SEEKING the SILVER

Almost from the start, this blog has focused on “silver linings” and the importance of seeking them, even while trying to cope with the grim realities of unemployment during this extended economic downturn.



Seeking

  
In the autumn of 2010, my status is once again, “Unemployed.” But I’m determined not to throw myself back into the misery of self-doubt and depression. And guess what I learned so far? -- There are even silver linings in this seemingly unhappy state of affairs!




After the layoff last year, I launched into a concerted six-month effort to become re-employed. For eight to 12 hours every day, I worked assiduously searching job boards, networking, applying online for jobs, reading advice columns, and reworking resumes. As a highly experienced (aka “older”) professional, a typical day was often fraught with disappointment and frequently I found myself skidding into the depths of despair. My self confidence also took an enormous hit.



Erosion to Despair

 
With unemployment remaining very high, especially within the Pharmaceutical Industry (whence my experience), there were large queues of people lining up for every new job opening, drastically changing all the old rules of job hunting. Hiring managers were receiving up to 500 resumes on the first day of a job posting. There was no time to read and give each proper consideration. So, in most cases, automated keyword scans were used to screen candidates. If your resume did not contain the "right" words, it was passed over before a human eye ever fell on it.


And if you got past the keyword screening, your experience had to exactly match the experience required by the position description. Phrases like “highly experienced” tipped off the resume screener that the candidate was not youthful and someone less experienced could be hired at a lower salary. Resumes had to be customized for each position—to use the exact words that were used in the job description.
As far as I can tell, the new rules are still in effect.




"Experienced"

 
Personal contact is so much more “real” to a hiring manager than words on a resume. That's why learning how to navigate around the enormously powerful Linked-In system, is a great boon to job hunters. Linked-In works following the notion that any two people are connected to each other by no more than “six degrees of separation.” You can learn a lot more about it by searching online for Linked-In tutorials that will provide pointers. I highly recommend one such tutorial by Olivier Taupin (http://files.meetup.com/1401259/LinkedIn_Advanced_Job_Seeking_Techniques_1.pdf ). So, through hooking up with a person who knows another person, we can make contact with someone who works inside a company, who can provide a “personal” introduction—a virtual “foot in the door” providing a “leg up” (to extend the metaphor)  on other candidates that appear among the sea of words placed in front of the hiring manager. And the biggest silver lining I found was that PEOPLE WANT TO HELP! They really do.

 

  

We are told that only about ten percent of job openings are advertised. If that is true, then searching job boards, where the competition is heavy for every posted position, seems to be a sure route to more disappointment and despair.

 

The position I was offered and accepted last March was not advertised. Furthermore a defined position did not even exist. But through networking, at least three people who knew me and also had direct connections to people in upper management positions at the new company, provided strong recommendations for me. And so, after a month of discussions about my experience and skills, they decided to offer me a nondescript director-level position in the Center City Philadelphia company. (I hope you’re reading between the lines here, for another lesson learned—the hard way).



But so far, from this post we can conclude that the keys to finding YOUR job are:

• Learn how to work the Linked-In System

• Network

• To avoid depression and loss of confidence, don’t waste lots of time applying on line to posted positions. If you see a job that appeals to you, try to find a way to network to a person inside the company. It’s not that hard once you learn the system.

• Network

• Learn how to work the Linked-In System

• Network

I hope you’re getting that message:  Networking is key to your success and your self esteem on your journey back to full employment.



OK. From the first paragraph of this post, you know that my “nondescript director-level position” only lasted six months. What happened? I’ll explain all that and go more into the Silver Lining that’s allowing me to still feel the Sunshine.

 


Let the Sun Shine

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   All photography by Michelle Alton, 2010

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Climbing Back Up from the Abyss: Part II

When I found myself suddenly UNEMPLOYED a little over three months ago, I began, in an unorganized way, to explore the online job sites, “the Ladders,” “Monster.com,” Link-In,” and others. But like Lord Ronald, in Stephen Leacock’s nonsense novel, “Gertrude the Governess, or: Simply Seventeen,” I said nothing; flung myself from the room, flung myself upon my horse and rode madly off in all directions!

