Up
and In, Down and Out: World of Work
Column
by Keelin Carey
Since
the economic downturn in 2008, the global economy is on the teeters with
unpredictable stock prices, debt defaults, and fluctuating unemployment rates. Although
the labour market gradually improved in Canada, there are people still
looking for work. There are people who are employed and struggling to deal with
workplace dilemmas and achieve optimal level of job satisfaction. Ultimately,
when it comes to work, they all have questions: What makes a productive job
search that results in gainful employment? What makes a satisfying career with
good relations with the boss and co-workers? Read on to read common questions
employment counsellors usually field in their line of work regarding job search.
I have been looking
for work for over a year with no luck. What should I do?
There
are numerous factors and suggestions that cannot be covered in this column. The
first thing will come to my mind is your employment goal and the qualifications
you possess. The second is your research on the labour market.
Grab
five different job postings and read the requirements. Check off the ones you
possess. Do you see all items checked off? If the answer is yes, review your
marketing documents (i.e. resume, cover letter) and job search techniques. Seek
assistance for revisions. Obtain a second opinion. Revise again. Many
applications were discarded because of one or two grammatical or spelling
errors. Pay attention to details in black and white. What about your job search
skills? Maybe they need to be updated. Visit libraries and Employment Resource
Centres. Sign up with employment / job development services. Talk with friends,
family, and professionals. Take out books on job search. Surf the Net for
articles on specific topics. Explore ideas and possibilities.
Suppose
the items are not checked off, re-examine the requirements. If the first three
requirements are checked off, then there is some hope. Options you may want to
consider are: Taking a course; registering with a governing body or an
association to receive a designation that is essential in your field; or, lending
your time to an organization to acquire experience using specific skills. To
pay bills, it might mean going off-track in taking an interim position –
survival job - until you build up your skills-set to achieve your employment
goal.
If
you do not meet the requirements, then do not lose hope. What other jobs are
similar to your employment goal that you can start off first? You might want to
consider an apprenticeship or take out an OSAP loan to attend college or
university or visit your local Employment Ontario organization to discuss Skill
Development. An investment in time and education, along with a little elbow
grease and positive attitude, will pay off in the future.
It
is critical that you become proactive, not passive, in your quest. Desire and
conviction in what you do will lead to a great job.
Should I disclose my
Deafness in the cover letter?
The
safe answer anyone will tell you is not to disclose any details regarding race,
religion, ethnicity, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and disability in
your cover letters. The reason is that resumes and cover letters are to focus
on merit – skills, experience, education, and accomplishments, thus prospective
employers’ biases will not come into play when choosing who to contact for
interviews.
Of
course, such disclosure may be used to your advantage if it is a Deaf
organization or an organization – business or non-profit – that has a hiring
motto of being an Equal Opportunity employer.
Some
job seekers decided to disclose because they want to be upfront, especially
when they rely on email and text-messaging for initial contact and need ASL
interpreting services for the interviews. Few have said that some managers know
“a friend of a friend who has a Deaf cousin” and, because of their familiarity
with Deaf individuals in the past, they are willing to interview Deaf
candidates. This is clearly in opposition of what Human Resources professionals
and employment counsellors are trained to say in regards to disclosure of
Deafness, but disclosing has been an advantage for some.
To
disclose or not to disclose, that is the question. Which action are you
comfortable taking? To decide, trying both will not hurt. Just make sure that
you place the strongest emphasis on your MERIT above anything else in the letter
and let your optimism shine through.
I have been offered
interviews, but no job offers. What am I doing wrong?
Clearly,
you are qualified for the positions applied. Resumes, cover letters, and job
search techniques are not a concern, which leaves me to wonder about your
appearance, interviewing style, preparedness, and understanding of etiquette.
In a nutshell, this is a make-or-break where the interviewers decide if they
like you or not within the first 20 seconds of meeting you.
20
seconds?
Yes,
twenty, 20, two-oh seconds to decide if you are worth their time or not. Even
less than 20 seconds. First impressions count. It is not say that first
impressions define and cement our personalities and the outward appearances we
present to the world, but they do define the moment when prospective employers
take you in their eyes and make snap judgments. Make sure you are dressed
appropriately, groomed to a T, and smiling with sincerity. Let your best
qualities shine. And, mind your manners, too.
Did
you ask someone to practice common interview questions with you and to throw in
unexpected ones to keep you on your toes? Read about the interview process and
appropriate interview behaviour and style? Research the company? Grasp the true
context of the duties and required skills of the advertised position? Make a
list of stories demonstrating key skills to wow the interviewer? Find out the
best route of arriving on time for the interview? All of this PREPARATION is
crucial to interview success.
Suppose
you have done the above and still struggle to obtain job offers, what are the
other possibilities? One person I know was so nervous when preparing for an
interview that she became increasingly anxious and overwrought. As a result,
she became mentally fatigued during the interview and was lacklustre. Oops.
Know when to stop and get a good night’s sleep to absorb everything in. Another
person dragged his answers too long that the interviewer interrupted him to
move on to the next question. That was feedback, and he didn’t get it at the
time. The interviewer may have perceived that as an inability to accept
feedback and change direction – one of the key soft skills to be successful on
the job.
Sometimes,
it is not during the interview that impacted the decisions of the interviewer,
but what happened afterwards. Following up with a thank-you note is important
as it shows your graciousness. The thank-you note can address concerns of the
interviewer or short-comings you may have, ending on a positive note.
It
is vital to remain grounded during the interview. Staying in the moment will
help you to be conscious of your body language and attitude. Be aware of the
hidden messages the interviewer delivers between the lines. Determine if you
truly want to work for the company. Do not forget the purpose of the interview:
It is an opportunity to sell yourself as someone the company must have as part of
its team.
Last Words:
In
this column, everything is easier said than done. Learn from your achievements
and mistakes and share them with others for insight. Know that you will get the
hang of it with some faith and conviction in what you do, the doors will open.
Even just a crack is enough.
