Know When to Say "No!"

Not too long ago I wrote about the similarities between dating and job interviewing.  (July 18, 2011 “Why Interviewing is Like Dating”) and led my readers to consider that dressing up for interviews, hoping to make a good first impression, and all that waiting by the phone make us all feel a bit uncomfortable and vulnerable.

Today, I suggest that the analogy extends even beyond the first date.  If you’re actively seeking a long term relationship (the employment kind, or otherwise) eventually you reach a place where you’ll need to carefully consider the offer that is put before you and analyze how closely it matches your goals. 

But wait….

What ARE your career goals?

Do you know?

A few weeks ago I received a job offer from a very large, and well known, electronics company.  It was a tough decision but I politely told them “No, thank you” after I had weighed their offer against, not only my career goals, but other options that were still open to me.

Tip of The Day

Do the math, and check it against your goals, before accepting a less than ideal job offer.

So…why did I decline the offer?

1)      Do the Math - I receive $507 per week in unemployment compensation.  My vehicle gets 17 miles per gallon and the commute distance was 50 miles per day.  Gas is almost $3.50 per gallon so my weekly gas bill would be $70.  The job offer was for $18 per hour.  (Gross Pay of $720 per 40 hour week)  If you consider how far I would be driving, and my net working pay after 20% income taxes and deductions, my weekly take home would be LESS than my unemployment compensation! 

2)      Unemployment 101 – Initial unemployment claims are good for 6 months.  I received this job offer only 2 months into my 6 months of compensation.  I have to admit, however, that had I received the offer with only a month or less of benefits left to go I would have JUMPED at it.

3)      To Temp or Not to Temp? – I have also posted about the benefits of accepting temporary jobs as a method of extending your unemployment benefits and in consideration of the permanent position opportunities that may present themselves.  The opportunity I turned down was indeed supposed to turn into a permanent position, but not for at least 90 days. As such, that extended the amount of time before I would be eligible for any benefits.  Another proverbial “point” against my new employer.

4)      You want an answer WHEN? – At the time the recruiter called me she indicated that I would need to make my decision within 15 minutes and would need to show up for work within 2 hours.  I had already interviewed for another company and was waiting for a call from them for either a 2^nd interview or a job offer.  The other option was for a permanent job that was within 2 miles of my home and paid significantly more than the temporary job that was offered.  The recruiter called me at 12:15 pm so there was NO WAY I would be able to get a hold of anyone at the other company to see if I was still in the running, or not.

Perhaps you will agree with me that an ideal full time job is close to home, pays competitive wages, is permanent, provides good benefits and advancement opportunity, and an intellectual challenge. Perhaps not. What are you goals?  What are the details behind the offer that is presented to you?  Is it mathematically a great job opportunity or just a short term fix?

The more honestly and thoroughly you consider your long term career goals the more prepared you will be to make the tough call and...know when to say no.

Are you Linkedin?

Keeping up with the latest gizmo, gadget, pick up line, catch phrase, or internet sensation is hard work!  If you’re old like me (read: somewhat past my prime) you may even question the relevance of spending time keeping up with the latest this or that when it’ll be gone by the time you brag to your friends about being hip enough to know about it.

You probably have a Facebook page.  They’re so mainstream now even my “I can’t figure out how to work it” mom has a Facebook page!  You probably have email and the majority of US households have personal computers, or several.  You may even have a smart phone.  But….are you Linkedin?

Tip of the Day

A Linkedin profile is an absolute necessity for job seekers!

If you’ve never heard of Linkedin before, it’s like Facebook but used only for your professional contacts.  In a nutshell, you build a professional profile which closely resembles your resume and then search out “contacts”.  Contacts are people that you have worked for, or with, in the course of your career.   You can also gain contacts by networking, volunteering, or mentoring.  Once you have them, you can then ask your contacts for recommendations. (which are similar to but are, by far, more effective than professional references.)  You can also find jobs and post updates like promotions, job changes, certifications / degrees achieved, or new skills acquired.

The most important function of Linkedin, however, it that it gives you

the ability to efficiently research not only the companies that you’re interested in working for….

but the decision makers that already work there!

These days employers put up virtual or literal barriers to keep job seekers from knowing who they are because HR departments and recruiters don’t want to be inundated with phone calls and emails.  The most common way for companies to do this is to place “blind” ads in newspapers or craigslist.  And even if you do know who the hiring company is it is also quite common for companies to force job seekers to “apply online” via their website.  This process is tedious and often takes hours!  Both methods are impersonal and frustrating for those of us that seek to stand out in the literal crowd of applicants.

So….how DO you stand out in a literal crowd of applicants?

Go to Linkedin.com and do your research!  Who is the manager for the department that you’re applying for?  Who is the human resource manager?  How many of their employers are on Linkedin?  Do you know anyone who already works there?  Do you have any contact in common with someone who works there?  Or better yet…do you have a Linkedin recommendation from a contact who is also a contact with the hiring manager at the company you’re applying for?

A few weeks ago I wrote a Pulitzer prize winning cover letter to the new V.P. of a retirement community management company I was applying for.  I mentioned the growth of their industry and how interested I was in applying my specific skill set to addressing their challenges.  My professional mentor, who had given me a Linkedin recommendation, was also a contact with the V.P. I had addressed the cover letter to; and I included a short excerpt from it into the cover letter itself.

After I dropped off the cover letter and resume (I did NOT mail it, a process which is also referred to as “cold calling”) my mentor then called the V.P. to mention my interest in the position and emphasize how well suited I was for his company’s needs.

Unfortunately, the position that I applied was put on hold and the company is no longer hiring.  (crappy luck, if there ever was any!) If and when they re-open the position, however, the V.P. told my mentor that I’ll be the first person they call!

I may not have a job (yet) but I KNOW that I’m on the right track and that employers appreciate candidates who go the extra mile, do their homework, and stand out.

You don’t need stilettos to stand above the crowd (see my previous blog post “What NOT to Wear”) or facial piercings to get noticed!  Using online tools like Linkedin to do your research and gain valuable professional connections will go a loooooong ways in landing you your next perfect job!