How to approach people

Win,
Thank you for your note.

I understand that you should not make them [networking contacts] feel like you are asking them for a job, but I thought you could ask them for more contacts in order to gain more information. How in the process do you work in getting access to more contacts?
Ann

Ann,
Contacts, yes! But contacts for more information, not for jobs. Asking any contact for a job does two things. First, it puts them in an awkward position if they don't have a job and second, if they don't have one, then you don't even get to talk to them. The answer: turn your assumptions about the job into questions, get curious about the work, what they like about it and what they don't. As you are learning more, you will also get known. People will begin to think of you when a job does arise.
Win
www.WinSheffield.com

What level is right for me?

Hi Helen,
I know we spoke about conveying in your stories the scope and level of the work you did and that this is the best way for them to know how to place you. The other side of that, for the internal interviews you are having, is that you want to listen for (and ask specifically where you can) what your role would be in the activities of the department. You will be listening for the kinds of skills you will be able to/expected to exercise, level of autonomy, etc.

I'm sure you know that what they are prepared to let you do eventually will depend on what you do to prove yourself. So, you will be listening for potential scope. Also, it is hard to do, but as best you can, think about what really would be too much for you to take on now (and what experience you would have to have to make it do-able.)
As I said, let me know if you have any questions & have fun with it,
Win
www.WinSheffield.com

Keeping On Top of Your Career While Working

From: Gary
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 10:01 AM

Hi Win,

I think I did well, negotiating a 12 months run-way until next steps will be considered. I made myself pretty clear about what I want and can do for the firm. You certainly helped me a lot in focusing my thoughts and getting them across.

Thanks again,
Gary


Hi Gary,
Glad it turned out OK. Sounds like they still aren't sure about your future role. I hope they are providing opportunities to prove yourself and hope also that you will be deliberate in reaching out to fellow professionals to learn more about options for yourself in the wider community.
Win

Win Sheffield
www.WinSheffield.com

Dealing with Frustration

From: Ann

Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 11:50 AM

Hi, Win:

Thank you for asking about me. It's very thoughtful of you.

Here goes, if you really want to know. :)

To tell you the truth, I am mentally exhausted from trying so hard to figure out what to do. I mistakenly latched on to Marketing Research and enrolled in a certificate course because I wanted so much to have a direction. I think I took off running in the wrong direction (which is what I often do), and I am tired and confused from that sprint.

I believe I would be happy in magazine editorial (but as an editor, not a copy editor). It will never give me decent money, but I would like to do it. My challenge is that I can not see another way of getting in beyond starting at the bottom as an assistant. I don't know if I could afford to live on that salary. Maybe I am caught in a web of negative thinking?

I sent an e-mail to my old boss who is now the deputy editor at PublA, and I have not heard back from her yet. I was her assistant when she was the Lifestyle Director at PublB ten years ago. I am a little embarrassed to talk to her because I feel like I am coming back to her ten years later and I have not moved ahead in my career since I worked as her assistant. I think I am ashamed in a lot of ways.

Some of my skills are: copyediting, organizational skills, able to teach one-on-one

Win, I think I don't know what to do still. So I am resting and hoping something will happen, and I will have an epiphany.

Many thanks for checking in on me.

:)

Ann

Thanks Ann. You are thinking clearly about all this. It is frustrating to think you require a miracle. A couple of suggestions: On the skills that you have, try going down to the next level of detail, e.g., what exactly are organizational skills. Go back to your accomplishments stories. What have you organized in the past? The other thing that comes to mind is people skills. These could fall under "organizational skills", but in any case, specific examples of accomplishments will clarify for people (and for yourself) what you can do.

Win

Win Sheffield

www.WinSheffield.com

Unadvertised Jobs

From: Tom C

Sent: Friday, November 02, 2007 8:32 AM

Hello Win,

You mentioned that only 20% of all jobs are posted. How do you find out about the rest of them?

Regards,

Tom

Tom,

Jobs that are not posted (and even some that are) are filled by word of mouth. A vague need can wait until the right candidate presents themselves. Getting known & getting to know people becomes the key. The talks on the 14th & 20th will address this.

Win

Win Sheffield

www.WinSheffield.com

Functional Resumes

From: Tom
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2007 10:52 AM

Thanks Win. Much Appreciated. The Labor Dept guy wanted me to do a functional resume but I don't think it will fly well in the financial services sector.

Regards,

Tom

Tom,

Functional resumes are OK as long as you include a time line as well. You don't want people thinking you are hiding something. I don't like them particularly, but it may be what is required for the DOL!

Win

Win Sheffield
www.WinSheffield.com

Search Strategy

From: Tom
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2007 11:03 PM

Hi Win,

I'm waiting to hear from Co #1, a startup consulting firm based out of Texas. They're interested in my Salesforce.com experience as well as my Six Sigma training. There are only 12 people in New York although they plan to grow to 100 by the end of next year.

A recruiter contacted me with an opening for someone with Salesforce.com experience. Someone from Co #2 contacted me about my Salesforce.com experience as well. It seems to be the hot thing in consulting right now.

The PMP trainer put me in contact with a former student at Co #3 who is pushing my resume. Most of the opportunities are in Charlotte, NC which Sally isn't happy about.

I used LinkedIn to connect with a change manager at Co #4 who is helping me with the HR process. I'm pretty excited about the Co #4 opportunities. It sounds like a good company to work for.

I've got a contact at Co #5 in the finance department.

Sally's dad has a contact at Co #6 as well as at several hedge funds.

The Westchester One Stop Shop sends me job postings a couple of times a week.

I'm taking the PMP exam on November 1st.

I got myself some personal business cards.

Other than that I'm just responding to job board postings.

My severance package runs out this month.

Regards,

Tom

Hi Tom,

Just a few random thoughts . . .

When applying via resume, key works and readily definable terms like salesforce.com are the currency of connection. If, on the other hand, like me, your project work centers on taking an area, working with them to improve their processes and integrating that into the day-to-day process, it is more difficult to get in by resume.

Sounds like you are doing a lot of good activity. To the extent that your qualifications, e.g., six sigma & salesforce.com are where you want to go professionally, you will do well to apply to jobs. If you want to focus on project management, applying as a primary strategy is still pretty good. With project management you also have more chances of finding a PM networking group, which should broaden your options. Keep in mind that 20% of jobs are posted.

Good luck with the exam & hang in there. As you talk to people, you will get a response.

I know its not exactly where you are, but there are good networking groups through a New Canaan group www.newcanaancats.org

Take Care,

Win

Win Sheffield
www.WinSheffield.com