YOU ARE JOINING MILLIONS of other individuals who go through job and career transitions each year. Indeed, between 15 and 20 million people find themselves unemployed each year. Millions of others try to increase their satisfaction within the workplace as well as advance their careers by looking for alternative jobs and careers.
If you are like most other Americans, you will make more than 10 job changes and three to five career changes during your lifetime. The fact that you have spent many years in the military where you have already made several job changes probably means you will make at least two more career changes and six job changes during the rest of your work-life. You are now engaging in the first of what may become several such changes in your future.
Most people make job or career transitions by accident. While luck does play a role in finding employment, we recommend that you plan for future job and career changes. As a member of the military, you can begin planning your luck by using several free or low-cost transition services designed for military personnel. We'll examine these in Chapter 3.
Finding a job or changing a career in a systematic and well-planned manner is hard yet rewarding work. The task should first be based upon a clear understanding of the key ingredients that define jobs and careers. Starting with this understanding, you should next convert key concepts into action steps for implementing your job search.
A career is a series of related jobs which have common skill, interest, and motivational bases. You may change jobs several times without changing careers. But once you change skills, interests, and motivations, you change careers.
It's not easy to find a job given the present structure of the job market as well as the disappearance of jobs. You will find the job market to be relatively disorganized, although it projects an outward appearance of coherence. If you seek comprehensive, accurate, and timely job information, the job market will frustrate you with its poor communication. While you will find employment services ready to assist you, such services tend to be fragmented and their performance is often disappointing. Numerous job search methods also may be ineffective.
No system is organized to give people jobs. At best you will encounter a decentralized and fragmented system consisting of job listings in newspapers, trade journals, employment offices, or computerized job databases—all designed to link potential candidates with available job openings. Many people will try to sell you job information as well as questionable job search services. While efforts have been made to create a nationwide job bank which would list available job vacancies on a daily basis, such efforts have been unsuccessful. Instead, the government and several commercial firms have created numerous competing online, searchable databases for both job seekers and employers. In the end, most systems organized to help you find a job do not provide you with the information you need in order to land a job that is most related to your skills and interests.
Finding a job is both an art and a science; it encompasses a variety of basic facts, principles, and skills which can be learned but which also must be adapted to individual situations. Thus, learning how to find a job can be as important to career success as knowing how to perform a job. Indeed, job-finding skills are often more important to career success than job performance or work-content skills.
The diagram on the next page examines the key elements in a successful job search. It consists of a 10-step process which relates your past, present, and future. We will cover steps 4-10 in subsequent chapters which deal with skills assessment, research, resume writing, networking, interviewing, and salary negotiations.
Based on this concept, your past is well integrated into the process of finding a job or changing your career. Therefore, you should feel comfortable conducting your job search: it represents the best of what you are in terms of your past and present accomplishments as these relate to your present and future goals. If you base your job search on this process concept, you will communicate your best self to employers as well as focus on your strengths both during the job search and on the job.
Learning how
to find a job is
as important
as knowing how
to perform
a job.
Since the individual job search steps are interrelated, they should be followed in sequence. If you fail to properly complete the initial self-assessment steps, your job search may become haphazard, aimless, and costly. For example, you should never write a resume (Step 7) before first conducting an assessment of your skills (Step 4) and identifying your objective (Step 5). Relating Step 4 to Step 5 is especially critical to the successful implementation of all other job search steps. You must complete Steps 4 and 5 before continuing on to the other steps. Steps 7 to 10 may be conducted simultaneously because they complement and reinforce one another.
Try to sequence your job search as close to these steps as possible. The true value of this sequencing will become very apparent as you implement your plan.
The steps identified on the next page represent key processes used successfully by thousands of military and nonmilitary job seekers during the past 40 years. They should work for you as long as you recognize the importance of linking work-content skills with job search skills.
You must do much more than just know how to find a job. In the job markets of today and tomorrow, you need to constantly review your work-content skills to make sure they are appropriate for the changing job market. Assuming you have the necessary work-content skills for the civilian job market, you should be ready to target your skills on particular jobs and careers that you do well and enjoy doing. You will be able to avoid the trap of trying to fit into jobs that are not conducive to your particular mix of interests, abilities, skills, and motivations.
