CeeBee: CareerBuilder.com's Job Search SmartyPants

Leaps of faith

I've come across a few articles in the news lately about people taking a "leap of faith" when it comes to their job.

In some cases, people realize their current occupations just aren't doin' it for them anymore. Or sometimes, these folks have had an underlying passion for something unrelated to their current job, but for whatever reason - fear, lack of resources or whatever -they haven't acted on it.

Ditching corporate America to pursue personal passions - anything from animals to quilting to art - can be risky business. It usually requires deep pockets, lots of patience and plenty of determination.

That being said, it can be done.

For example, Jill Lurato changed the face of pet care in parts of New York and New Jersey. She spent 15 years working for a Fortune 50 company, dealing with stressful commutes, downsizings, mergers and other day-to-days in the corporate world. Finally, she developed a "plan B," which included pouring her passion for pets into a lucrative business endeavor by launching an at-home petsitting and dog-walking service. She now enjoys a fun and healthy lifestyle, while gaining financial security and professional independence.

Lurato is one of many examples of what can happen when you take a leap of faith with your career.

Follow these tips if you're feeling like taking the jump:

• Learn more. Research the field or passion you want to pursue. Sign up for classes that will give you the necessary background, education or training you need to excel in that industry. Investigate levels of pay and where your skill level would land you in that spectrum.
• Find a mentor. Find someone else who has taken the same leap of faith you're pondering. Ask them what they did to get there, what obstacles they faced and any advice they have to offer you.
• Track obstacles. Ask yourself what's keeping you from pursuing your passion. Are you lacking financial support? Education and training? Make a plan for how you can tackle each of the challenges you face.
• Seek expert advice. Find a career counselor to help you make a plan to take the leap into a new career. Hire a financial planner to help you budget while you make the financial sacrifices necessary to take the plunge.

Good luck!

When you love your boss and hate your job

According to a survey listing the worst employers of television from outplacement firm, Challenger, Gray and Christmas, C. Montgomery Burns of Fox's “The Simpsons,” and Cosmo Spacely of Hanna-Barbera's “The Jetsons,” top the list of terrible employers on T.V.

Everyone who works is likely to have had (or currently have) one bad boss or something negative to say about one of their current or previous employers.  But what do you do when you and your boss get along great but the job itself is the cause of your dissatisfaction?

Here is some advice from a Careerbuilder article on how to deal:

1. Enlist your boss's help to find another opportunity within the company: If you like your company but are just unhappy in your position, talk to your boss about alternative opportunities within the company. Chances are, your boss will be happy to help. Shawn, a travel industry marketing coordinator, loved working for her manager. She was well-compensated, highly regarded and given great projects. But with the birth of her second child, the long hours and off-site photo shoots were causing serious child-care issues. When a position within the company opened that required no travel and more regular hours, she asked her boss to sponsor her for the job posting. She got the new job and was able to negotiate a flexible schedule that allowed her to work from home one day a week.

2. Be a team player: You may hate your job, but you should never leave a good boss in the lurch. Mike, a veteran auto parts sales director, had spent nearly every week of his career on the road making sales calls. He had a great relationship with his boss, but knew that as long as he continued in sales, he would always be away from home.

Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, Mike dreamed of owning his own business. He talked with his boss about his plans to quit his job and start a car restoration shop.

Though disappointed to be losing a good employee, his boss encouraged Mike to pursue his dream. Mike was not only honest with his supervisor, but he was also a team player and stayed on for two extra months until his boss found a replacement.

Five years later, Mike's business is thriving and he's received several business referrals from his former boss.

3. Realize good opportunities can pop up anywhere: You may think that your current job is just a way to pay the bills, but remember that every job is an opportunity to make new contacts. Emma was working her way through graduate school at a record store. The work was monotonous and dull, and she knew that it was not a long-term opportunity. However, she worked hard and was a strong employee.

She kept in touch with her former boss, with whom she had built a good working relationship. Today, Emma is a stay-at-home mom and her boss is running for office in

Colorado

. Emma helps him by editing his campaign materials. This opportunity provides her with experience for her resume, keeps her active in the field of writing and editing and will be valuable when she decides to re-enter the workforce full time.

4. Do a good job -- no matter what -- and earn a life-long ally: It might be tempting to take it easy if you are in a job that you hate. But taking pride in your work -- no matter what kind of work it is -- will help you. Sarah was a recent college graduate who worked as a secretary at a financial services company in order to make ends meet. The work was not challenging and she was frustrated that she had not yet found a job within her field.

