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Don't Lose Sight of the Green Grass in the Weeds of Unemployment

noreply@MyPath.com — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:10:20 GMT

With unemployment hovering at far too high a level for the past two years, new graduates taking what amount to glorified summer jobs in many cases, and no clear signs of significant job growth for the near future, it's easy for any of us to get lost in the weeds of a job search. You can almost understandably become numbed to the effort of finding that one opportunity or employer who will recognize that they need the value you can bring to them - and they need it now. It's a daunting effort no doubt. In fact, when I've been faced with challenges in my own life that seem nearly overwhelming, I have been tempted to just throw in the towel. Why not? It's unlikely that I'll succeed, all of the odds are against me, and it might even seem preferable to the day after day effort - even drudgery - of thinking creatively, staying motivated, believing in my value, and envisioning a better place. Trust me, I've been there.

I don't use Ready and nAbled as a vehicle to discuss my life or my challenges, but I do believe that at times in our lives we need to reflect on our good fortune to be able to be searching for work. About six years ago I was diagnosed with a debilitating condition in my spine, Charcot Joint Disease, and it turned my life - as well as my wife's and our immediate families - upside down. I had learned to manage living with traumatic spinal cord injury for many years by that point- having been paralyzed in a fall as a twenty-one year old - and while I had experienced multiple surgeries and related challenges through the years, this diagnosis was frightening. The fact that it came during the first year of our marriage added another level of challenge for us.

Ultimately I had complete reconstructive surgery with additional implants in my lower spine, coupled with extensive outpatient rehabilitation. It was effectively a second traumatic spinal cord injury, and it was just as overwhelming as the first more than two decades earlier. Thanks to the concern and dedication of my physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, a highly skilled surgical team, outstanding post-surgical care and a wonderful support system, I recovered and have the opportunity to share this story with you. More importantly, I want to impress upon you that as daunting as the job search can be, it's just that...a job search. If you're in the midst of it you're well enough, driven enough, and motivated enough (but you can never be too motivated!) to bring value to an employer. It's a great place to be. Relish this position. Appreciate that you're in the fight. Know that you will break through and be in a better place soon. I know I am risking this post becoming a "Stuart Smalley" daily affirmation, but there are times in life when only a firm belief in our efforts and abilities can help us to keep putting one foot in front of the other (okay, now I'm referencing Santa Claus is Coming to Town!).

Why not make a commitment to just one of the following efforts this week;

1. Make 3 new contacts. These can be via business/social media memberships, job clubs, in the community (yes - it happens if you're open to it), other.

2. Join a new social, spiritual or professional group (exs; Toastmasters, an industry specific interest group, a committee at church, a volunteer org.).

3. Ask a valued acquaintance, friend, or mentor to review your resume, bio, or CV and provide input.

Maybe this is a great time to revisit (or become newly acquainted with) the refreshing tutorial on preparing for and landing your first real job - or your next real job - Can I Wear my Nose Ring to the Interview? by Ellen Gordon Reeves. Trust me, it will make you smile and appreciate that we've all got something of value to offer to the right employer, whether in an up or down market. Further, it crystallizes the critical need to be out there slogging through those weeds with everyone else. So I say grab your weedwacker and get back to work. The summer's almost gone!

Resources: Image from Flickr Commons

Hours per week spent working

noreply@MyPath.com — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:11:29 GMT

Is it any wonder that unemployment is so high? If salaried workers are working OT 10% to 25% of their 40 hour workweek (or more!), it pretty clearly displaces a significant number of people. Even in the hourly realm, I am hearing stories of large amounts of mandatory overtime, because employers are afraid of hiring. Since Americans are so willing to work so many hours, it is displacing other workers.

Set a Labor Day Goal to Improve an Area of Your Job Search

noreply@MyPath.com — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:36:28 GMT

There are several strategies involved in a successful job search. Unfortunately, most people concentrate on the strategies they have the greatest level of comfort with. In a labor market as competitive as the current one, such an approach will likely extend a job search. Think about some job search activities you’re not comfortable engaging in or familiar with. Use the Labor Day holiday to target one of these and make commitment to work on improving it. Some possible suggestions:

Social Media-Do you utilize Twitter at all for your job search? What percentage of your LinkedIn profile is complete, and how many connections do you have? Select one or both of these and start learning more about how to use or increase your value from them. For resources, check out Lindsey Pollak’s two posts on Social Media. Pick up a copy of Jason Alba’s book I’m on LinkedIn, Now What.

Networking-Since hiring data consistently shows that more than half of all jobs continue to be filled through networking, how close to fifty percent of your job search time do you spend on networking activities? Set some goals designed to increase your level of networking activity. These could involve scheduling more informational meetings or interviews, joining networking groups or attending networking events. Read Tina Chovanec’s great post on the topic. If you struggle getting started in this area, I’m more than happy to plug my book Networking for the Novice, Nervous or Naïve Job Seeker.