10 Steps to Job Search Success
Knowing where the jobs are is important to your job search. But knowing how to find a job is even more important. Before you acquire names, addresses, and phone numbers of potential employers, you should possess the necessary job search knowledge and skills for gathering and using job information effectively.
Answers to many of your job-related questions are found by examining your present level of job search knowledge and skills. Successful job seekers, for example, use a great deal of information as well as specific skills and strategies for getting the jobs they want.
Let's begin by testing for the level of job search information, skills, and strategies you currently possess as well as those you need to develop and improve. You can easily identify your level of job search competence by completing the exercise on the next page.
You can calculate your overall job search competencies by adding the numbers you circled for a composite score. If your total is more than 75 points, you need to work on developing your careering skills. How you scored each item will indicate to what degree you need to work on improving specific job search skills. If your score is under 50 points, you are well on your way toward job search success. In either case, this book should help you better focus your job search as well as identify job search skills you need to acquire or strengthen.
While some people can successfully conduct a job search based on the advice of books such as this, many others also need the assistance of career professionals who offer everything from testing and assessment services to offering employer contacts, including job vacancy information and temporary employment services. Some do one-on-one career counseling while others sponsor one- to three-day workshops or six- to 12-week courses on the various steps in the career planning process. We strongly recommend you contact your nearest transition assistance office first (see Chapter 3), before investing your time and money in other career planning and job search services. The many highly qualified professional counselors you will encounter have a wealth of experience and are motivated to assist you in making a smooth transition from the military to the civilian workplace.
You have two options in organizing your job search. First, you can follow the principles and advice outlined in this and many other self-directed books. Just read the chapters and then put them into practice by following the step-by-step instructions. Second, you may wish to seek professional help to either supplement or replace this book.
We recognize the value of professional assistance, especially in today's environment. With the critical assessment and objective-setting steps (Chapters 4-6), some individuals may need more assistance than our advice and exercises provide. You may, for example, want to take a battery of tests to better understand your interests and values in relation to alternative jobs and careers. And still others, due to a combination of job loss, failed relationships, or depression, may need therapy best provided by a trained psychologist or psychiatrist rather than career testing and information services provided by career counselors. If any of these situations pertain to you, by all means seek professional help.
You also should beware of pitfalls with some so-called professional career services. While many services are excellent, others are useless and some are fraudulent. We recommend always asking for the names and phone numbers of some former military personnel who have used their service and make sure you call them to gauge their level of satisfaction with the services rendered.
Your Careering Competencies
INSTRUCTIONS: Respond to each statement by circling which number at the right best represents your situation.
SCALE: 1 = strongly agree
2 = agree
3 = maybe, not certain4 = disagree
5 = strongly disagree
1. I know what motivates me to excel at work. 1 2 3 4 5 2. I can identify my strongest abilities and skills. 1 2 3 4 5 3. I have seven major achievements that clarify
a pattern of interests and abilities that
are relevant to my job and career.1 2 3 4 5 4. I know what I both like and dislike in work. 1 2 3 4 5 5. I know what I want to do during the next
10 years.1 2 3 4 5 6. I have a well defined career objective that
focuses my job search on particular
organizations and employers.1 2 3 4 5 7. I know what skills I can offer employers in
different occupations.1 2 3 4 5 8. I know what skills employers most seek in
candidates.1 2 3 4 5 9. I can clearly explain to employers what I do
well and enjoy doing.1 2 3 4 5 10. I can specify why employers should hire me. 1 2 3 4 5 11. I can gain the support of family and friends
for making a job or career change.1 2 3 4 5 12. I can find 10 to 20 hours a week to
conduct a part-time job search.1 2 3 4 5 13. I have the financial ability to sustain a
three-month job search.1 2 3 4 5 14. I can conduct library and Internet research
on different occupations, employers,
organizations, and communities.1 2 3 4 5 15. I can write different types of effective
resumes and job search/thank you letters.1 2 3 4 5 16. I can produce and distribute resumes
and job search/thank you letters.1 2 3 4 5 17. I have a clear pattern of accomplishments
which I can explain to employers, citing examples.1 2 3 4 5 18. I can identify and target employers I
