You might come across a situation where you know a friend or colleague who is job-seeking and could use a little “push” or extra help in their search. Potentially, this friend may actually be interested in working at a place you have worked before or where you have connections. If you are comfortable with it, you can help your friend by writing a brief recommendation note to your contacts, once you’ve talked with your friend and know for sure that he or she is applying. But what to say?       ... Read more

When faced with a big decision, like whether to accept a new job, there are many factors to consider.

• What does the new job entail, in terms of job function?
• What salary and benefits are offered (including retirement matching, health insurance, dental coverage, commuting assistance, etc.)?
• What is the work-life balance like? Are there options for flexibility, such as telecommuting or flexible schedules?
• What do you know of the workplace culture?
• What does your family think?

There are many more, and some of the above won’t apply to you. Most people have certain “non-negotiable” items which they haven’t even put on their decision list because they’ve assumed they won’t accept a job without these items (geographic location, salary etc. may be on the list).             ... Read more

In the nonprofit and government agency universe, there is an interesting variety of terms used to describe the individuals being served by a human or social services program. I’ve found that job-seekers wishing to enter this field need to do careful research so they can understand the culture of the organization they are aiming to work for, paying particular attention to what the beneficiaries of the programs are called. Each term has a potential to be frowned upon by those with other perspectives, and to call your clients the wrong thing can mark you as someone who doesn’t understand the organization’s culture–or worse, looks down upon the clients. Here’s a list of terms I’ve seen: * Clients * Participants * Customers * Consumers * Students * Fellows * Beneficiaries * Grantees * Vulnerable adults * Members * Individuals with (disabilities; barriers to entry; etc.) * Low-income individuals * “At-risk” kids * Youth * Disconnected youth * Homeless * Chronic public inebriates * Dual-diagnosis What are clients called in your agency? What do you think it reflects on your organization’s culture and values? What can job-seekers learn about the organization’s philosophy by what it calls its clients? ... Read more

Any job search that takes longer than a couple of weeks will require some amount of organization. Just tracking the jobs you might be interested in applying for, the organizations that are likely to have jobs you might want, the people you’ve reached out to for networking, and the jobs you’ve actually applied to is no mean feat. Additionally, without some organizational system, you are likely to lose track of ... Read more

What can you learn from an interview?

When going on a job interview, there is a lot you can learn about an organization through observation. I always think it’s important to pay close attention to certain factors to assess whether you are really interested in the job or would be a good fit. Here are some things to look at:

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One of the best suggestions I’ve seen in a while in the job search comes from Martin Yate’s new book, Knock ‘em Dead – Secrets and Strategies for Success in an Uncertain World. He suggests creating a Target Job Deconstruction. ... Read more

On occasion, I work with job-seekers who want to make a major career change or relocation to another country. LinkedIn can do wonders for rapidly expanding your connections in a new field or location, if you know how it works. The way it works is: * You need to use the ... Read more

Many people dream of helping people in developing countries to lift themselves from poverty and improve their lives. Motivations for a career in international development range from starry-eyed idealism or a desire for cross-cultural experience and travel, to a specific desire to use one’s skills in a particular region. Because so many people find international work to be exciting, and because opportunities in the field are limited and require specific skills, the job search can be extremely competitive. To be successful, it’s important to ... Read more

How to do a reference check—on your future boss When you go through the job search process, it seems every piece of your life is under scrutiny. Your work history, references, credit history, and so on are all fair game for background checks. But have you considered doing a reference check on your future boss? If you’re currently desperate to make a paycheck, maybe you needn’t bother worrying about whether your future boss or company will treat you with the utmost respect or fit your personality. But if you have some choice in the matter—say, you’re about to leave a great job for a new, hopefully great job—why not try to make sure you’re accepting a job with a boss and co-workers you’ll like? The first step is to come up with a list of questions for your future employer. These questions should only be asked if and when you have an offer in hand. Asking them sooner can keep you from getting the offer. Asking your future boss these questions once you have an offer is reasonable, as long as you ensure you emphasize your strong interest in the role and ask them tactfully. Questions include: ... Read more

Both/And, not Either/Or I recently worked with a job seeker who wanted to relocate fromSeattletoCaliforniato increase her intake of sunshine. She’d been trying to make the move happen for at least two years, mainly through traditional means—applying for open positions listed in her geographic area of interest. At some point, I suggested a more creative approach. ... Read more