Job Fairs-Fall is a popular time for job and career fairs, and you can expect standing room only crowds in the current labor market. Don’t let this or the fact that many employers now will not take a résumé but advise you to apply online deter you. The fairs offer you an opportunity for personal interaction with company representatives that can differentiate you from candidates they only see on paper. In such a competitive market, a job seeker needs to use every possible advantage to full potential.

Before you look for a job, you better Google yourself

noreply@MyPath.com — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:10:00 GMT

These days it seems that employers are googling potential candidates before they hire. It's just one more way of eliminating potential problems before employers welcome workers into their world. As a matter of fact, according to a recent survey of 100 executive recruiters by ExecuNet, 77 percent of recruiters reported using search engines to find information on candidates. Of those who used such search engines, 35 percent have eliminated a candidate because of information that was uncovered online.

Here are a few tips for improving your online image:

Be careful. When you're blogging or posting a comment online or creating a social networking profile. Would you really want someone who has the power to hire or not hire you to see what you've written?
Search for information about yourself. Check your name on Goggle, Dogpile.com, and Yahoo!, as well as any other search engines you think might turn something up about you. Be sure to check your name about once a month to see if anything appears.
Tell the truth if you are questioned about something online. You don't want to be pegged as dishonest.

As a nationally Credentialed Career Manager, Coach Kevin Tucker has been partnering with individuals like you for the last 25 years. Through the military, as a minister, a human resources executive, and finally as a career and life transition coach; he has continually been able to help motivated individuals find their calling in life! Check out more at www.CCubedCareer.com.

3 Common Job Seeker Mistakes to Avoid

noreply@MyPath.com — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:01:07 GMT

I recently posted a job listing for a paid internship position I was offering. During the process, I was fortunate to receive many applications and requests for more information. Not only did I find a great intern, but I also ended up with a great blog post idea -- sharing some of the things applicants did that led me not to hire them.

While I don’t want to pick on anyone who applied for the job, I think there are some good lessons to be learned from these common mistakes:

1. Not Following Directions. I specified in my job posting that I would only accept applications on the job site where I posted the opportunity. More than a few applicants sent direct emails or social networking messages to me outside of the specified job site. While I appreciated the people who reached out in addition to applying through the requested site, I was unimpressed by the applicants who simply didn’t follow directions.

2. A Long Resume. For recent graduates and young professionals, I am an unabashed proponent of the one-page resume. I’ve seen executive vice presidents with one-page resumes, so recent grads should have no trouble keeping to a single page. The resume is a marketing piece after all, so one of the things employers are looking for is your ability to edit yourself to the essential information.

3. Too Casual Correspondence. While I like to think of myself as not too old-fashioned, I do appreciate a level of professionalism when I'm considering someone for a job (especially when the job involves working for someone who provides career advice!). I saw way too many cover letters that began with a “Hey,” included too many exclamation points or emoticons or otherwise treated me like a friend instead of a potential employer. All that kept going through my mind was, “Would they correspond with my clients this way?”

Keep these three mistakes in mind next time you apply for a position -- if you avoid them, you're sure to stand out from the crowd. Next week I’ll share some of the best tactics I saw in job candidates who applied for my internship -- including the recent grad who landed the job!

Let’s Kill the Hour-Long Meeting (Part 2): Some Alternatives

noreply@MyPath.com — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 09:58:19 GMT

Yesterday’s post was a discussion on why hour-long meetings tend to be ineffective. Since it’s hardly constructive to just list complaints, we also need to explore the alternatives to one hour meetings.

The first alternative is to cut the meeting time shorter. Know what the meeting’s objective or agenda is and adjust the time to fit that, don’t do it the other way around. People usually schedule meetings that are 30 minutes or an hour long out of habit, or because it’s the default in the scheduling tools they use. That’s just silly. As 37signals pointed out in their book, “Rework”, “If it only takes seven minutes to accomplish a meeting’s goal, then that’s all the time you should spend. Don’t stretch seven into thirty.” Following this logic, we shouldn’t stretch meetings to an hour either if it’s unnecessary to do so.

If you must have regular meetings, then simply shorten the time to a workable compromise. Earlier this year at the Ignite Seattle conference, speaker Nicole Steinbok recommended 22-minute meetings instead. Here’s a poster from the talk [via ScottBerkun.com]:

Another option is to conduct electronic meetings rather than face-to-face ones, especially for brainstorming. The idea of electronic brainstorming was discussed by University College London’s Adrian Furnham in the research paper I mentioned yesterday and it’s described as follows: “Electronic brainstorming involves group members sitting at computer terminals and typing in their ideas, but also having full access to others’ ideas as they are produced.”