want to interview.1 2 3 4 5 19. I can develop a job referral network. 1 2 3 4 5 20. I can persuade others to join in forming
a job search support group.1 2 3 4 5 21. I know which websites are best for posting my
resume and browsing job postings.1 2 3 4 5 22. I can use the telephone to develop prospects
and get referrals and interviews.1 2 3 4 5 23. I know how much time I should spend conducting
an online job search.1 2 3 4 5 24. I can generate one job interview for every
10 job search contacts I make.1 2 3 4 5 25. I have a list of at least 10 employer-centered
questions I need to ask during interviews.1 2 3 4 5 26. I can follow up on job interviews. 1 2 3 4 5 27. I can negotiate a salary 10-15%
above what an employer initially offers.1 2 3 4 5 28. I can persuade an employer to renegotiate
my salary after six months on the job.1 2 3 4 5 29. I can create a position for myself
in an organization.1 2 3 4 5 TOTAL _______
There are at least seven types of professional services through which you can receive help in career planning, job search, and employment assistance:
| • National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. | www.nbcc.org |
| • National Career Development Association | www.ncda.org |
| • Certified Career Coaches | www.certifiedcareercoaches.com |
| • Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches | www.parw.com |
The old adage "When in doubt, do something" is especially relevant when expanded to include a thoughtful plan of action related to the job search process: "When in doubt, engage in a concrete activity related to the sequence of job search steps." This might include conducting research on communities, companies, positions, and salaries; surveying job vacancy announcements; writing a resume and job search letters; or contacting three employers each day.
But developing a plan and taking action is much easier said than done. If conducted properly, a job search can become an extremely time-consuming activity. It inevitably competes with other personal and professional priorities. That's why you need to make some initial decisions as to how and when you will conduct a job search. How much time are you willing to set aside each day or week to engage in each of the seven job search activities outlined at the beginning of this chapter? After you've spent numerous hours identifying your abilities and skills and formulating an objective, are you willing to commit yourself to 20 hours a week to network for information and advice? If you are unwilling to commit both your time and yourself to each activity within the process, you may remain stuck, and inevitably frustrated, at the initial stages of self-awareness and understanding. Success only comes to those who take action at all stages in the job search process.
If you decide to conduct your own job search with minimum assistance from professionals, your major cost will be your time. Therefore, you must find sufficient time to devote to your job search. Ask yourself this question: "How valuable is my time in relation to finding a job or changing my career?" Assign a dollar value to your time. For example, is your time worth $3, $5, $10, $25, $50, or $100 an hour? Compare your figure with what you might pay a professional for doing much of the job search work for you. Normal professional fees range from $2,000 to $12,000.
The amount of time you can devote to your job search will depend on your personal situation. We understand that until you actually separate or retire from the military, you are employed by the U.S. government and have a job to do. However, we also realize that you probably don't work 24 hours per day. Therefore, as time allows, we recommend you concentrate on your job search sooner rather than later and make maximum use of the time available. There are certain advantages that accrue to seeking a new job while still employed. Because you are employed and have key benefits like health coverage, you usually appear more attractive to prospective employers, who may view unemployed candidates as more likely to take the first job available. Remember, your goal is to find a job based on your strengths rather than your needs.
A simple yet effective technique for improving your time management practices is to complete a "to do" list for each day. This list also should prioritize which activities are most important to accomplish each day. Include at the top of your list a particular job search activity or several activities that should be completed that day. If you follow this simple time management practice, you will find the necessary time to include your job search in your daily routine. You can give your job search top priority. Better still, you will accomplish more in less time, and with better results.
While we recommend that you plan your job search, we also caution you to avoid the excesses of too much planning. Like time management, planning should not be all-consuming. Planning makes sense because it focuses attention and directs action toward specific goals and targets. It requires you to set goals and develop strategies for achieving the goals. However, too much planning can blind you to unexpected opportunities—that wonderful experience called serendipity. Luck—being in the right place at the right time—plays an important role in the job search. However, we like to plan our luck. After all, luck is when preparation and opportunity meet.
