ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2008 > April
April 2008
Spring cleaning for your summer job search
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It won’t be long before college and high school students dust off their grown-up clothes to go off in search of a summer job. Armed with a nice resume and a good black pen to fill out the many job applications you’ll be completing, you’re off to a good start.
Make sure that you also take advantage of any connections that your parents, neighbors, friends, and others close to you may have, as you begin networking to identify potential opportunities.
There’s one other thing that is often over-looked by students. That’s the need to do a little spring cleaning. I’m not talking cleaning your room or washing windows. I’m talking about cleaning up your digital dirt and polishing up your professional image.
We’ve all heard about how the information you have posted on-line can be detrimental to your job search, but students shouldn’t assume that this advice only applies to college grads who are looking for full time jobs. Employers are now commonly doing on-line searches prior to making job offers for both full and part time jobs.
Here are some tips to make sure you present yourself as professionally as possible:
- Make sure you never post any controversial photos of yourself in your on-line profile. Even if you take them off your own site, they still live on in cyberspace.
- Try to steer clear of the camera if your friend is taking photos that could be misunderstood if taken out of context. You don’t want to end up tagged in a photo posted on your friend’s profile page.
- Avoid listing hobbies or interests related to politics, religion, or other controversial topics. Don’t set up RSS feeds in your profile that link to controversial blogs.
- Change your outgoing message on your cell phone voice mail so that it sounds professional. Never use cute sayings, religious blessings or background music.
- Don’t sign up for the answer tones that your cell phone service offers. Employers do not want to hear your favorite song or joke when they call. Use a normal ring.
- Always list a professional email address on your resume and check your email daily when you’re in a job search.
- Be aware of the Facebook groups you join. Employers may not have your same sense of humor or may not be aware of the irony.
- Pay attention to your cell phone’s caller ID and only answer calls from unknown numbers when you’re in an appropriate place to talk without distraction.
- If you list a home phone number, make sure anyone who lives at your home (roommates, younger siblings) understands the importance of taking complete messages when you’re away and designate a central place for your messages.
- It should be obvious, but never, ever answer your phone or send texts during an interview. Turn your phone off before you walk into the interview.
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The quest to be a gruntled worker
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The main story in Sunday’s ajcjobs section talked about ways to increase your satisfaction with your career and/or job. The story cited a 2007 poll that showed that fewer than half of the respondents were satisfied with their jobs. The percentages were lower for younger age groups than for older workers, but all of the percentages were quite a bit lower than the 61 percent overall who were satisfied with their jobs 20 years ago.
Are you a disgruntled worker? What aspects of your job or career have fallen short of the expectations you had when you began in the position or field? Why do you think people are less satisfied with their work today than workers were 20 years ago? Is it, as the story suggests, because we have higher expectations for what our jobs and careers should mean in our lives? What do you think leads to job satisfaction, and do you believe that it’s all a matter of mind over matter?
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Keep an eye on your salary
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In times of the current election coverage, the President’s salary is a perfect example of how times can change. You have to ask yourself, is the President’s salary standing the test of time if in 1789 the President of the United States, George Washington, made $25,000 annually and today the current President, George W. Bush makes $400,000 annually? More importantly, is yours? The average salary in the U.S. is $36,764; check on the approximate salary for your position and how you compare. Now obviously the salary for positions are based on a number of things, but it is important to conduct competitive intelligence when it comes to your pay. If you don’t keep an eye on how you stack up you may find yourself grossly underpaid.
Keep your salary competitive
Where do you begin in determining a fair salary for your position? You can determine the approximate value for your position by utilizing information that you can easily find online at the United States Census Bureau or through a company such as Salary.com. (This information is also helpful if you are moving to a new city with a different cost of living.) This information should give you a good start to understanding your value to an employer. If your pay falls within the average range, great job maintaining your value! If you come in lower than the average you have some work to get your salary on track. Of course, it is common for a person who stays with a company for a long time, to receive a 4% annual average pay increase each year. This will lead a to a below-average salary after many years with the same employer. Check and make sure you are making the amount you deserve.