She did her job well and her boss noticed her potential. He helped her with her resume, gave her career advice, and was supportive of her aspirations. In the end, Sarah got hired at a public relations firm, a success that was helped by her boss's positive recommendation.

Remember, all experiences are what you make of them. A good boss might not be enough to keep you in one place, but can be a wonderful mentor who will play a positive role in your future.

For Love or Money

The age old debate of doing what you love or doing what makes money always produces a variety of responses, but according to a recent survey by Men’s Journal, more workers would be willing to take a pay cut if it meant a better balance between their work lives and personal fulfillment.

The survey, set to be featured in the October issue of Men’s Journal, found 55 percent of surveyed readers would be willing to take a pay cut in exchange for job satisfaction.  If the annual income was upped to $100,000, 57 percent would reconsider, with sentiments that all of their hard work would be worth the trouble, but six percent felt no amount of money could make up for their amount job frustration.

While money is one of the major factors, it’s not the only element of a job that can make or break it.  Benefits, quality work conditions, relationships at work, opportunities for growth and advancement, acknowledgement and the job itself all play a part in whether a job will be satisfying or a cause for continual stress and frustration.

So the next time you are considering a job offer, remember that a little less can go a lot farther if you’re putting in your 39-and-under or 40-plus hours in at a job that promotes a positive work environment.  But even if you find the right place, don’t rely solely on the company to make or break your work scene.  The effort shouldn’t be a one-way street.  You’re still the only one that can really make yourself happy, but having a positive work environment to start with will certainly help.

By: Candace Corner CareerBuilder.com

Going Up? How to Master Your Elevator Pitch

You’ve updated your resume, collected your references, dry-cleaned your power suit and are ready-to-go…

…or are you?

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If your job-interview and networking presentations are packed with long pauses or sound more like unstructured ongoing rants, no amount of ironing and editing will help you make the impression you’re trying to make.  That’s why you need to map out your elevator pitch before you head over to a networking event or answer the dreaded, “tell me a little bit about yourself” question at an interview.

Wikipedia defines an elevator pitch as a brief overview of an idea for a product, service or project that can be delivered in the time span of an elevator ride, or within about thirty seconds.  The focus is on promotion, which is exactly what you’re doing when you’re trying to sell someone on the idea of hiring you or keeping you in mind for future job opportunities.

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There are a variety of online articles, experts and books with suggestions on how to perfect your pitch, but here are some common guide lines:

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Figure out your top accomplishments

Think back to the personal and professional events in your life and write them down.  Ideally, you should come up with situations that reflect a balance of the two.  Construct a brief summary of how you handled those situations and what you learned from them.

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Find your main points

Narrow your experiences to around five main points that are relevant to your current career path/job search.  These accomplishments should range from how you got started (i.e., breaks after graduating college) to your most current goals.

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Focus on your strengths

Now that you’ve figured out what points you want to include, you’ll want to make sure that your experiences are a reflection of your personal and professional mannerisms and ethics.  Are you trying to demonstrate your ability to handle pressure? Are you trying to demonstrate your ability to use teamwork to the company’s advantage?  Make sure your accomplishments clearly suggest what points you’re trying to highlight and how those qualities match up with the company’s values and needs.

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As mentioned previously, you’ll want to keep this personal pitch around thirty seconds, especially for networking events.  Interviews allow a little extra time, but you still want to keep it concise as possible lest you risk ranting on endlessly.  The listener is looking for key points that will tell them why you’re a good candidate for a job, so save the life story for your memoirs.

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By Candace Corner

CareerBuilder.com

What Can I Do With a Liberal Arts Degree?

Perhaps the most persistent -- and often most annoying -- question college students hear throughout their years (second only to "What's your major?") is "So what are you going to do with your major?"

The truth, for many of them, is that they simply don't know. And that is totally okay.

While choosing a major will help you prepare for a career in a specific field, it can also provide a solid basis for pursuing a career in a seemingly dissimilar field. For example, history majors can go into government, journalism or even museum work, and it's not unusual for theater majors to work in business.

Before you think about what you're going to do with your major, find out what you can you do with your major.

Art:
So daddy wasn't thrilled when you announced that you were switching from pre-med to art history, eh? "At least I'll be rich in spirit," you offer as the smallest hints of tears replace the dollar signs in his eyes.

But art majors aren't necessarily destined to be starving artists. You can go into any number of fields, ranging from commercial art, media and photography to art therapy. If you've still got a place in your heart for scrubs, supplement your studies with psychology or counseling courses to pursue art therapy. If commercial art appeals to you, intern with a photographer, magazine or other media outlet and compile a portfolio as you go along. The same goes for studio art, wherein interning or volunteering for a museum will help you see the administrative side of this field.

