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.

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.

The 5 Hardest Jobs to Fill in 2012

By Keith Cline @ VentureFizz
From Inc.com

While you’re planning your expansion, you’re going to find that talent is in short supply, especially in these five areas.

So, what are the most competitive areas for talent these days? Here’s a look.

Best Places to Work – Employees’ Choice Awards

From GlassDoor.com

Glassdoor is excited to announce our fourth annual Employees’ Choice Awards for Best Places to Work. Our Top 50 winners were selected by the people who know these companies best — their employees!

Click here to see the full list and learn more about each of the companies.

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.

What Employers Want: 12 Hiring Hot Buttons

by Dawn Dugan, contributing writer
Salary.com

The competition is fierce in today’s job market, and standing out in the crowd is more important – and challenging – than ever before.

How do you know you’re giving employers exactly what they are looking for? This article explores 12 human resources hot buttons.

Cougar Career Workshop Series – Fall 2011

Due to the popularity we saw in the Spring semester, the Career Center will be bringing back it’s Thursday night Cougar Career Workshop Series. In an effort to try and reach out to students and alumni that may not be able to access the Career Center during the day, the Career Center will be hosting workshops that focus on a different topic each week, including new topics not offered during the Spring.

Below is a list of the Fall 2011 workshops along with a flyer with more information on each. All workshops will be held in the Career Center (Lightsey Building, Room 216) from 5:30 – 6:30pm. For those workshops requiring registration, you can sign up for them by viewing the Events Calendar in CISTERNonline, and if you should have any questions about them, please contact Eric Anderson, Career Center Advisor, at 953-5693 / andersone@cofc.edu or Katie Smith, Internship Coordinator at 953-5694 / smithkl@cofc.edu.

Flyer: Fall 2011 Cougar Career Workshop Series

Fall Schedule

September 8th – Resume and Cover Letter 101

September 15th – Experience Matters – Internships

September 22nd – Is Graduate School Right for Me?: Preparing for Admission*

September 29th – Workplace Etiquette and Professional Image*

October 6th – What Employers are Saying about your Resume *

October 13th – How to Land a Great Job*

October 20th – Preparing for the Career Fair

October 27th – Recruiters Tell All – Panel*

November 3rd – Linked In: What Is it & How To Utilize it for Career Networking

November 10th – Tips for Sealing the Deal in a Big Interview

November 17th – Taking a Year off between School and Work: Pros & Cons

December 1st – Working for a Nonprofit: Dispelling the Myths*
In conjunction with the College of Charleston Center for Civic Engagement

*Workshop space is limited and requires pre-registration.

16 Job Search Errors Often Made

By Rachel Farrell, CareerBuilder.com
From CNNLiving.com

Over the years, hiring managers have born witness to every hiring, interviewing, resume, cover letter and negotiation mistake there is. You know what these blunders are. Yet you (and hundreds of other job seekers) continue to make common job search mistakes.

From those who see your mistakes over and over, here are 16 common job search mistakes to avoid — and some of them may surprise you.

How Mentoring Can Work for You

From Salary.com

You can always use a mentor

Wherever you are in your career, a mentor can be an invaluable guide. Here are some tips for finding one and making the relationship work.

Career Amp – Use Facebook in a New Way

CareerAmp is a new application that makes professional networking possible in Facebook. Career Amp allows you to connect with friends and see what positions may be open at the companies they work with.  CareerAmp can help amplify your career and get the most from your Facebook network, in a professional setting.

What are the perks?

• Search Opportunities
• Update your profile and make it personal
• Browse connections on Facebook
• See where your friends work and what opportunities are available within their companies

To learn more, or to sign up, click here and fill your professional profile and job interests.