Determine the best salary strategy
If you uncover that you are not making the correct amount for your position, do not make any huge changes. If you have a review coming up, consider discussing your compensation more in depth. If you want to make a change, start looking around for other positions while you are employed. You immediately forfeit your negotiation power when you are not employed. Start researching the type of company you want to work for, the position you would like and the direction of your industry - the future. Do not speak of money as the reason you are leaving your position if you determine you need to make that change. Say things similar to, “There is no place for growth in your current position with your current company and you enjoy the challenge of new tasks.” This will be an appropriate answer in your interview in response to why you are leaving and you leave on a good note with your current company. After all, they have been a huge part of your life, no need to end the relationship on a negative note. Remember, with the current trend of companies buying and absorbing other companies, you do not want to burn bridges and then have your old company buy your new company.
So be aware of the average salary in your field. Remember to conduct continuous research on the salary of similar positions. If you determine you are undervalued, get your resume ready for a potential change. Then if necessary, take the next step and start interviewing. The main goal is: Make what you are worth!!
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Calling in sick: What’s your usual excuse?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ever called in sick because you just didn’t feel like working? Needed a ‘mental health’ day? Regardless of the situation, we have all felt like playing hooky at some point!
Check out this video clip from our new LOL! video series called “Calling in sick to work”.
What’s your standard excuse when calling in sick?
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Fraternizing with your co-workers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
According to Wikipedia, “Fraternization, or to become like brothers or family members, is a term that carries within it the connotation of impropriety in terms of morals, ethics, social expectations and professionalism.”
This source goes on to explain that military, educational institutions, and now corporations either prohibit or discourage the fraternizing among individuals with different “ranks” or organizational authority, for instance a boss and his/her employee.
There are many reasons why your company may shudder at the idea of you having a cocktail with your boss after work. In addition to potentially exposing the company to a sexual harassment law suit down the road, it can result in others seeing the boss as showing favoritism as promotions are awarded or denied.
At the executive ranks, when top officials become overly familiar with their leadership team, they can unintentionally reveal too much about the company’s vulnerabilities or strategies.
Suppose one day the CEO is playing golf with his favorite VP of Sales and shares a little too much in the clubhouse. This can become a problem should that ‘friendly’ relationship become jeopardized in the future because commissions are cut, or an M&A doesn’t provide the ‘golden parachute’ for the Sales group.
Suddenly professional friendships can become cluttered with ego-centric behavior, disloyalty, and self-interest that can injure the long-term health of the company. The other challenge presented by being highly social with your boss is that you will find yourself in a “dual relationship.’
Meaning, you can become confused by the simultaneous pressure to be both professionally and personally obligated to the same person. Imagine that you decide to run a marathon with your company’s CIO and it requires training 4 times a week at the crack of dawn.
You’re overworked and decide you would rather sleep in rather than become an obsessed runner. Not only are you letting your running buddy down, but now you look like a quitter and your CIO may slightly shift a perception about you on the professional horizon.
The fact is that successful relationships require strong boundaries and often fraternizing can blur those lines. When you add alcohol to the mix, inhibitions can come down and leave lots of injuries in the lives of both boss and employee.
Although I am not saying you should not be friendly, caring, and authentic with those you work closely with but I recommend that you proceed with great caution before you try to become ‘best friends’ with those who have the ability to profoundly influence your livelihood.
Remember one day you may be the boss, if you aren’t already. If you keep an appropriate professional distance you will likely be glad you did when you find that you have to make those tough, heart-wrenching business decisions.
The truth is that it’s Lonely at the Top, although it does tend to pay well! And even though money can’t buy you love, success does tend to attract lots of friends, just find some outside of your firm’s four walls.
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Does star power call for stellar salaries?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Parade magazine released its annual “What People Earn” list, and amid the everyday people are a handful of celebrities.
With Jeff Foxworthy raking in $10 million and Ryan Seacrest bringing home $12 million, do you think these stars are worth what they earn?
Could you do a better job in their position?
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Work with monkeys or children instead of adults?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What do you do to stay productive in a disruptive environment? Listen to your iPod, meditate or complain to the boss?
We’ve all been in the situation where you have a deadline to meet or work to finish and your co-workers are playing pranks on other employees, telling jokes or sending non-work related e-mails. Not to mention the employees that are your office friends that want to talk about their weekend, relationship problems, sports or other current events. You find yourself unable to focus on your work with so many distractions. How do you finish your work without being the troll under the bridge at the office?
Communication is key. It would be a good idea to tell your co-worker that now is not a good time, because you have a lot of work to finish and you are behind. Let this co-worker know that you will talk to them after you meet your deadline. This will allow you to work and complete your tasks without being the bad guy.
