The Curse of Being Over-Qualified

By Barb Smith

From the early days in the classroom, and throughout our adult life, learning new skills and improving our education has been seen as the road to career success. “You can never learn too much,” we’ve been told. Yet, it is not uncommon for a job seeker to be told they are over-qualified.

It may seem unreasonable that an employer wouldn’t hire someone with more skills and experience than they need, especially if they are getting that person for the same salary as the less-qualified candidate. Why wouldn’t an employer take advantage of such a situation? Well, they actually have some very good reasons:

1. Equity Issues

Good employers pay attention to their employees’ perceptions of fairness. It is important that employees feel fairly compensated. Employers feel (and often rightly so) that employees who are being paid less than they are worth will eventually feel unfairly treated, and this will either have a negative impact on the quality of their work, or cause them to leave the position altogether, requiring the company to repeat the hiring process – an expensive endeavour.

2. Co-worker/Manager Issues

When a new hire is placed in a position, it is natural for that individual to want to prove themselves and to show what they’re capable of. When that new hire is over-qualified, their desire to “show their stuff” could end up alienating and de-motivating co-workers, and even the manager, as the new hire hits home-run after home-run. Co-workers might be left wondering if they are needed at all.

Could it be you?

Another factor that can come into play here is confidence. It’s not unusual for job seekers who have been let go from their job or whose search has been a long one to question themselves and their abilities. In response they often apply for jobs they know they could do with their eyes closed. When they are turned away as being over-qualified, they may doubt themselves even more (“I’ve got a university degree and I can’t even get a job in a mailroom!”) This can lead to a downward spiral that can be difficult to overcome. Don’t go there!

The Key to avoiding the “over-qualified” problem

Apply for positions that you are uniquely qualified for. There is no one else on the planet with exactly the same qualifications you possess. It’s all about understanding what the employer needs and matching your qualifications to those needs. The closer the match, the better your chances of receiving an offer. So pump up your confidence, research your target companies, and make that match.

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Barb Smith is a professional Job Search Coach in London, Ontario who applies the employer’s perspective when helping individuals find satisfying jobs with a minimum of stress and frustration. For more information, contact Barb at 519.691.0218 or email barb@barbsmithjobsearchcoach.ca. www.BarbSmithJobSearchCoach.ca

Published in Networking Today, June 2007

Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude

By Barb Smith

A networking contact of mine once gave me a fridge magnet that reads:

It’s your attitude that determines your altitude.

While the notion holds true in many contexts, it is particularly applicable in job search. Whether early on when you may be feeling somewhat directionless, or when you are well into your search and wondering if it’s ever going to end, your attitude will play a key role in the quality of your decision-making, not to mention your resilience.

Early on…

There is nothing quite like losing your job (for whatever reason) to have you questioning your self worth. While emotional reactions to job loss vary, it’s not unusual to experience a loss of confidence and a desire to do little more than sit in front of the TV. And for those few who experience a situational depression, the prospect of getting out of bed in the morning can be equated to climbing Mount Everest.

This is not the time to engage in a job search. Give yourself some time to work through the negative emotions and concentrate your focus on things you CAN control. As time goes by your attitude will improve and you will start to experience more neutral and even positive feelings. This is your signal that you are ready to begin your search.

Along the road to job satisfaction…

Now that you are feeling a little more in control (and a little more energetic), you’ll probably find that your attitude toward your job search has improved as well. This is a good thing.

From this point forward, keeping a positive attitude is a must. To quote author Peter McWilliams, “you can’t afford the luxury of a negative thought.” Negativity will deplete your energy and distort your perception at a time when you need to be your best. A positive outlook on the other hand, will help keep you motivated and moving toward your goal.

Furthermore, we tend to “wear” our attitude; it is evident in our face, voice, and body language. When you consider that most interviewers (many of whom are trained in reading body language) rate confidence and a positive outlook as the number one turn-on in an interview, you start to understand the power of a positive attitude. And given the number of people with whom you will interact during your search, leaving them all with positive impression can only help.

A positive attitude is one of the most compelling qualities a job seeker can bring to bear in every aspect of the search. Don’t leave home without it!

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Barb Smith is a professional Job Search Coach in London, Ontario who applies the employer’s perspective when helping individuals find satisfying jobs with a minimum of stress and frustration. For more information, contact Barb at 519.691.0218 or email barb@barbsmithjobsearchcoach.ca. www.BarbSmithJobSearchCoach.ca

Published in Networking Today, May 2007

The Changing World of Work

By Barb Smith

A few years ago, I had occasion to go through my father’s file cabinets and I found an old résumé. It was yellowed with age, and while neatly typed, I could tell it was created before the age of computers. In the top right corner there was a hand-drawn box containing these words: “Happily married with two healthy children.” My, how things have changed!