Disorganized Flight

I wasted lots of time and energy and some money doing it that way. Those sites, unfortunately including the Linked-In site, barrage you with “how to” articles of every sort, and scare you into thinking that whatever you are doing in your job hunt, you are DOING IT COMPLETELY WRONG. That, unfortunately, may also be correct.  The rules around job searching have changed.   But how do you distinguish the articles that offer excellent advice from those that exist primarily to scare us into subscribing to the services of this or that coaching or resume writing service?

One fantastic document--the “yellow brick road” to job search success--came serendipitously to me while browsing discussion groups on Linked-In. It is Olivier Taupin’s concise and highly informative slide presentation, LinkedIn for Job Seekers: Advanced Techniques For Finding A Job Quickly On LinkedIn. I have absolutely no affiliation with Olivier Taupin, I assure you. I’m just sharing with you a resource that I feel is certain can help you. 

I suggest, if you do NOTHING ELSE to prepare yourself for the job search, this should be your bible for getting started. Read it and take it seriously. Once you get the knack, you’ll be using Linked-In to its maximal effectiveness, and coming up with your own ideas to get yourself noticed. Olivier’s information is golden. Once I started following his suggestions, the number of people who read my profile and the number of times I appeared in searches, increased by leaps and bounds. Emails began to land in my mailbox, and the phone began to ring. I recommend that you read it carefully, save a copy in your favorites.  Refer to it often, and you won’t be disappointed.

In today’s economic recession, almost nothing about job searching works the way it did a mere two years ago. If you were accustomed, while you were working, to being canvassed almost relentlessly by professional recruiters, forget about it--the times have changed. You can’t just post your old tried-and-proven resume and sit back and wait to be contacted. You must actively seek out the attention of recruiters. Unquestionably, you need to change your style. That means you have to do a lot of things, in Linked-In, while you search, to make yourself stand out in the crowd.

I’ll be back later to tell you about the most effective steps I’ve taken to get noticed in positive ways (Hint: this blog is one of them). In the meantime, take good advantage of your current and past relationships—those that you have formed in business, and even your friendships. Friends outside your industry may KNOW people at target companies, and those relationships can help to get you introduced to hiring managers. Let everyone know that you are out of work—there is no stigma to being jobless in this recession, regardless of how bad you may feel about it.

And you are NOT worthless. You were great when you were working, and nothing about that has changed. If you are feeling down, out, and alone, take heart:  You are NOT alone!  You will find that people WANT and are eager to help you. If this comes to you as a revelation, you’ll be very pleasantly surprised. You will also find yourself changing in wonderful ways.

You are not alone

And never forget…you need to do all you can to help others too! Offer to write Linked-In recommendations or otherwise open doors for friends and colleagues. You’ll get a lot of personal satisfaction from simple acts of friendship like these. And your “luck” will begin to change.

Simple acts of Friendship

Just remember, unless you are very lucky and grab the brass ring quickly, today’s job searches tend to take more time than they once did.  Keep in mind: This IS NOT happening because of anything you did—you are no less competent than you were when you were working.  Drum that into your brain!

Try hard--Try very hard-- to not appear to be down or depressed, even if you're feeling like proverbial "Dirt!."  As much as possible, be your old optimistic, cheerful old self and, most of all, do not let BITTERNESS consume you. Prospective employers will not be positively impressed by the story of your misfortune.  They are looking for people whose presence enhances their own work experience and the atmosphere in the workplace.  By trying like hell, to present yourself in positive ways, soon it will become easy.

But you MUST dig in, prepare for a long haul, and learn the proven ways to get yourself noticed.  The effort will work if you work at it!

The Road Ahead

Stay tuned.