If the problem continues and you have to take the next step, it is best to talk one-on-one with the problematic co-worker and tell them your situation. Maybe you say, “Could I talk with you?” Then once alone without an audience, explain the problem you are having. Something like this, “Bob, I really like you and you are very funny, but when I am at work, I have a lot of deadlines to meet and things that I need to accomplish. I cannot talk to you during the workday. Maybe we could go to lunch or let each other know if we are in a good spot with our workload to talk.” This technique should let the person know that you cannot play around all day and will allow you to concentrate on your work without distractions.
Listening to your iPod at work can make you anti-social and make people feel like they cannot talk to you. Meditation will only allow you to relax for the moment. Of course, you are only another joke or interruption away from being taken from your relaxing state. Complaining to the boss can make you seem like a tattletale. That usually makes for an uncomfortable solution that gets around the office that you told on Bob for telling you a joke. Now you are the bad guy. So if you communicate with co-workers that want to distract others, you have a good shot of getting a little peace and quiet.
We’ve all had challenges with other employees with differing work habits. How have you handled your office jokester?
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Do you have a career success story?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s always interesting to hear that a big celebrity got their start as a dog washer, or by delivering pizzas. Since fame and fortune can be such a fusion of talent and ambition mixed with the fate of being in the right place at the right time, it’s not really a huge shock to think that someone could make such a leap.
What impresses me more than that are top executives, entrepreneurs, and other accomplished professionals who started out with very humble beginnings, and are now regarded as experts in their fields and are respected by thousands. In many cases, they have battled the odds or have had to overcome unusual barriers to get where they are.
However, I the stories that I think are most worthy of celebration are the lesser-known, but no less impressive success stories of every day people.
It could be the former addict, who cleaned up her life and went on to finish college and to become the head of well-known philanthropic organization.
Or maybe it’s the former cashier who worked two jobs, raised four kids and managed to start a successful business.
But it could also be someone born into extreme poverty, who by all accounts should have become just another statistic; but instead he became the first college graduate in his family, and is now happily employed in a good-paying, secure and fulfilling career. To others, his job may seem ordinary, but he is living his own personal dream every day.
It’s clear that in order to appreciate where you’re going, you need to look back to where you’ve been. How far have you come?
How many of you have started out from your own humble beginnings, only to rise through the ranks to find your own personal success. What jobs have you worked to get yourself to where you are today? Do you know someone who’s beaten the odds to achieve their dream?
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Should you consult a career counselor?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
At some point in time, most of us have come to a standstill in our job search. The résumés are going out, but no phone calls are coming back in. The natural question that people ask themselves is, “What am I doing wrong?”
The truth is you may or may not be doing anything wrong. There are so many facets to a job search that you may find it helpful to discuss your strategy with a professional. A career counselor or coach can help you objectively look at where you are in your career transition and can help you identify any potential pitfalls that you might not see on your own.
So, if you’re unemployed or under-employed is hiring a career counselor really worth the money? I think it really depends on your situation and your expectations. Still, it can’t hurt to investigate your options.
If you’re still struggling with what you want to be when you grow up, a counselor can help you decision-making resources like career assessments and can coach you on how to make a better decision. For that reason, you may benefit from working with a professional, especially if you tend to avoid making decisions out of fear or lack of confidence.
However, if your expectation is that he or she will be able to look at your resume and tell you what your perfect career is, then you may be disappointed. Career counselors and coaches cannot tell you what you should do for a living. They also can’t “place you” in a job. They can help you discover your strengths and interests and point you to a variety of resources that can help you decide if a particular career move is right for you. They can also answer questions and provide encouragement as you move forward.
If you’re already fairly certain about the kind of work you’re interested in pursuing, they can also help you put together an effective marketing plan to move you forward in the job search process. You may be very qualified for your target job, but your self-marketing efforts may be getting you nowhere. A professional can help you learn how to market yourself differently.
Most colleges and universities provide free or low cost career counseling and/or coaching to their students and alumni. Depending on school policy, you may need to be currently enrolled or a member of your alumni association in order to take advantage of these services. This is a great option, especially if you’re on a budget. Call your school to see what your benefits are!
If you’re interested in hiring someone to work with you independently, there are a couple of resources available locally that can help you identify a counselor or coach. Check out the Georgia Career Development Association at www.gcda.net or the Georgia Coach Association at www.gacoaches.com.
Have you worked with a career counselor or coach in the past? Did you find it helpful?