With that definition in mind, what tools can we use for electronic brainstorming?

Wikis. A wiki is a website where users can create and edit content collaboratively. The most popular example of a wiki is Wikipedia, but they are also used for business projects. Here’s a simple but thorough introduction on wikis to help you get started.
Collaborative writing tools. There are some applications specifically made for collaborative writing, which can be useful for electronic brainstorming. I’ve discussed a few of them in a previous post.
Instant messaging or chatting. Group chatting can also be used for electronic brainstorming, especially if you need to get everyone together in real time (which isn’t always a possibility with the above options).

What alternatives can replace one hour meetings? Do you have any suggestions?

Is Facebook a curse or a blessing for job seekers?

noreply@MyPath.com — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:34:21 GMT

There’s a lot of negativity associated with Facebook and their new feature called “Places”. This feature essentially allows you to broadcast your whereabouts to friends, family and yes in some cases strangers. I am here to suggest an alternative point of view that these tools offer a tremendous competitive advantage in a job search and you should consider jumping in with caution.

I want to start by being straight forward by confirming some of these risks. Time magazine published an article which presented multiple scenarios where criminals leverage these technologies to commit horrible crimes. So yes, there are bad people out there and you have to ensure you are careful where you broadcast.

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s explore the possibilities of this new breed of technology called location-based services. It’s essential to note that these technologies should never act as a proxy to networking in person. Most companies openly admit that the most effective and efficient way to get a job is through a referral. These tools should augment and accelerate your current networking activities, as they have done for me.

Advantages:

Know the real-time location of trusted contacts

This is exciting because it enables you to expand the “tried and true” job search tactic of networking. For example, you can checked-in at a sporting event and discover a former trusted colleague is also there and make plans for lunch. Or, you may see you are two degrees from a potential hiring manager at this same event and ask to be introduced.

Learn about hiring events

Technologies such as Foursquare and others enable you to see job hiring events as they are happening. You can also see which of your trusted personal and business contacts are at the same event and accelerate networking. Now you are more informed.

Your dream job finds you

Geoff Peterson points out in one of his blogs how these tools enable recruiters to improve networking and to receive alerts when they are near "hard to find" candidates. During a phone conversation, Peterson stated that it is possible today to hold your smart phone up to a company’s building, and identify which jobs are open and what recruiters are saying about them.

Networking is an essential skill for anyone and these tools give you an edge. Given the shortening average tenure of employees, do you want to leave it to chance? I know I don’t.

For further reading:

· “Location-Based Services Will Transform Recruiting”

· “Location Based Services: 5 Myths Debunked”

· “Location Based Service & Job-Searching on the Go”

· “Mashable - Facebook Launches its Location Features”

· “Please Rob Me: The Dangers of Online Over sharing”

· “The Good and Bad about Foursquare, GoWalla”

· “Are Location-Based Services All Hype?”

What’s an MBA or Certification Really Worth To You (and Your Company)?

noreply@MyPath.com — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:30:09 GMT

Should you invest your time and money in getting an MBA? Or is it smarter to spend that time gaining work experience? What do companies really think about MBAs? Find the answers to these questions and more below in this week’s #careerchat transcript. With us was our guest expert Anna Oakes (@aoakes), Lead Organization Development Consultant and Recruiting Manager for Manpower.

Each Tuesday at 12:00 pm CT, Becky Benishek (@MyPath_MP) and Amanda Gulralski (@bizMebizgal), Gen Y career expert and publisher and cofounder of bizMe.biz online magazine, host an hour-long Career Chat on Twitter (#careerchat). Joining us were Jill Perlberg and Mark Jelfs from the MyPath team. You can learn about upcoming topics and submit your questions by following @MyPath_MP and @bizMebizgal.

Next week Tuesday, Sept 7, we’ll discuss vacation time. How do you ensure that your time away is truly unplugged? How do you get back on track when you return? Follow #careerchat on Twitter!

August 31, 2010: MBAs and Professional Certifications

Takeaways from the chat:

An MBA is like a marathon: There’s no guarantee you’ll finish or even win.
Know your goals before starting an MBA or cert program.
Pick a school with a network of people who can get you where you want to go.
Experience can do more than a certification if you work hard and get good references.

(With thanks to @davecarhart, @KyleMcShane, @aoakes, @SaleStart, @ASQ_Trish and @WomensAlly.)

Resources:

From Jill_Perlberg: Are MBAs Worth The Investment?
From ASQ_Trish: Check out ASQ Certifications
Are Experience and Skills Overrated?
Bad Job Scene for Less-Educated in America
You got the degree. So where's the job?
Learning Curves on the Career Path

Special thanks… To our top participants: @Kblennon, @aoakes, @ASQ_Trish, @KyleMcShane, @SaleStart and @CaSuPe15.

