Who Gets Promoted, Who Doesn’t & Why

10 Things You’d Better Do if You Want to Get Ahead
By Wendy Ryan and Aaron Gouveia, Salary.com contributing writers

If you’re a fast-tracker striving for career advancement like a heat-seeking missile then this is a podcast you can’t afford to miss. On this week’s episode of Salary Talk, Aaron flies solo in this interview with Donald Asher, author of “Who Gets Promoted, Who Doesn’t and Why” and “Cracking the Hidden Job Market,” who deals exclusively with career professionals who aren’t happy unless they’re earning a promotion every 12-18 months. You’ll find out why raises aren’t about past performance, being indispensable isn’t a good thing and discover why talent is a distant second to timing. Asher’s insight into the corporate culture of raises and promotions could have you earning more in no time.

To view or listen to the entire podcast please click here.

How Your Job Search Is Like March Madness

by Kevin Flynn, Director of Recruitment and Candidate Services
From CommonGoodCareers.com

Another season of March Madness is upon us. Since I’ve spent the majority of the last week either watching tournament games or interviewing candidates, I’ve started thinking how the March Madness is a lot like a job search.

What can jobseekers learn from March Madness? Here are a few thoughts:

You’re up against a large playing field. In the NCAA, 68 teams compete in the tournament. In today’s nonprofit job market, there may be up to 500 candidates applying to one job (depending on the level and functional area of the position). In the same way Gonzaga, Creighton and VCU have come out of nowhere to take the tournament by storm in recent years, there are amazingly talented candidates flooding the market today, and it’s not just the traditional profiles. These are talented for-profit leaders looking for “Encore Careers” in the nonprofit sector, or graduates of the new crop of amazing nonprofit-focused MBA programs that have taken off over the past few years. Add the fact that there are fewer AmeriCorps positions for recent college graduates, and fewer retirement age professionals actually retiring, and you’re looking at a pretty large – not to mention diverse and competitive – playing field.

The best teams have great coaches. It starts with the X’s and O’s. When the players are on the court, they’re listening to the direction of a head coach and a couple assistants- they’re NOT going around to every fan in the stadium asking them for their advice on the next play. In your job search, seek out a couple experts to be your coaches. These should be people with a depth of experience with the current job market and hiring trends in the sector. Everyone will have an opinion on your job search, but soliciting advice from this dozens of people will slow you down and leave your head spinning. Cultivate as many fans and supporters as possible (they’re VERY important) . These are folks that can introduce you to the right people, put in a good word on your behalf and cheer you on when the going gets tough. However when it comes to the hard skills of planning and navigating a strategic job search, focus on finding 1 or 2 experts to be your coaches. If you’re looking for some professional coaching in your own search, check out our Commongood Careers’ advising services. Learn more here.

Buzzer beaters do happen (but please focus on the high-percentage shots)! Yes, we’ve all sat in our driveways practicing the crazy half-court last-second shot pretending we’re Christian Laettner or Tate George or Bryce Drew. We’ve all also applied for some jobs we knew were a big stretch. Sure, go for that long shot now and then. If it looks like your dream job and your “One Shining Moment,” let it fly. Remember though: you need to be spending the majority of your time on creating the high-percentage opportunities- those that are a solid fit for your work experience and background. Also, keep in mind you can turn those long shots into layups by networking your way in the door, getting to know team members and having solid recommendations coming from inside and outside the organization.

There are always Cinderellas (and they never win it all!): Fans love a good Cinderella story of an up-and-comer team making it deep in the tournament. Remember Butler as an 8 seed facing VCU as an 11 seed in the final four last year? Well neither of them won a thing. Cinderallas advance, grab a lot of attention and have the fans pulling for them, but they almost never win it all. Same is true in the finalist stage of a job search. Hiring organizations will often fill out the group of finalists for a position with some candidates that are the exact target they’re looking for and 1 or 2 that represent a different or nontraditional candidate-model (maybe earlier in their career, maybe switching sectors, etc.). It’s a common practice. When push comes to shove, however, they’re usually going to hire the target candidate who presents less of a gamble. So does that mean the Cinderellas wasted their time and you should never apply to any position you’re not perfect for? Absolutely not. Every time you advance in an interview process you have the opportunity to impress the leadership at a hiring organization, and only good things can come from that. Maybe the next job that opens at that organization is a better fit for you. Maybe they recommend you for a similar role at a partner organization. Rather than being a waste of time, getting to the finalist stage can be a door-opener for your next opportunity. If you’re nontraditional, under-qualified, over-qualified, etc. for a particular role, remember: Cinderellas almost never win in the end, but ask Butler and VCU- it’s still great to be one.

Finally, every good player knows that it takes a lot of hard work to land on top. Just like making it to the Dance, a successful job search requires focus and perseverance, a winning attitude, and strong conviction. Have a solid game plan that starts with the X’s and O’s, surround yourself with good coaches, take high percentage shots, and, once in a while, trust yourself to sink a buzzer beater here and there.

7 Ways to Make Yourself Indispensable

7 Ways to Make Yourself Indispensable at Work
How to Make Sure You Keep Your Job During Layoffs
By Cathleen Carlos, Salary.com contributing writer

As companies downsize and jobs are lost, many people wonder why they’re let go while other employees remain with the company. Although there are always many factors to consider — political, economic, etc. — it often comes down to being considered indispensable.