Biological Sciences:
Lest you shy away from concentrating on the biological sciences (biology, microbiology, zoology, etc.) because you don't want to go to grad school, know that there are plenty of career options for those with bachelor's degrees in biology. Not only does an undergraduate degree prepare you for a career in the rapidly-growing healthcare industry, it also qualifies you to work as a laboratory assistant, technician, technologist or research assistant.

Should you feel the need to break out of the lab, you could also do non-technical work like writing, illustration, sales, photography and legislation by signing up for relevant electives, doing part-time work or interning.

Psychology:
Yet another major that seems to ensure that, unless you have a graduate degree, you'll be reduced to spouting Freud to the patrons you serve at the local café after graduation.

Not so. Psychology provides a strong liberal arts background, allowing graduates to pursue work in several fields like public relations, retail management, sales, market research, advertising and education. Again, it's important to pursue outside interests in different fields, both to further your work experience and make contacts.

English:
Majoring in English isn't just for future teachers anymore. Those with a background in English have a variety of options when it comes to choosing their fields of work, including law, public relations, advertising, publishing and well, okay, teaching. English majors looking to work in law should obtain summer work at law firms and tweak their speech and debate skills. Picking up an LSAT prep book probably wouldn't hurt, either.

Foreign Language:
Yes, you've taught all of your friends dirty words in three different languages, but what else can you do? Well, a lot, actually.

For one thing, the government (including the FBI, CIA, Customs Service and the Library of Congress) is one of the largest employers of people with foreign language skills. Foreign language majors can also go into arts and entertainment by working at museums, book publishers and film companies, or into commerce and work at American firms abroad or international firms in the U.S.

Travel, tourism, service and education are also popular industries for foreign language graduates. Try to become as accustomed to the culture of the language(s) you're studying as possible, in any way possible, from studying or working abroad to renting foreign language movies and books.

Political Science:
So you want to go into politics, but you're neither an Austrian bodybuilder/movie star nor a former professional wrestler... that's probably okay. In fact, some might say a more typical approach would be to supplement that political science major with participation in student government, a model United Nations or local political campaigns if they hope to go into government, law or politics.

Other career options include journalism, non-profit work, business, broadcasting or education. A degree in political science can also be good preparation for post-graduate studies in psychology, law and business.

Whatever your major, keep your options open by volunteering, interning, doing part-time work or taking classes in other areas that interest you. Involve yourself in community events and get to know local professionals who can give you contacts, advice and references.

And the next time someone hassles you about what you're going to do with your major, resist the urge to tell that person where you'd like to stick it; instead, say with every confidence that you have a variety of options to pursue, but you don't want to narrow them down quite yet.

By: Mary Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com

The Reasons Why You Don’t Hear Back From Recruiters

Ever wonder why some recruiters have never called you back? Self-proclaimed “searchologist” Jim Stroud, uncovered some the possible reasons and wrote about them on his blog. 

Stroud’s tips include networking into the company to get beyond the millions of responses they get, using keywords to make your resume more relevant in the search, and looking for automated company responses to insure your resume isn’t a victim of an employer’s spam filter.

And what can you do if all else fails?  If your accomplishments have been featured in your industry’s trade publication or your expertise credited elsewhere, pass the information along to that network.  If the hiring manager is on the lookout for a star candidate, that could be your ticket in.

By Candace Corner   CareerBuilder.com

18 ways to Impress at Your New Job

CareerBuilder.com

It can take four to 14 months to find the right job... and fewer than 90 days to lose it. According to executive coach Linda Seale, most professional and managerial dismissals are due to failure to understand and fit into a company's culture.

It is during these first weeks on the job that your boss and colleagues form the most lasting impressions about you. But remember, they don't expect you to be perfect. As long as you show intelligence, versatility and a willingness to work and learn, people will be happy to have you aboard and rooting for you to succeed.

Here are 18 ways to make sure you get off on the right foot:

1. Take a break. Take a week's break between jobs to clear your head. At the very least, get a good night's sleep before your first day so you'll be at your best.

2. Check your interview notes. Recall the names and titles of everyone you met and interviewed with so you will be able to greet them and pronounce their names correctly.

3. Study up. Collect back issues of the company's newsletters, annual reports and press clippings. Check out your competitors' literature, too, to get a better handle on the "big picture."

4. Work full days. Know where and when to report on day one. Get there 30 minutes early and leave when or after most of your co-workers do. Notice people's schedules and work habits, so that you'll know the optimal times and means to connect with others.

