLS PART 1: 10 Tips for Surviving Unemployment

More than 305,000 Americans lost their jobs in the first quarter of 2001, bringing the total number of unemployed to over 6 million, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Following are some tips on how to survive the time in between jobs.

1. Look for work, but not full-time. The key is to be focused and use your time well, according to experts at Lee Hecht Harrison (Woodcliff Lake, NJ), a global career services firm specializing in outplacement. The rejection associated with non-stop job hunting can burn you out so that you won’t be at your best when the right job does come along.

2. Don’t give up childcare right away.You don’t know how long you are going to be out of a job and reliable childcare, though costly, will free you up to find your next position faster. If the time comes when you do have to cut back, you can always explore more economical options, such as exchanging childcare days with a neighbor or family member.

3. Spend wisely. There are tools you need for your job search, says Pamela Abrams, former Editorial Director of etoys.com. “First you need a computer/internet access.” You may also need a new suit and some professional help to pull together an updated resume. According to Abrams and other top execs who have survived the “in between jobs” time and thrived, it’s important to spend money on these items, rather than to go without, as they are essential tools for a successful and expedient job search.

4. Cast a wide net. Read as many job openings as possible, recommend the experts at Monster.com. This will help you to evaluate the skills and experience employers find desirable. Then, you can incorporate matching credentials into your resume.

5. Practice, practice, practice. Don’t be afraid to go on a few interviews for positions that you don’t necessarily want. These early trial runs will help get you back in the job hunting "groove" by honing your interviewing skills.

6. Find a mentor. "It is important to find a mentor as a source of encouragement and to be a sounding board," says Candace Davies, Founder and Director of Cando Career Coaching and Resume Writing, Inc. (Grand Prairie AB, Canada) "It is helpful to share your progress and your setbacks with this person." If you already have a mentor, this is the time to make the most of the relationship.

7. Take care of yourself. "Remember to eat well, sleep well and to exercise," said Davies. "This will contribute to a refreshed, positive attitude." It will also help you survive the unavoidable stresses associated with unemployment.

8. Emphasize efficiency. In a lean job market, employers look for candidates who can do several tasks well, according to Bruce Tulgan, author of Winning the Talent Wars and Managing Generation X. Emphasize your proficiencies in several key areas on your resume and during your job interviews.

9. Build your network. This is not the time to hide out, it’s the time to get out! You still have plenty to offer and attending professional events, circulating with peers and maintaining your visibility presents an image of strength and success that may help to open doors to some new employment opportunities.

10.Think positively. Despite record job losses, the American economy experienced a net increase of nearly 400,000 jobs between January and February of 2001, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Bottom line: This means that people are finding work, even as companies downsize.

RESOURCE LIST

  • Writing a resume or follow-up letter? Check out the tips at www.Candocareer.com
  • Posting a resume? Try www.Monster.com
  • Redoubling your networking efforts? Attend more HBA events! (For information on upcoming events, visit www.hbanet.org.) In addition, consider volunteering for a group related to your areas of professional interest—it could be the HBA, NYWA, or perhaps your local chapter of the American Red Cross or a local hospital. You’d be amazed at the number of contacts you will make (and resume-worthy experience you will gain), through volunteerism.
  • Looking for a loan? Visit www.womensfinance.com
  • Organizing your life? For personal and professional tips on managing your life during times of change, visit www.Digital-Women.com
  • Ready for outplacement? Lee Hecht Harrison can be reached at www.lhh.com
  • Need a breather? Visit www.Spafinder.com

SKILLS PART 2: I’ve Landed a New Job—Now What

The hardest part of losing a job can sometimes be starting a new one. There are expectations to be met, the residual anxieties from being unemployed, and on top of all that, you’re a new fish in an unfamiliar pond. How do you thrive in your new post? We researched views from the top experts and here are their suggestions.

1. Voice your success. "It is estimated that 38% of your effect on others comes directly from the way you sound—your voice," said Marion Witz, professional coach and author of Stand Up and Talk to 1,000 People (And Enjoy It!). Witz recommends working on your voice at home, improving your expression with reading exercises. Become aware of your vocal range and be sensitive to the way others hear or don’t hear you. Practice telling jokes, your timing—master the fine art of the pause. Find someone whose speech patterns are engaging and borrow from them.

2. Maximize your total image. You tackled part of this during your job hunt, but now you’ve got to deliver the package every day! According to Sheronde Glover, M.Ed, CEO of Glover Enterprise (Morrow, GA), an image enhancement and consulting company, image is much more than wardrobe. You’ve got to be in tune with yourself and your goals, she says. With this focus, begin building your mind (by seeking knowledge and wisdom) and body (by exercising, eating healthfully and paying attention to the needs of the physical self ). "Our mind is a vehicle for hope, desires, and dreams. Our body is the tool we use to carry these things out. Our spirit is the manner in which we do so. Together they make up our image—all encompassing, collective, all self, all us."

3. Find advocates. Identify people who can help you strategize about your reputation and act as your advocates when appropriate. Such advocates are valuable inside and outside of your workplace.

4. Be yourself. It’s okay to learn by watching others but don’t adopt any professional style that doesn’t feel 100% comfortable to you. "Spend some time with a coach or counselor who can help you scrape away any last shreds of self-doubt that could tempt you to tinker with your essential identity," advises Barbara Reinhold in a special report on "Women in the Workplace" (Monster.com, March 2002).

5. Master the basics. Take the time to get your sea legs when starting any new job. Once you’ve built that foundation, expand it. Take courses, volunteer to take on new assignments. Trust yourself to succeed.

6. Say yes! You’ll be presented with challenges that you think you can’t handle—say yes to them. These are opportunities to expand your experience and your marketability.

7. Invite feedback. Not everyone is an instant success and even the most successful professionals make mistakes. The best way to ensure your personal and professional growth is to welcome constructive criticism. "Ask for feedback from everyone whose opinions you trust," Reinhold says. "If nobody is critiquing your performance and sharing suggestions with you, then you’re missing out on the most important information you can have."

8. Set goals. You won’t get where you want to go if you don’t know where that is. Goals don’t have to be life altering or enormous in scope. Start small, but start somewhere and stay focused on your plan.

9. Respect your co-workers. This should go without saying, but sometimes the stress of starting a new job can undermine our ability to work well with others. Whether the co-worker is above or below you on the corporate ladder, treat her with respect. Don’t be obsequious, don’t be condescending…just be confident, polite and respectful—even if you have to count to ten before you unleash your tongue!

10. Balance your work with your life. The temptation, when you start a new job, is to go the extra mile—working later and harder than your peers. Be careful. There are times when work will have to take precedence, but experts agree that if you consistently put work first, your success will peak and then, diminish. To be happy, healthy and productive, you must save time for yourself and your family.

RESOURCE LIST

  • Marion Witz, Witz Training (Toronto, Cananda and Dallas, TX): www.witztraining.com
  • Sheronde Glover, Glover Enterprise (Morrow, GA): www.gloverenterprise.com