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All photos by Michelle Alton
http://www.linkedin.com/in/michellealton

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The Silver Lining of being Unemployed

Well, it's now been slightly over three months since the devasting RIF that left me unemployed for the first time since I dropped out of college (later earned my degree while working full-time) at age 19. I won't say how many years ago that was, but it was a long, LONG time ago, to be sure!

Silver Lining

It's been a difficult time for a middle-aged Senior Director in Biotech/Pharma Clinical Operations to be in the job market in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region. Tens of thousands of qualified professionals have been turned out on the streets due to mergers and downsizing, and there are dozens and dozens competing for each open position. Figuring out how to get your resume to be READ is a major mystery, and to actually reach the point of a face-to-face interview is a feat of monumental proportion! And we are competing with hungry, career-building, talented folks who are willing to do the job at discounted salaries, just to get the proverbial 'foot in the door." Tough business, this job hunting is!  It can seem like the most vast of wastelands.

Ghost Ranch, New Mexico

And how many times in the past three months, have my hopes been stoked, only to learn that "we decided to promote an internal candidate," or "the job position has been revoked due to budgetary condtions," or "Sorry, but you are way over-qualified for this position?"


But...after living for three months on the lower end (never higher than mid-level) of the depression/exhilaration curve, I've come to the point where I can see a "silver lining," and my fortune is starting to turn around.



So here it is, and let me be the Upteenth person to tell you: There IS hope out there for us--Never Give up!

Never Give Up

Up until this unfortunate jobless period, I had never been very much of a networker. Though books like "Never Eat Alone" extoll the virtues of a lifetime of reaching out, I hadn't even read it until this happened to me. So, thank the Good Lord that Linked-In has come along. It's an amazing tool.

Well, I don't know about all the "how to" articles that are out there on the job sites; I believe most are really there to churn up business from job searchers needing the services of various types of coaches. For every bit of advice out there, there's another bit -- equal and opposite. And some are, in my opinion, utter travesties, like one I read recently about how to "take ten years off your age." (Don't take a newspaper to your interview because only OLD people read newspapers.) Jeepers!

So you could spend a lot of time getting lost in the bog of advice--How do we know which advice is Golden and which is Rubbish?

Bridging the Bog

But -- Linked-In, if worked to the maximum, finds people from your past, with whom you may have had positive working and personal relationships, but who you probably haven't thought about in many, many years. It's like the play, "Six Degrees of Separation," which proposed the notion that one can find a relationship to any person in the world through no more than six connections. As an example, Linked-In somehow connected me to my brother, who works in the BANKING industry--pretty far afield from most of my professional network in the Pharma/Biotech industry!


In the past three months, Linked-In has brought people back into my life who I have been fortunate enough to have mentored, starting with my first management position. Many of these people have seen their careers blossom over the years--because they are downright great at what they do. But now, they are telling me that I had a lot to do with their success, and they have, in some ways, modelled their own management styles after mine! Can you imagine how wonderful it has felt to hear that? So I have the opportunity to rekindle some terrific friendships.

Friends Rekindling

But, the phenomenal thing is that all of these people have developed their own networks, and are providing ideas, contacts, and recommendations for me. It's astonishing. And, the extra, added benefit is that all this works as a super, non-pharmaceutical mood enhancer for the out-of-work job hunter! Self confidence comes rippling back, and it is reflected in all of one's contacts with recruiters and hiring managers.

Recruiting Contact

I don't have a job yet...these things do take time. But just yesterday, I was told by an astute company recruiter (for a job that is being created that I would just LOVE to have), "Think of this period as a vacation, Michelle. With a background like yours, you won't be without a job for long--and let's keep in contact at least once a week!"



Even if nothing comes of that particular opportunity, the New Year begins with a huge blast of growing hope and confidence! Thank you, Linked-In. With the New Year comes a New Beginning!

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All photography by Michelle Alton

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Pampering Your Search Psyche

How many times have we heard it said that “The SEARCH is now your full-time JOB?”
I have heard those words ringing in my ears almost constantly, even in my sleep over the last few months. And, in reality, we really MUST think of it that way. But wait a minute…

When you were working, weren’t your little breaks an important part of your day? A few refreshing moments, sprinkled throughout your work day, and a get-together with colleagues over lunch were necessary while you were employed. Right?

