Women’s Economic Forum:

Opportunities for Weathering the Storm-Cardea Center for Women

Career Advancement and

Transition SessionSeptember 26, 2009

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Career Advancement & Transition

SessionPresenters:

� Bobbie LaPorte, RAL & Associates

Karen Colligan, PeopleThink� Karen Colligan, PeopleThink

� Julie Greenberg, Jobnob.com

� Facilitator: Mariah Cherniss

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-Bobbie LaPorte, RAL & Associates

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What’s Happening Now?

� We are in an extended, broad-based recession

� Jobless recovery – with many jobs going Jobless recovery – with many jobs going away

� Many professionals in extended search; no active career management

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What Are Your Options?

� Keep doing the same thing

� Give up – retreat and retrench

� Take charge of your career – change equals opportunity

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Keys To Reset & Recharge Your Job

Search

Be Very Clear On Your Goals

� What are your skills, interests, motives and values regarding work?and values regarding work?

� What company culture and setting is the best fit for you?

� What is the value of your experience and expertise to employers i.e., your “sweet spot

� Goal – two to three job targets6

How do you go about this?

� Take time to reflect, assess and inventory your skills and experience

� Tell the story of your career to date

� Catalogue your accomplishments: your � Catalogue your accomplishments: your personal “highlight reel”

� Research industries, companies for the best “fit”

� HAVE FUN WITH THIS!!

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It’s Not About You!

� Look to family and friends for support

� Get involved in your community

� Be grateful for what you have – the � Be grateful for what you have – the “tipping point”

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It Is About You!

� Stay healthy; take care of yourself

� Take time out for yourself; your job search cannot be 24/7search cannot be 24/7

� “Being” vs. “Doing” time

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Copyright by Randy Glasbergen, www,glasbergen.com

And This Too Shall Pass…

� Consider this time in the overall “big picture” of your careerConsider this time in the overall “big picture” of your career

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-Karen Colligan, PeopleThink

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First Things First…� How much time will you devote to your job search?

� Make a plan:

� How many hours per week?

What strategies will you use?� What strategies will you use?

� How will you measure?

How?1. Network

2. Target Market

3. Resume/Bio

4. Informational interviews4. Informational interviews

5. Search Firms

6. Social Networking Sites

Network � Networking is the #1 job search technique.

� Get your message out.

� That means…get out of the house and away from your computer.computer.

� Make a list of people in your network:

� Friends, relatives, co-workers (past and present), business/professional associates, alumnae, organizations.

Network� Network List:

� Place them in contact order – Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3

� Reach out to your network and provide them a clear and concise message of the target clear and concise message of the target opportunity you are looking for.

� Tell everyone you know and always ask “Do you know someone else I should speak with?”

Target Market� What market segments are you interested in?

� List the companies within those market segments

� Potential position/function/role

Plan approach� Plan approach

Resume/Bio� Be certain your resume/bio is:

� Focused, attractive, correct (no spelling or grammar errors), concise and achievement-oriented.

� It should be forward-looking, highlighting skills and � It should be forward-looking, highlighting skills and accomplishments that demonstrate your ability to perform your target position.

Informational Interviews� Make a list of “Areas of Interest” that you might want

to pursue.

� Determine if you or someone in your network can connect you to a person in that industry/company.connect you to a person in that industry/company.

� Set up a 30 minute conversation.

� Be prepared – Be on time – Send a thank you note.

Search Firms� This is one piece of your job search plan.

� Get recommendations from colleagues and friends.

Social Networking Sites� Linked-In

� Profile

� Recommendations

� Research companies and jobs� Research companies and jobs

� Facebook

� Be careful about information you post.

What’s Next?

1. Focus

2. Make a job search plan

3. Maintain a consistent activity level3. Maintain a consistent activity level

4. Get out of the house and away from your computer

5. Stay positive

Last…and not least…� Tell everyone you know that you are looking for work.

� Help them to help you…

Thank You…

Karen Colligan

415.440.7944

kcolligan@peoplethink.biz

www.PeopleThink.biz

-Julie Greenberg, Jobnob.com

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What Do You Do?

• Finance

• Accounting

• Legal

• Graphic/UI Design

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Welcome to

Sales & Marketing!

• Graphic/UI Design

• Engineering

• HR/Administration

If you are looking for

a job or a promotion

The Interview (aka: the sale)

� There are 2 questions the interviewer is trying to answer:

1. How can this person help me and my company?

2. Do I want to work with this person?2. Do I want to work with this person?

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Acing The Interview� Be Prepared!

� Do research on:

� The company: what issues is it having

� Know why you are interviewing at THAT company for THAT � Know why you are interviewing at THAT company for THAT job

� Practice:

� Do mock interviews with friends (reverse roles!)

� Ask thoughtful questions

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The best person for the job is NOT the one who gets it-the best sales person does!

Negotiating Salary

� Closing the sale

� Know your partner & the times

� Just because the economy is bad � Just because the economy is bad does NOT mean you shouldn’t negotiate

� This is a negotiation

� It’s not just about the salary

� Men are 4x more likely than women to negotiate

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Salary Resources (old school)

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Salary Resources (what’s new)

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To the Future!

• Stay positive & be creative

• Get organized & get out there

After you get a job, continue

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• After you get a job, continue to network and build your brand

• Give back & help others