5. Project positive energy. Look and act as if you're happy to be joining the team.

6. Look good. All eyes are on you, so pay attention to your grooming. Dress tastefully and slightly above dress code.

7. Keep a journal. Write down procedures, names of key people and contact numbers, so that you'll look like a quick study.

8. Be flexible. Expect and embrace the inevitable challenges of your position. A flexible attitude will decrease stress for you and others.

9. Show appreciation. Be kind and appreciative to everyone who helps you learn the ropes.

10. Listen 80 percent; Talk 20 percent. Resist offering opinions or assessments -- that road is full of land mines. You'll get more respect by listening and absorbing what your co-workers have to teach rather than by showing off how much you know.

11. Get to know your boss. Observe your boss' personality and work style, and tailor your interactions to his or her preferences.

12. Clarify expectations. Make sure you and your boss are on the same page. Find out:

What priorities and issues need to be immediately addressed.

How often and in what format you should provide project updates.

How your performance will be evaluated.

13. Connect with colleagues. Get to know as many people as you can especially your teammates and those with whom you will work regularly. Establish the foundation for a relationship, and trust and information will follow.

14. Identify key players. Find out who the decision-makers, influencers, stars and up-and-comers are. Notice the traits they have in common and try to emulate them.

15. Uncover hidden agendas. Identify any political forces at work. While you want to avoid getting involved in politically charged situations, it's helpful to be aware of undercurrents.

16. Take initiative. As you finish assignments and are ready to handle a bigger workload, ask for more. Pick projects that have support from upper management and buy-in from your staff.

17. Don't make major changes. Even if your interviewer told you the company was looking for fresh ideas, proceed carefully. Show respect for those who have invested energy in a project or system before trying to change it. There may be obstacles you aren't aware of. Ask why things are done the way they are and seek feedback from people whose support you need. Applaud what is being done right and frame changes as enhancements.

18. Be a team player. Don't engage in gossip. Always make your boss look good. Share credit with your workmates.

5 Job Hunting Tips for New Grads

Five Things New Grads Should Know About Job Hunting Brent Rasmussen, Chief Operating Officer of CareerBuilder.com The class of 2006 is looking at a bright future with promising job prospects and salary increases. Seventy percent of hiring managers say they plan to recruit recent college graduates this year, up from 62 percent in 2005, according to CareerBuilder.com’s "College Hiring 2006" survey. Plus, nearly one-in-five hiring managers expect to hire more recent college graduates in 2006 compared to last year and one-in-four plan to increase starting salaries. College grads can also expect a bigger payoff this year. Twenty-seven percent of hiring managers anticipate increasing starting salaries for recent college graduates in 2006 and only 5 percent plan to decrease them. How much should new grads expect to earn? Thirty-four percent of hiring managers expect to offer between $20,000 and $30,000 and 28 percent expect to offer between $30,000 and $40,000. An additional 10 percent will offer between $40,000 and $50,000 and 7 percent will offer more than $50,000. New grads won't have to pound the pavement for too long. Thirty-six percent of hiring managers say they will do the majority of their hiring of recent college graduates in the second quarter. Thirty-one percent say the majority of their hiring will take place in the third quarter. With promising job opportunities, favorable salaries and plenty of free time, new grads should have no reason not to look for that first job. Make sure you know these top five things hiring managers look for when sizing up a candidate: 1. Relevant experience Twenty-three percent of hiring managers say the candidate's ability to relate their experience to the job at hand is the most important factor in the hiring decision. Unfortunately, new graduates often underestimate the experience they have through internships, part-time jobs and extracurricular activities, but 63 percent of hiring managers say they view volunteer activities as relevant experience. 2. Fit within the company culture Just because you look good on paper doesn't mean you're a shoo-in for the job. To 21 percent of employers, the trait they most want to see in a candidate is the ability to fit in with co-workers and the company. Offering up a blank stare when the interviewer asks why you are the right fit for the job will not go over well. Just be yourself, but mind your i's -- never insult, interrupt or irritate the interviewer. This can also be evaluated by that "unimportant" small talk at the beginning of an interview or non-job-related questions like "What was the last book you read?" 3. Educational background Nineteen percent of hiring managers place the most emphasis on your educational background: the institution you attended, major, minor and degree earned. Be sure to also include courses taken and completed projects if relevant to the job. With grade point average, it's tricky. A good rule of thumb is to omit it unless it is 3.0 or higher and denote if it's your overall or major GPA. 4. Enthusiasm Passion for the job is the top characteristic 19 percent of employers look for in a candidate. Employees who are passionate about their jobs tend to be more productive workers. The answer to "Why do you want to work here?" should always focus on the strengths of the company and the challenge of the position, not the perks. A "take or leave it" attitude about the job will leave the employer feeling the same about you. 5. Preparedness Eight percent of hiring managers say the ideas you bring to the table and the questions you ask carry the most significance. Come in prepared to discuss how your qualifications can specifically contribute to the success of the company. Actually put yourself in that role and explain how you would perform your work and ways to improve it. Survey Methodology The new CareerBuilder.com survey, "College Hiring 2006," was conducted from February 21 to March 6, 2006. Methodology used to collect survey responses totaling more than 1,000 hiring managers for this study involved selecting a random sample of comScore Networks panel members. These Web Panel members were approached via an e-mail invitation, which asked them to participate in a short online survey. The results of this survey are statistically accurate to within +/- 3.09 percentage points (19 times out of 20). Brent Rasmussen, Chief Operating Officer of CareerBuilder.com is an expert in recruitment trends and tactics, job seeker behavior and workplace issues.