Believe me…during the job hunt, they are even more important. We need to make sure that our mindsare clear, our self-esteem is up, and our psyches stay healthy. Keeping ourselves “up” and discouragement “down” are keys to our eventual success.

I recently received, through a friend, the following piece of advice from one of her colleagues, now wonderfully employed (but who spent seven months without a job): “Tell Michelle to avoid being down! No employer wants to hear a down-and-out story!” Seems obvious, doesn’t it? Well, as obvious as it seems, I found myself thinking, what am I projecting in my conversations with recruiters and hiring managers?

Well, if we feel depressed and down on ourselves, it projects, even if we’re trying HARD to disguise it. So – fellow travelers on the path to full employment, here are some things that I have have learned that are helping me. Remember…there will still be down days and moments of self doubt along the way. It’s natural and perfectly OK. The main thing is to be able to ease ourselves back up and face each day with positive anticipation. Here we go:


1.   OK…the obvious things…get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, hug your spouse frequently, get a comfortable desk chair, get enough exercise and fresh air.

2.   Don’t think you need to forget about your hobbies while you’re working on finding a job. My hobby is photography. It’s more than a hobby -- it’s a passion. More importantly, though, my photos are a huge source of personal satisfaction. I know it’s a special talent, and gives me more pleasure than anything I can think of (OK--I know what you’re thinking…but it’s even better than that because it ‘s ALWAYS good)! Plan some fun things on the weekends. Mondays will seem less dreadful.

3.   Do take frequent breaks. There were times when the thought of sitting at my desk, and facing a day of Linked-In on my computer would grow a huge aching and gnawing dread in the pit of my stomach. So don’t do it all day long. Give yourself a start time, and end time, and go outdoors for a walk, or take a short drive in the country. Do something that feels good.

4.   When I was working, a great cup of tea was a wonderful refresher several times a day. Indulge yourself. It’ll do a world of good.

5.   Find time to get together with your friends—make lunch dates! It’ll help make you feel connected and … friends may give you suggestions and leads that you haven’t thought of yourself. People DO want to help you…think of all the times that your friendship has meant the world to others. Your friends have not forgotten! And besides, it will be fun. Fun is still OK!

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This is not the end of my list…but it is enough for today! I’m off now for a cup of Passion Fruit Green Tea. Yum!!


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All photography by Michelle Alton

http://www.linkedin.com/in/michellealton

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Confessions of a Senior Clinical Operations Novice Job Searcher

Having worked uninterrupted for a long time as a successful Senior Clinical Operations professional, most recently at the Senior Director level, searching actively for a position is a completely new experience for me. I'm a novice, and sort of proud of it, to be perfectly frank!

But it's a hard slog out there for everyone in the job market these days, and for someone like me, a hugely daunting time. Yes there's a ton of stuff out there to teach us the best networking techniques, what to do, what not to do. One just simply cannot read it all, or retain it all, or know which articles are good and which are not. So what do we do?

So I come to you, up to my eyeballs in Networking Alligators (does that phrase date me?) hoping you'll find this blog and see the (shining light) about the mutually beneficial things we can do to help each other. Simply put: I need to find a new job, and you probably need my experience, skills, judgment, problem-avoidance and problem-solving abilities, communication and collaboration skills, to help propel your Clinical Research candidate (or any other project) to a successful, timely, on budget conclusion.

So here's my resume: Tomorrow, more about the trials and tribulations of an out-of-work (no stigma there, in these times, right?)

Michelle Alton:
Senior Clinical Operations and Data Managment Professional

That is really my LinkedIn profile, since I couldn't paste the text here. I live in Southeastern Pennsylvania so my location preferences would be Central New Jersey and Greater Philadelphia, but would consider more southern east coast locales, if the job was right.

More later!

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http://www.linkedin.com/in/michellealton

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