I want to share with you an article written by my friend Laura DeCarlo, president of Career Directors International. She writes:

When you are in transition or targeting your next big step, working with an expert resume writer or career coach can be extremely helpful. These talented guides can assist you in landing more interviews for targeted roles, at a faster pace and often at a higher salary. However, when an industry like this is not regulated, there are those who will exploit others simply for profit.

During periods of drastic market change, it's not uncommon for fly-by-night resume writing, career coaching and other career services businesses to explode on the scene. Suddenly, anyone can call themselves a career coach or resume writer. Plus, websites can provide a glossy promise, hiding ill intent.

Buyer beware! After 25 years in the industry, I've seen it all. It's not uncommon for scammers to:
• Publish professional looking websites that copy content from real practitioners.
• Create fake professional associations and certifications — along with logos — and list both.
• Show thumbnails of industry books, implying they are included in them.
• Provide made-up testimonials.
• Call themselves award-winning in their specialty with no actual award ever granted.
• Display resume samples stolen from other writers on the internet.

I add to her article questions you should ask:

• How will we work together?
• What should expect from our working arrangement? 
• Do you have a contract or a scope of work? (Be suspicious if they don't! You should know what their payment policies are.)
• What is the progression of activities? (They should know the steps.)
• We will get to talk during the process? How often? (Will they be hard to reach?)
• How can I reach if I have questions or need guidance? (They should be accessible!)

It seems pretty bleak: Hiring freezes. Furloughs. Layoffs. Isolation. 

What's going to happen to the economy??

Here's my take on things: Ultimately, business will have to resume. Here's what I'm seeing: Hiring is happening, even now. One of my clients got a great nonprofit leadership position. Another one is managing several warehouses. Conversations with recruiters are happening.  Employers are browsing.

Be ready. Do not stop your networking. In fact, it's a great time to do more, because so many people are working in isolation and are constantly in front of their computers. 

Here's a tip:

• Make a list of the jobs you've identified and/or your target companies. 
• Start looking at their websites, at LinkedIn, and at your own contact list to find out who is associated with that position. Who works in that division? Who has a lateral job? Who is the hiring manager?
• Then reach out and make contact. Start conversations about what's going on right now. Be curious. What's happening in the industry right now? What problems are emerging? Consider what insights you can offer. Along the way, you're likely to find out what's going on with that job you saw, or hear about other opportunities. 

     This is just one of the tips I'm starting to offer, twice each week, free, via your inbox! Don't get left out.  

Years ago I interviewed for a job in my field - journalism. The paper was well known in the region. It would be a step up in the reporting hierarchy. I was thrilled to get an interview.

When I got there, my nerves were on high alert. Eight people interviewed me, firing questions at me almost nonstop for a couple of hours. It was draining.

I took a writing test. 

And they made me an offer on the spot.

But something just didn't feel right. An offer? So fast? What was going on?

I asked for a day to consider it, went home, and called a friend who worked there. She warned me away. It was a toxic work environment, she said. People were leaving almost weekly. 

I turned the job down. I was so glad I called her! 

You can do the same thing. Do not take a job just because it's offered. Do your due diligence. Make friends with employees. Ask them about the company and the role. Read about the employer. Trust your gut!

They are shopping for you - but you are also shopping for them!

Need a pep talk about your search? Email me at ruth@polish-publish.com.

You need a job.

You’ve got lots of experience. You’ve been in your field for over 25 years.
But on the other hand, you’ve got lots of experience and have been in your field for over 25 years.

These young HR interviewers will take one look at you and see only one thing: AN OLD PERSON.

This is what a lot of mid- and late-career job searchers feel when they embark on a job hunt after working for a while. They’ve been told that middle-aged workers will not be hired.

1. They are set in their ways.
2. They cost too much.
3. They are overqualified.
4. They will be out sick a lot.
5. They don’t know how to use a computer.
6. They won’t want to work for someone older.

I’m here to tell you that despite what you may hear from your friends in the workplace, and what you might read online, YOU ARE HIREABLE. Now let me tell you why:
 
 
Reason No. 1: You understand what it means to have a job and be part of a larger organization.
You’ve been doing this for a while. You have the wisdom to work through problems and set priorities. You have learned many things on the job, and you’re still learning.

Reason No. 2: You are a professional. You have proven you have a solid work ethic. You are loyal to your team and your employer. You respect the organization, and you think twice before calling off sick. In fact, you’re in better shape than younger colleagues, because you know how to balance your life better.  You get enough sleep. You know the importance of health.

Reason No. 3: You are more settled in your life. Studies have shown that older workers actually have fewer crises and miss less work. Their children are grown. Their parents may also be gone, so they aren’t taking care of anyone but themselves.

Reason No. 4: You are not a newbie. You know how to learn. You already have a considerable number of “wins” to prove that you have skills that can help your new employer.
 
So how do you show an employer that all of this is true?

Well, for starters, brush off your attitude. Trust me, it will show when you go into that interview! Come to terms with any grudges or bitterness you’ve collected. Let it go!

Then, update your look. Get some newer business clothes. Ask a personal shopper to help, or a trusted friend. Look online and see what people are wearing. Get a fresh haircut. Maybe some fresh color. Women: You might hate this, but freshen your makeup look. I know it's a double standard. But it's also THE standard in an office setting. 

