Career Tactics in a Recession

Today’s agenda

FACT Seeking employment takes time, energy, patience and perseverance

FACT Seeking employment is a skill in itself

FACT You have more to offer an employer than you realise

FACT Most jobs are acquired through contacts and networks

Today’s Objective

Show the way forward with a

Seven Point Plan

Seven steps to a job

SEVEN STEP PLAN

1. Make Time

2. Skills Check – know what you have to offer

3. Research the Market Place

4. Develop Job Search Tools- Networking

5. Have Short and Long Term Plans

6. Develop Self Marketing Tools

7. Stay Positive

1. Make time

Make Time

Create an office space: at home/library

Create a filing system

Set aside time: morning best; 5 hours a day

Treat as a job: 9.00-1.00

Network: average 6/month; up to 2/day

Build in rewards

2. Skills check

» Knowledge

» Skills

» Abilities

» Personal Attributes

Formal Learning

Non-Formal Learning

Work Experience

Examples of a skills check

2000-2006

Deputy ManagerPaddy Powers, St Luke’s Cross

• Supervised 2-4 staff, managed shop turning over xxxx per annum• Matched product offering to local customer profiles• Responsible for shop layout, window and internal display boards• Trained staff in the range of products available as well as security

and financial systems• Consistently exceeded company targets for profit performance• Controlled administration, safety, security and financial systems

Examples of a skills check

2005-2007

Household AssistantMercy University Hospital, Grenville Place, Cork

• Responsible for catering & cleaning duties in female surgical wards• Checked with Ward Sister for specific dietary requirements of

patients• Distributed meals in a courteous and efficient manner• Ensured compliance with Hospital Health and Safety polices• Worked 12 hour shifts & covered other wards where necessary • Assisted in training in new seasonal staff• Gained excellent time-management skills as tasks had to be

completed within a strict time scale

Examples of a skills check

2000-2008

Building Site ForemanHome Construction Ltd, Cobh, Cork

• Responsible for overall site safety and supervision of 6 -10 employees on a daily basis on projects ranging from the xx to xx

• Assigned employees work rotas and duties based on a briefing from Head Office.

• Liaised with engineers and service providers as required• Complied attendance and clearance sheets on a daily basis• Collated all employees hours, bonuses and paid wages each week• Resolved any conflict situations e.g. issues arising from language

barriers or discontentment due to long hours or unexpected overtime.

Skills check

Specialist •Company-specific skills•Technical/functional skills•Understanding commercial goals of company

General Business•Problem solving•IT/Computer literacy•Flexibility•Numeracy skills•Business acumen•Commitment

Self-reliance•Self-awareness/confidence•Self-promotion skills•Initiative •Networking skills•Willing to learn•Action planning

People•Team working•Leadership•Interpersonal skills•Customer orientation•Oral communication•Customer care

3. Research the market place

• Traditional Methods– Newspapers, journals, trade magazines,

recruitment agencies, FAS

• Word of mouth

• Contract work, part-time, relief work

• Web based

3. Research the market place:Useful Websites

Organisation / Description

WebsiteAccountants & IFSC

www.thepanel.com

Trainee Accountants in Practice and Industry within the Dublin area.  Consultation Service for Graduates looking to move into Financial Services and Funds within the Dublin area.

Adecco Recruitment Positions Offered: Investment Banking, Corporate Banking, Retail Banking within the Dublin area.

ArtsHub UK We are one of the largest listings of arts and creative jobs in the UK. Receive our popular jobs bulletin with over 100 new listings each week with job listings in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Bluewave International Bluewave International is an established education recruitment company based in the UK.  They provide a free service for Irish trained teachers who would like to experience living and working in the UK.  They help with all aspects of relocation and job hunting.

See separate handout for full listing

AdvertisementsRecruitment Agency

Review CV’s on fileRecommendation from Colleagues,

ContactsPromote from within

4. Job Search Tools: Networking How employers recruit?

80% of the Jobs Market is Hidden

Networking

The Law of 250

• Every person knows at least 250 other people.

• Each of your contacts knows at least 250 people. So that’s 62,500 at your 2nd level.

• Each of your 2nd level contacts knows 250 people – and that’s over 15,000,000.

Layers of separation

You

Level 1 contact

Level 2 contact

Level 3 contact

Level 4 contact

Your friend Alice

Alice’s Uncle Bill

Carol’s boss David

Bill’s friend Carol

?

Networking log

Name: Occupation:

Address: Place of work:

Phone No: How we met:

Email Addresses:

Details of contact:

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

3 Referrals

1. ___________________

2. ___________________

3. ___________________

Action Points_________________________

_________________________

_________________________

5. Short and long term goals

To get where you want to go you may have to:

1.Change your perspectiveIf you have worked in a sector that is now experiencing difficulty, then try to change your mindset

2. Take the road less travelled

Analyse the skills you gained

To a different sector.

& Match them

Short and long term goals:Changing your mindset

Accountant Administrator WoodiesSkills: IT & administrative skills, works well under pressure, understands business

Auctioneer Recruitment AgencySkills: Sales & marketing ability, people skills, initiative and self motivation

Making Kitchens(Self-employed)

Assembling FurnitureSkills: eye for detail, manual dexterity, problem solver

Short and long term goals:The road less travelled

• The position you want may take time to acquire

Work back from your goal and identify points of entry

Van sales person

Merchandiser

Sales Rep

Sales Manager

Network: If the path is not clear – talk to people (informational interview)

Try to get your foot in the door

See if you can plug any “skills gap”

6. Self marketing tools

Marketing a Product

Product Knowledge

Market Knowledge

Brochure

Marketing Plan

The Selling Cycle

The Sale

6. Self marketing tools

Marketing you - Job Search

Skills check (Product Knowledge)

Job Opportunities ( Market Knowledge)

CV (Brochure)

Networking (Marketing Plan)

Interview (The Selling Cycle)

Job Offer (The Sale)

7. Stay positive

Stay Positive

Self care: diet, exercise, watch cholesterol & alcohol

Join club: football, book, drama, bridge

Hobby: gardening, walking, cycling, cooking

New skill: typing, IT, art, toast masters, sociology

Voluntary work: Simon, Charity shops, SVP

Barter: stories, advice, skills, books

Relax: meditation, yoga, tai-chi, swimming

Do what you never had time to do

In summary

“Anyone can manage a crisis, it’s the day to day living that wears you down”

Understand and never under-estimate the realities of job hunting

• Set goals and make a plan• Be patient• Try to create time and a supportive team• Make many contacts• Be persistent