Dad completed university, married his high school sweetheart and shipped out with his army unit in quick succession. When he returned home a few years later (all in one piece, I’m happy to report), he joined the Hudson Bay Company and worked his way through positions in every department before landing a Personnel Manager post. Yes, he had his career and if he remained a loyal employee, he had a job for life.

Fast forward to present day. Having survived a recession and a slew of major corporate downsizings, we are well into the information age and must operate and compete within a global market. Has that changed the way we work? You bet it has. Full-time, permanent positions are on the decline and companies are contracting out many of the functions that used to take place in-house. And small business is now an economic force to be reckoned with. What does all this mean to job seekers? It means we must change the way we think about work.

If you define a “job” as a full-time, Monday to Friday, nine to five, permanent position, you might want to re-think. Those “jobs” are the scarcest they’ve been for many years. If you broaden your definition of job to include contract and even part-time work, you significantly increase your chances of success. Now more than ever, job seekers need to keep an open mind. The work still exists; it has simply taken a different form. Seek out all the opportunities you can find and see how you can make them over into a job that works for you. The key here is flexibility and a willingness to think outside the box.

If you have been out of the job market for any length of time, you will notice many changes in the search process as well. Perhaps you landed your last job by dropping off your résumé to companies in your neighbourhood. There was a time when a manager would interview a prospective employee just dropping off a résumé and offer him a job on the spot! Now job seekers network, surf Internet job boards, scan newspapers, and meet with search firms to learn about job openings. Subsequent to finding the posting, there is the application process, the interview process (which may consist of three or more interviews), the job offer and compensation negotiations. Whew!

Take heart job seekers. While it may seem daunting, job search in the new world of work does have its upside: you will meet some interesting people, you'll learn new things, and your job-to-be has the potential to be as satisfying as you care to make it. I know Dad would be up for it. How about you?

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Barb Smith is a professional Job Search Coach in London, Ontario who applies the employer’s perspective when helping individuals find satisfying jobs with a minimum of stress and frustration. For more information, contact Barb at 519.691.0218 or email barb@barbsmithjobsearchcoach.ca. www.BarbSmithJobSearchCoach.ca

Published in Networking Today, March, 2007

Networking in the Job Search World

By Barb Smith

Networking has gotten a bad rap. When I introduce the topic in a workshop, most of the faces looking back at me have assumed an “I’ll listen but don’t expect me to do it” expression. To be completely honest, there was a time when I felt the same way, but not anymore. Although building and using a contact network wasn’t easy, I could no longer ignore all the experts telling me that networking was the road to career success. Guess what? They were right!

The job market is made up of two sectors – the smaller (25-30%) visible market and the larger (70-75%) invisible market. If you compare the two in terms of saturation, here’s how it plays out. The visible market is popular with job seekers (probably due to ease of accessibility) so at any one time, it is safe to assume that most job seekers are spending time applying for those visible jobs. That’s 90 to 100% of job seekers in 25 to 30% of the market making it one competitive arena!

The invisible market is a different story. Here we have approximately 30% of job seekers in the invisible market at any one time. That’s 30% of job seekers in 70 to 75% of the market, a far less competitive scenario. So, how does one access opportunities in the invisible market? You guessed it – networking.

Still not convinced? Consider this: advertising a job opening can cost an employer thousands of dollars. If you are effective in your networking and identify an interesting position before it has been advertised, you have two important factors working in your favour:

1.

You have little, if any competition.
2.

If you win the position, you will be saving the company significant money, making you a favourable candidate.

Give networking a try

Start by making a list of everyone you know, and I mean everyone: your past co-workers, supervisors, the people from the gym, your barber/hairdresser, your lawyer, other soccer/baseball/hockey parents, school/college/university friends; anyone you can think of.

Once you have an exhaustive list, think about what you want to say when you call. You may want information about a company or you may want to let them know you’re in the job market and the kind of job you’re looking for. If it’s the latter, be clear and specific about your goal so your contacts can be effective in helping you find appropriate leads. And don’t forget the magic phrase for building your network: “can you think of anyone else I should be talking to?”

If it feels awkward at first, don’t worry. You’ll get better with practice. If you express your appreciation and look for ways to return the favour, you’ll find that people will help if they can. Wouldn’t you?