Given the highly decentralized and chaotic nature of the job market, you want to do just enough planning so you will be in a position to take advantage of what will inevitably be unexpected occurrences and opportunities arising from your planned job search activities. Therefore, as you plan your job search, be sure you are flexible enough to take advantage of new opportunities and the luck that inevitably will come your way.
As with any military operation, it is important to establish a timeline and be disciplined in the execution of your planned activities. It is no less important when embarking on your employment campaign. Your mission is to obtain employment. Therefore, you need to consider doing the following:
Developing a sound yet flexible search plan is critical to conducting a successful employment campaign. Regardless of how much time you have, the time spent planning and organizing your activities will result in a far more effective job search.
A timeline is one technique you should include in your job search for planning your activities. Here's an example of what you may want to sequence on your timeline:
- Read career transition and job search books and articles
- Draft a resume for the positions you are seeking. (You will probably want to use a "combination resume" which highlights your functional skills and also tells the prospective employer the nature of your assignments.)
- Consult with professional career counselors (see Chapter 3) for assistance in helping you translate your military experience into civilian terms.
- Post your resume to TurboTAP (www.turbotap.org) and other employment sites, such as Corporate Gray Online (www.CorporateGray.com)
- Visit the library and explore the Internet—learn about the different companies that exist in your fields of interest.
- See our research and networking advice in Chapter 9 and 10.
- Contact your friends and associates on the list you made last month and make an appointment to meet with them.
- Prepare for the interviews—think about questions you will ask; research different fields, companies, and industries.
- At the interview—ask intelligent questions; listen; thank them for their time.
Depending on your situation, you may want to develop a timeline which incorporates a different sequence of job search activities. However, your overall job search should follow the job search steps we previously discussed.
Your timeline should incorporate the individual job search activities over a six-month period. If you phase in the first five job search steps during the initial three to four weeks and continue the final four steps in subsequent weeks and months, you should begin receiving job offers within two to three months after initiating your job search. Interviews and job offers can come anytime—often unexpectedly—as you conduct your job search. An average time is three months, but it can occur within a week or take as long as five months. If you plan, prepare, and persist, the pay-off will be job interviews and offers.
While three to six months may seem a long time—especially if you are unemployed—you can shorten your job search time by increasing the frequency of your individual job search activities. If you are job hunting on a full-time basis, you may be able to cut your job search time in half. But don't expect to get a job that's right for you within a week or two. Job hunting requires time and hard work—perhaps the hardest work you will ever do—but if done properly, it pays off with a job that is right for you.
Success is determined by more than just a good plan or timeline getting implemented. We know success is not determined primarily by intelligence, time management, or luck. Based upon experience, theory, research, common sense, and some self-transformation principles, we believe you will achieve job search success by following many of these 20 principles:
These principles should provide you with an initial orientation for starting your job search. As you become more experienced, you will develop your own set of operating principles that should work for you in particular employment situations.
Job hunting is a highly ego-involved activity which will probably result in numerous rejections you may take personally. After all, you place your past, abilities, and self-image before strangers who don't know who you are or what you can do. Being rejected, or having someone say "no" to you, will probably be your greatest job hunting difficulty. We know most people can handle two or three "no's" before they get discouraged. If you approach your job search from a less ego-involved perspective, you can take "no's. The more rejections you get, the more acceptances you receive. Therefore, you must normally encounter rejection before you get acceptances.
On a practical level, there are certain tools that we suggest using to organize your job search. First, you will want to use a calendar to keep track of your various job search related appointments. Second, establish a task list to help you identify and manage the various tasks that are part of your job search. Third, use a contact manager tool, like GoldMine or Act!, to help you manage contact information and to track the outcome of your discussions. Fourth, use a filing system with folders and sub-folders to help you find job search items quickly. The more organized you become, the more efficient your job search.
We believe most people can conduct a successful job search on their own by following the step-by-step procedures outlined in this book. Our self-directed methods work well when you join others in forming a job search group. The group provides a certain degree of security which is often necessary when launching a new and unknown venture. In addition, the group can provide important information on job leads. Members will critique your approach and progress. They will provide you with psychological supports as you experience the frustration of rejections and the joys of success. You also will be helping others who will be helping you.
To track your progress, download a planning worksheet by visiting www.CorporateGray.com. While there, also download and take the Career Competency Assessment.