Let Go of the Failed Job Search: 5 Things That You Have No Control Over

Marilyn Albert

Have you ever applied for the “perfect job” only never to hear back from the company? You think what went wrong, or even worse, “What was wrong with me?” After another tough year in the job market, it’s time to let go of all things you had absolutely no control over. Yes, there are things that you have no control over in the job search process. Today, we’re going to talk about five things where things could go wrong and how to fix them.

In the last month, I have talked with dozens of employers including those attending the Wisconsin Association of Colleges and Employers conference held in Madison last week. With all the new information out there, I found a hidden “glitch” which is creating polarizing effect in the way job applications are processed.

On one end, the news is good: there are jobs out there and once again the Great Lakes region came out on top with an increase of 16% in recruitment of new employees (Recruiting Trends 2010—2011 survey published by Career Services and the Collegiate Employment Research Institute and copyrighted, © 2011-2012, by Michigan State University). On the other end, the screening process has become so precise that qualified candidates who are perfect for the job can get overlooked. So, STOP right now. Stop blaming yourself for a failed job search.

Recruiters are telling me these are the top five reasons applicants get eliminated and for which they have little or no control over. I added how to FIX them.

1. Dated information: New technologies in screening applications have developed over the past year and recruiters can easily read and eliminate applications based on key words. Written materials about the job search are already obsolete. Example: Calling to follow-up on an application submission is considered annoying.
Fix: If you call, make sure you have new information to add to your application. Don’t insist on talking to a hiring manager. All recruiters are looking at the same software management system so anyone can see your file.

2. Competition: The ratio of applicants per job is 500/1. As sad as that sounds, the new screening software helps recruiters to find top candidates. Also, keep in mind people are competing against a fixed candidate pool for each job they apply for.
Fix: Keep applying for jobs with the same company-it’s okay to have multiple applications.

3. Electronic Transmittal: There are all sorts of things that can go wrong when emailing or uploading a resume and cover letter. Weird page breaks can occur, edit notations can suddenly appear, formatting is changed. Be careful to change the job titles and company names on your cover letter.
Fix: Save your document as a PDF and following the application instructions. Double check job titles & company names.

4. Inside Candidates: Companies can post jobs internally first, then externally. Internal candidates have first chance at postings. If they don’t find a qualified candidate in the internal posting then they will look at the external candidates. It’s not always obvious when this is happening.
Fix: Read hiring guideline sections of HR webpages in addition to the job search section.

5. “Match”: One of the biggest mistakes I see are people who apply for jobs that are NOT a good match. They may be close, but with so many applicants per job an employer can find a pool of candidates that are a perfect match.
Fix: If you don’t feel certain about the job, then look for something else. Find the job where you hit all the keywords. You can be precise, too.

Therefore, my best holiday advice to all the job searchers out there: stop blaming yourself for things you have no control over.

New Teacher Candidates: Job Search Tips & Getting the Job

by: Marilyn Albert

Considering the current economic and political climate in Wisconsin two new questions have to be asked: How can I be successful in a finding a teaching job? Will there be jobs for teachers in the near future?

The following is from an interview with professors Dr. Patrick Delmore and Dr. Phil Yang, School of Education, Edgewood College, Madison, Wisconsin.
1. Research the district:
a. website
b. student performance
c. school & district goals

2. Resume and Cover letter:
a. adjust to fit the job description
b. make sure you know what the job is about
c. who your students will be [community, diversity]

3. Highlight your interpersonal skills. Demonstrate how you have been involved in your education and community.
a. student teaching
b. internships
c. community involvement

4. Know what the application process is and follow it explicitly: a. Degree—do you have the right degree, if not don’t apply
b. teaching certification
c. process, process, process

5. Ask yourself if the job and the community is a good fit for you. You need to be able to see yourself there for a few years. You need to get started somewhere, you can always relocate once you get experience, then you can “pick” the location

6.References must be impeccable.
a. Make sure the references are current with the correct phone and email
b. Make sure you have permission to use this person as a reference
c. Provide the reference your current resume

Do new teachers in Wisconsin stand a chance in today’s economy and political climate?

The answer is yes. Regardless of what happens in the short term, new teacher candidates must think long term. Sage advice for any career since most people can be incredibly myopic about their job prospects. The best advice is to think long term. One thing is certain: political changes will happen, the economy will change; and, attitudes and readiness will change. I like to think there is a perfect storm brewing out there for our new teacher candidates and there are more things working in their favor than they think.

1. Retirement: Retirement laws are changing. People within three years of retirement should take advantage of retirement sooner rather than later. As the baby-boomers start to retire, more jobs will open up. These positions can easily be replaced with new college graduates who come in with a new set of expectations and competencies.

2. Attrition: As restorative measure will slowly take place within school districts a variety of strategies may take place. Some schools will release teachers from their current contract with current teachers needing to re-apply. Not all current teachers will apply and a natural attrition will take place. Some teachers may qualify for what is called a guaranteed retirement plan and take early retirement.