Beyond the Job Search

After searching for months, perfecting your resume and landing a job interview, you blow it.  All of that hard work seems lost and you’re right back where you were again, sending out your resume and researching companies.  Were you weird at the interview? Or was it just a bad match?  Is all hope lost?

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The job searching process can be a hellish, time-consuming task, but it has to pay off sometime if you keep at it.  In the meantime you might pick up a few more skills than you think.  Here are some ways the search can pay off, even if takes awhile to land your dream job:

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Become a strategizing mastermind

While you’re researching the company, you’re not only prepping yourself for the interview, you’re learning more about your field in general.  That’s industry information you can take with you to the job you’ll land eventually, even if it’s not with that company.  Your knowledge of the competitors makes you look ambitious to learn more about strategizing for your company’s goals.

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Learn a little more about yourself

The steps to revamping your resume may seem tedious, but updating it can give you a mental assessment of what direction you want to take.  You’re unemployed.  Now is the time to think about what you really want and what you were missing from your last job.  Think about how your previous job skills can transfer to your next job or a new career change.  Not only will it help you when you land your next interview, it will save you from the torture of signing on for another position your not happy with.

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Revitalize your network

References are a key component of the job application process.  You may have done wonders for your last company, but new employers want a vote of confidence before they consider taking you among their ranks.  Update your references, browse over the list and call them.  Make a date to catch up.  If there was ever a time to strengthen your networking, it’s when you’re between jobs.  A few lunches and phone calls later will not only strengthen your support system, it may lead to a few new leads you wouldn’t have known about before.

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Zero-in your attention

Job searching demands attention to details.  A spelling error or bad formatting may take your resume from inbox to trash.  As you take the time to consider the specifics of your resume and cover letter, you’ll train yourself to be more aware of details and errors in the future.

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By Candace Corner

Communications Specialist

CareerBuilder.com

Tags: job search, resume writing, resumes, interviews, job searching, resume writing service, job research, company research, new jobs, networking, job networking, find a job, cover letter, job application, job advice

When Crime-Fighting Alone Won’t Pay the Bills

With another resurgence of comic-based movies such as “Superman Returns” and “My Super Ex-Girlfriend” on the way, I thought I’d take a minute to draw attention to what makes the superhero/super-villain life even more amazing – their day jobs.  In addition to battling evil (or being super-evil) on a daily basis, they’re kicking butt in the working world just like us.

Here are some careers that superheroes have taken on in addition to crime-fighting:

Scientist: Mister Fantastic

Real-life median salary: *$85,190

Florist: Black Canary

Real-life median salary: $30,000

Doctor: Thor

Real-life median salary: $120,000

Model: Dazzler

Real-life median salary: The median hourly rate is $10.50

Journalist: Superman

Real-life median salary: $31,320

Photojournalist: Spiderman

Real-life median salary: $30,000

Archeologist: Hawk Girl

Real-life median salary: $43,890

Lawyer: Daredevil

Real-life median salary: $94,930

Coal Miner: Cannonball

Real-life median salary: The average hourly rate is $21.57

Social Worker: The Falcon

Real-life median salary: $40,080

Teacher: Professor X

Real-life median salary: $51,800

Police Officer:  Martian Manhunter

Real-life median salary: $42,000

Bouncer: Wolverine

Real-life median salary: $30,000

Waitress: Rogue

Real-life median salary: $25,000

Accountant: Iceman

Real-life median salary: $50,770

* Salary sources: Payscale.com, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

By: Candace Corner

Communications Specialist

CareerBuilder.com