Barb Smith is a professional Job Search Coach in London, Ontario who applies the employer’s perspective when helping individuals find satisfying jobs with a minimum of stress and frustration. For more information, contact Barb at 519.691.0218 or email barb@barbsmithjobsearchcoach.ca. www.BarbSmithJobSearchCoach.ca

Published in Networking Today, February 2007

Finding Your Career Direction

By Barb Smith

Where do I go from here? What do I really want to do for the rest of my career? Where will I find job satisfaction?

In the world of job search, there can often be more questions than answers, and finding a clear focus or direction can certainly fall into that category. Perhaps you’re considering leaving a position that is unfulfilling, or maybe you’ve been “invited to leave” a position you loved. Either way, once you are ready to start taking steps toward finding the next position, a clear understanding of where you want to go is essential. It’s difficult to move in the right direction when you don’t know where you want to end up.

While there are many tools and resources to help you decide on your direction, another way to begin answering the question is to consider exactly where fulfillment came from (or did not come from) in your previous position. Was it:

· The industry (I just know I want to stay in manufacturing. It’s where the action is!)

· The company (The company I was in was too small. There was no opportunity for advancement.)

· The function (Marketing is exciting, but my heart is really in Human Resources.)

Certainly changing industries can be a challenge and for some companies, industry experience is a definite requirement. So, if changing industries is your path to job satisfaction, seek out ways in which you can gain experience (or at least exposure) in the industry of your choice.

Moving to a different company within the same industry can be done more easily. Be sure you understand what you want in a company – the right size, culture, values – so you don’t end up with another mismatch.

Changing functions is likely the most difficult. That’s not to say it can’t be done, it definitely can, as long as you are willing to do the work. If you have been a good contributor in one function, you may be able to negotiate a change with your current employer. If this is out of the question, moving to a different function may mean an investment in educating yourself to gain the appropriate credentials. It may also mean taking an entry-level position to get your foot in the door.

Finding your career direction may be challenging, even frustrating, but once the decision is made and you are committed to it, you will find the rest of your search becomes so much easier. The direction you choose will impact every other decision you will be called upon to make during your search. Take the time to make the right decision for you.

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Barb Smith is a professional Job Search Coach in London, Ontario who applies the employer’s perspective when helping individuals find satisfying jobs with a minimum of stress and frustration. For more information, contact Barb at 519.691.0218 or email barb@barbsmithjobsearchcoach.ca. www.BarbSmithJobSearchCoach.ca

Published in Networking Today, January, 2007

Is Your Résumé Only Doing Half Its Job?

By Barb Smith

In the job search process, your résumé is often your only point of contact with a potential employer; your only opportunity to convince that company that you are worthy of their consideration. Therefore, your résumé deserves the time and effort it takes to get it to a point where it is capable of doing its job – getting you an interview!

Many people begin the résumé writing process with the assumption that the best way to impress a potential employer is to showcase all the responsibilities they’ve held. I can’t tell you how many résumés I’ve read that existed of line after line of “responsible for….” What does this tell the reader? That you’ve had a lot of responsibilities – that’s it. It doesn’t explain how you carried out those responsibilities – and whether or not you did them well. When writing your résumé, a better way to impress a potential employer is to showcase all you’ve accomplished that relates to that employer’s needs. This requires two things:

1. An understanding of the employer’s needs:

This means doing your research…and you have a few options:

• Search the company on the Internet. Don’t just read the company’s Web site, search out articles and information on other sites as well.

• Tap into your network to find someone who works or has worked or knows someone who works for that company. Talking with someone who works for the company can provide you with lots of useful information.

• Re-introduce yourself to your local library. Tell the librarian what you are interested in learning more about and you will likely be flooded with resource materials.

2. An understanding of your own accomplishments:

Bear in mind that there is a difference between a responsibility and an accomplishment. A responsibility is a duty you are charged with carrying out and are (hopefully) being held accountable for. An accomplishment is an action you have taken that yielded a positive result for the company. For example, you may be responsible for collecting past due accounts. Implementing a system of past due letters, invoice copies, and regular follow-up calls that resulted in a reduction of past due amounts by 45% would be an accomplishment.

A résumé that cites accomplishments is far more powerful than a résumé that simply lists responsibilities. The extra work is time well spent. When those accomplishments match with employer’s needs, you can expect an invitation to interview.

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Barb Smith is a professional Job Search Coach in London, Ontario who applies the employer’s perspective when helping individuals find satisfying jobs with a minimum of stress and frustration. For more information, contact Barb at 519.691.0218 or email barb@barbsmithjobsearchcoach.ca. www.BarbSmithJobSearchCoach.ca