3. Relocation: There is always a market for ambitious and talented teachers. New graduates should look at this next stage in their lives as an opportunity to relocate. Look at other parts of the country or teach internationally.

4. Teacher shortage: There is a teacher shortage, with few people going into teaching fields and those that are frustrated with salaries and change in benefits an even stronger shortage can emerge. When you add all this up, it is possible the teacher outlook in Wisconsin could look better than anticipated.

Best Advice: Think of yourself first as an educator. Teachers need to be educated in more than the traditional teaching field. Educators must think nationally and globally about the teaching professional; as well as expand their thinking about the traditional classroom.

Where to find Teaching postings: http://services.education.wisc.edu/wecan/

New College Graduates: Ten things you need to know about the current job market

The past weeks I have been booked solid with seniors getting ready to graduate and start their job search. The common theme with every college student is their fear of the current job market. They know there is an uncertainty in the job market and they are truly scared. If you know of a college student getting ready to graduate here is some helpful information.

NACE (National Association for College and Universities), the organization that brings college career counselors and employers together has issued a report regarding the economic indicators for the class of 2011. Although the report represents statistics, that on the surface appear encouraging, let’s not forget we are just coming out of a nearly three long year recession with some of the lowest unemployment rates since the depression.

Learn how to read the labor market statistics so they make sense to you

1. Growth rates-what does it mean? When reading employment statistics about employment growth keep in mind the following: 3% is low growth; 7-10% is medium growth; 10-15% growth is high and anything over a 20% growth rate is extremely high.

2. There are two statistics: When looking at percentages of growth rate, also read the number of job openings expected.

a. If the number of jobs is high and the percentage is medium to high, that indicates real employment potential.

b. If the numbers are in opposition (high percentage, low numbers then you need to be extremely good and have great experience to be successful in that field).

c. If the numbers are high, but the percentage is low there it could mean a high turnover rate in a stable industry.

3. The U.S. workforce modestly improved this past February with an addition of 192,000 more jobs according to a report released by the Bureau of Labor Market Statistics (http://www.bls.gov/). Job seekers will want to go to this site to check out what occupational fields these jobs fall in. Outlook for new college graduates

4. On campus recruitment at career fairs has increased 47%. This is as good as it gets. More employers, coming to college campuses to recruit, means more jobs for college graduates and internships for underclassmen.

5. Outlook: The good news for new college graduates: 53% of employers recently surveyed through NACE intend to hire more college graduates from the class of 2011. This is a slight increase from last year. A little uptick, but still good news.

6. Over all salaries for new graduates has increase across the board. Be cautioned these increased salaries are countered with fewer offers in a given occupational field.

7. Know who’s hiring. Despite improved hiring statistics for new college graduates in large companies (4000+) and small companies (< 500), medium sized (500-3999) companies are flat or declining Advice for new college graduates

8. Be proactive. Seniors and Graduate students getting ready to graduate must be more proactive in their job searches. Resumes and cover letters must relate to the job descriptions.

9. Diversify your job search. Everyone wants to go for the “dream job.” However, pick apart that skills and responsibilities of the dream job. On your first try out be realistic about the fact you may find a job that has only pieces of the dream job. Don’t be afraid of taking that type of job if it will allow you develop or become more competent in a skill set for the next job that may move you closer to that dream job.

10. Just do it. Start applying for jobs. Use every resource at your fingertips and within your social and educational network. Last week a very fearful student came to me with good news, she found her ideal job. For two years she attended every workshop, interview session, panel discussion we offered. It paid off.

Online Resources http://www.bls.gov/ Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.naceweb.org/home.aspx National Association for College and Universities http://www.ceri.msu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/2010-11%20RT.pdf Recruiting Trends Survey, Michigan State

How Do You Heal a Community From Job Loss?

Recent events in Madison, Wisconsin have placed many people in a rare and indefinable place. It feels a lot like a job loss, but you still have a job to wake up and go to work each day. What happens when what you know to be true about your ability to negotiate your future goes away? If you are state employee you could be feeling the same things people feel when they lose their jobs, here is some advice to help you stay motivated and employed.

1. Keep working. Don’t quit your job. Don’t make any major decisions about your job or situation for the next year. Adjust the best you can to your new situation. Observe what is happening around you. With one exception, if you were planning on retiring within the next few years, explore that option this year.

2. Reconnect with the reasons you like your job. Review what you do well and keep doing it. Identify those things you dread doing and minimize their impact on your other work. Talk with your supervisor to discuss how your responsibilities may change should there be is a “trickling down effect.” Ask how you can work smarter and more efficiently in your job.

3. Do recognize that all of us live and work in a tenuous society. Be ready for the future, whatever it is. Brush off that resume. Put together a collection of job descriptions that you like. Essentially, do a dry-run job search. There will be changes around you. Be ready for the next opportunity.

4. Compartmentalize roles and responsibilities. Manage emotions. Anytime there is a shift in how you spend your income, conflict ensues. The best line of logic I have heard is: “This is what it is. Now we go to the next phase of our lives, sometimes you cannot change what is happening, only how you manage your reactions.”