Having worked at several companies that have downsized in the past, I’ve learned these seven things that can help ensure your company is happy with your performance and holds onto you at all costs.

Top 10 Internship-Ready Majors

From Internships.com

It’s that time of the year. 68 college basketball teams have made it to the NCAA Tournament – the “big dance.” Rankings, seedings, and brackets are top of mind.

But there’s another competition launching today, too – a competition for career readiness and ambition, for bragging rights based on majors. Today we released The “Top 10 Internship-Ready Majors,” based on a comprehensive list of college majors analyzed by our Internships.com Ambition Index.

Which majors made the final cut? Click here to see the Top 10 ranking.

Once you check out where your major ranks, or (womp-womp) doesn’t rank, make the case on Facebook and Twitter – share why your major is the most deserving of a Top 10 ranking.

How social media can help—and hurt—your professional prospects

By Aimee Hosier, Schools.com

If you want some insight on how current or potential employers view you, try Googling yourself.

According to a Harris Interactive study, 45 percent of hiring managers used social media to screen and recruit new applicants in 2009, and 35 percent declined to hire a candidate thanks to content uncovered this way. The Wall Street Journal notes that some employers even continue to monitor your social media activity long after the hiring process, using certain posts as grounds for termination. While this trend can be troublesome for some job seekers or employees, others have turned it on its head.

“One of the best ways to gain recognition in a specific field is to use social media,” says career coach Debra Yergen, author of the “Creating Job Security Resource Guide.” In other words, the positive PR you generate using social networks can help you land a job just as easily as other activities (ahem) can make you lose one. The difference is in knowing how to use these tools appropriately.

Top Workplace Trends for 2012

By Michelle V. Rafter
From SecondAct.com

The old saying that the only constant is change aptly describes the American workplace in 2012.

As a new year begins, you may be in the same position at the same place you’ve worked for years. But the economy, technology and demographics are transforming how you get your job done.

Out: commuting, 9-to-5 schedules and standard-issue office computers.

In: telecommuting, more flexible hours and using your own laptop or smartphone for work.

Here’s more on those and other changes that could be coming to your workplace this year.

Understanding and Overcoming the Challenges of Pursuing an Expat Career

by Megan Fitzgerald, Founder of Career by Choice
From GoingGlobal.com

When exploring the idea of working abroad, it is important to examine the challenges involved with such a move. By understanding and addressing the challenges, it is possible to discover solutions.

It’s important to understand the challenges you will face if you decide to pursue an expat career. I always recommend making a list of these obstacles so you can develop a plan to address them. This will set you up for success as you start your search for jobs overseas.

Those who have been considering work abroad for some time are likely aware of many of these challenges. However I’ve found that many people are not aware of all of the solutions available to overcome these obstacles and realize their dream of living and working abroad.

For this reason I’ve shared possible solutions to the some of the most common challenges.

The Benefits of Having a Professional Mentor

by: Shonda Y. Lewis, Owner and President – Ridgeway Lewis Consulting
from: WEOP (Women’s Employment Opportunity Project)

If you are looking to advance your career, it is absolutely essential to seek the guidance and help of a mentor: a suitably experienced person with whom you can discuss your career goals, obstacles, and generally work with to solicit confidential guidance and direction on the best course of action to take.

Your mentor should be someone who possesses the appropriate level of wisdom, expertise, and professional success that you also seek. They can be someone you know or someone that would be beneficial to get to know. Their role is to challenge and support you but not simply tell you what to do. The goals of the mentoring relationship should be stated up front so that everyone stays on task. The time span for the mentoring relationship can be generally short (less than 6 months) or long. A good mentor will want to ensure that you gain confidence and independence as a result of mentoring, and that you are empowered to take full and effective responsibility for your own development over the next career stage. 

To view the article in its entirety, please click here.

Workshop – Working for a Non-Profit: Dispelling the Myths

December 1st – 5:30pm – 6:30pm / Career Center, Lightsey Center Room 216
Facilitators: Eric Anderson & Katie Smith, College of Charleston Career Center
Panelists: Christine Beddia, Director of Marketing and Communications, Coastal Community Foundation
Brad Cashman, Volunteer Coordinator, Crisis Ministries
Mary Pat Twomey, Assistant Director, College of Charleston Center for Civic Engagement

Interested in interning or working for a nonprofit but aren’t sure what area, or if you can afford it? Come by and hear testimonials and tips from real life professionals in the nonprofit sector and learn about the wide array of personal and professional opportunities nonprofits have to offer.

*Workshop requires pre-registration. To register, log on to your CISTERNonline account and sign up under the Events Calendar tab. For questions, please contact the Career Center at 953-5692 or careercenter@cofc.edu.

Final Cut: Words to Strike from Your Resume

From Forbes.com
by Daily Muse, Contributor

If you’ve applied for a job recently, you’ve probably looked over that 8½ x 11” summary of your career more times than you can count—and tweaked it just as often—in pursuit of the perfect resume.

But before you add another bullet point, consider this: It’s not always about what you add in—the best changes you can make may lie in what you take out.

The average resume is chock-full of sorely outdated, essentially meaningless phrases that take up valuable space on the page. Eliminate them, and you’ll come off as a better, more substantial candidate—and your resume won’t smack of that same generic, mind-numbing quality found on everyone else’s.

Every word—yes, every word—on that page should be working hard to highlight your talents and skills. If it’s not, it shouldn’t be on there. So grab a red pen, and banish these words from your resume for good.