Get on social media. Opinions aside, you need to be there. It shows you can work with technology. At minimum, get a LinkedIn profile. Look around and see what others are doing with theirs. It should talk about your accomplishments with your past positions and contain a modern, fresh statement about your value.

Get help if you need it. Recruiters and employers will look to see if you have one. They will read it. They will share it.

And get a fresh, professional photo! Show yourself to best advantage. Photos are essential. Employers are known to pass you right by if your profile doesn’t have a photo.

When you get into the interview, be ready to answer the objections that might arise. Here is how to respond to just a few:

"You seem a bit overqualified."
 “I know it might appear that way, but actually, I’m already experienced at solving some of the challenges of this position.” Give an example. It’s really a bargain for them. They will save a lot of training dollars.

"Do you know how to use social media?"
I actually use my LinkedIn almost daily to find out trends in the market and share ideas. And I’ve got about 500 Facebook friends. In fact, just last week, I connected with someone from this great organization…” etc.

"How do you feel about working for someone younger?"
“I’ve worked for many different bosses, of all ages. I enjoy all kinds of people and find great value in their insights.”

Remember, there are only two reasons that an employer will hire you: To make money. Or To save money. Come prepared to talk about how you’ve done these things and you will overcome many objections. You have a great advantage here! A recent graduate cannot say this. Neither can someone who has been working only a short time. You could write a book on the greatness you’ve imparted upon the broken world.

Feel better now?

You are not old. You are experienced. You offer great value. You have a great work ethic. You have the time to devote to the job. You are loyal. You have accomplished a lot. And here’s one more validating fact: A survey by Addecco revealed that employers overwhelmingly prefer to hire people who are middle-aged, because they know their professions well.

If you’d like to learn more about how overcome ageism and get hired, send me an email at ruth@polish-publish.com.
 

Getting downsized is a shock to the system. Even if you knew the news was coming, it can throw you into a tailspin.  ​Looking for a new job is not super-comfortable, either. It requires research, connections with people you may not have talked to recently, and the finesse to present yourself as The Standout Solution to an employer’s problems.
It takes quite a bit of work.

That’s why it is important to ease into your search with a few steps that can cushion your reentry into the fray.

1. Decompress. It’s tempting to leap into action. While you shouldn’t take a month off (even if you got severance pay), resist. For few days. When you lose a job, you need a grieving period. Give yourself room to feel sad, to process fear, and to work through anger and disappointment. Take some long walks or go for a few bike rides - or allow yourself to lie on the couch and drink tea and just FEEL your feelings. You need a hug. Give one to yourself.  
   
2. Create a workspace for your job search. It could be the dining room table. Maybe it’s a home office space. It could be a table set up somewhere just for this purpose. Whatever your choice, dedicate it to this task. Don’t clutter it with mail or odds-and-ends or laundry. Having a place that’s tidy and organized will help you maintain a calm frame of mind. It also will keep your job search separated from your home life and reduce the stress you may release onto your family.  
   
3. Establish a schedule. When you begin your search, treat it as your workday. One suggestion is to start with a walk or some type of exercise. Still have a health club membership? Use it for a morning workout.  Then decide how many hours each day you will devote to the tasks needed, such as connecting with contacts, researching jobs and companies, creating and submitting materials, and following up on applications. A routine will help you manage the uncertainty you are facing. And reward yourself when you complete a task! (Hopefully not with alcohol.)

 If you just lost your job, or are unhappy with the direction of your current role, reach out to me at ruth@polish-publish.com. Let's set up a time to talk. 

I was just talking with a client about her job search. She worked for her company for about eight years, and everything seemed to be going perfectly. She had been promoted once, and her reviews were good.

And then the axe fell: She got called into the conference room and told her position was being eliminated. Profits were down. Business just wasn’t as good anymore.

For a week or so, she was in shock. She has a teenaged daughter. What would happen to them?

Fortunately, she contacted me, and we are working on her plan. But I offer this story as a cautionary tale. In today’s climate, you never know when you will find yourself unemployed. You may have great credentials and you may even have helped the company earn money. But you can’t take that job for granted.
This is why you must always be prepared so that you if you lose your job, you can hit the ground running.

Here is a checklist you can implement immediately:

1. Keep track of your accomplishments on the job. These will be very valuable if you have to look again. Include dates and descriptions of what you did for the company.
2. Save copies of your great reviews, of emails complimenting your work, and any other collateral that comments on your effectiveness. These will be useful if you need to create a job-search campaign.
3. Get a refreshed résumé that reflects where you are to date. You will have to tweak it later if you apply for specific jobs, but if you have all your accomplishments in order, it will take less time.
4. Keep networking. Join professional organizations in your field. Go to their meetings. Reach out on LinkedIn to peers in your industry and make new professional friendships. Attend conferences. Make connections. You will need them if you find yourself looking for work.
5. Update your LinkedIn profile – or create one if you don’t have one. Employers and recruiters will look at your profile!
6. Keep current on industry trends. Read newsletters. Talk to professional contacts. This will help you greatly to know how you fit into business needs.
7. Get new skills or certifications if you need to. Take a course on Lynda.com, Udemy, LinkedIn, or other platforms. Your employer might pay for relevant training.

Do all of these things and you will prepare yourself to conduct a well-reasoned and confident job search. Because you truly never know what’s going to happen!

Call me at 614-746-4587 for a free assessment, and let’s see what you need to be prepared.