Transcript:

What are the key considerations when deciding to go back to school for MBAs vs. working?

CaSuPe15: If you can afford it and if it will enhance your career options/benefits later down the road
bizMebizgal: A huge consideration is your career path, knowing if a MBA is going to help or hurt you.
cometbranding: Make sure your goals are set on what you want to accomplish after receiving your MBA.
Jill_Perlberg: A key consideration for me is work life balance. If you work a ton of hours it may be hard to fit going to school
ASQ_Trish: What about the cost?
SaleStart: consider whether 2 go get MBA on ur own or 2 hire on w/ company that is willing 2 make that investment in you
bizMebizgal: I don't have an MBA but thinking of going for a professional cert instead. I've been out of school for 6 years
- ASQ_Trish: I think either shows that you still want to learn & grow - always a good thing
- SaleStart: What certificate to get depends on what ur goal is. If it's 2 advance w/ current company ask mgr what would b best.
Jill_Perlberg: And don't expect to be paid for the job you're already doing just because you have an MBA
CaSuPe15: It's probably good to find out if your current company offers tuition reimbursement for part time classes
davecarhart: Also, learn about what companies have tuition reimbursement. Many will help pay for MBAs for high potentials
- Jill_Perlberg: Agree! Some companies will pay for the entire degree--just make sure you read the payback clause, etc.
davecarhart: I did a lot of talking to people in the types of positions I wanted to be in after 3-10 years and learned about their path
KyleMcShane: If u do decide to get ur MBA, make sure u have enough time to fully take advantage of all of the resources not just the classes
ASQ_Trish: We have a new program at ASQ that your certification will give you credits towards your BS or BA degree at RIT
- bizMebizgal: Wow that is interesting. I might have to look into that.
- - ASQ_Trish: You do have to be an ASQ member...but hey - it's credits
  - - bizMebizgal: Good to know! I am confused on what certificate to get.
    - - ASQ_Trish: management is transferable - also a CQIA...but very basic - not as many credits
bizMebizgal: You have to be confident what you are going back to school for before you jump in. Jill_Perlberg: I'm actually considering it now. My main considerations: money, time, and do I really need it.
aoakes: That's why research is important - pick the program that will work best for you.
Kblennon: I am in a fast track program at QU and some grad classes counted as undergrad as well towards my BA n PR
Jill_Perlberg: In some cases your experience is better than any schooling--depending on what you want to do.
- aoakes: Agreed - put the extra effort of an MBA into maximizing your time/exposure at work. Seek out unique projects.
- davecarhart: Yes!
aoakes: I am not a night person, so I chose a weekend program so I could best focus on the courses.
KyleMcShane: I think everyone should be always working towards building their skills & qualifications. Better yourself every day!
Kblennon: agree..I'm constantly trying to broaden my horizons
- bizMebizgal: Great insight, challenging yourself to a great way to also get ahead.
- KyleMcShane: yes. if you want your personal brand to become the best it can be, you have to put effort forth every day!
KyleMcShane: You need to have a burning desire to improve urself & increase ur abilities. Don't go a day without doing this
- bizMebizgal: right on!!

SaleStart: in our experience, most companies value solid experience. For most MBA is nice to have but not necessity
davecarhart: Know yourself and your goals before starting an MBA
davecarhart: It depends on what you are trying to go into. Some roles/companies/etc don't do heavy recruitment of MBAs
- KyleMcShane: yes, you need to have an end goal in mind and make sure that all of your actions help get you to that goal
davecarhart: Regarding cost, go for the loans. The payback is there on the back end

ASQ_Trish: I know - but I also have 2 in college
- davecarhart: Very different story then... I admit that I sometimes forget about those with children. Will company support?
- - ASQ_Trish: they will after the fact...might be worth it though

CaSuPe15: Could an MBA hurt you?

bizMebizgal: It depends, if you are looking for sales and never did sales before an MBA is going to price you out of an entry level.
WriterChanelle: That is so often the problem with getting extra education. You become overqualified based on knowledge but not exp
Kblennon: How quickly you can finish it/how long you will be out of the working world
- Jill_Perlberg: I agree. Going to school part time may be the only option, and that could take a million years
WriterChanelle: I've seen many differing opinions on the worth of an MBA. Some say it ruins a career
bizMebizgal: MBAs are great if you know your path and have done the research to know if it will benefit
- Kblennon: I feel like that is becoming increasingly harder to come by these days :\
aoakes: An MBA won't hurt you, but it could cause an employer to question what your career path is if it's different from the job.
- WriterChanelle: That's when some would consider leaving it off the resume
- Jill_Perlberg: thinking...what do they really want to be when they grow up
- CaSuPe15: Never thought about that
- - aoakes: It makes employers think what your real motive is. Will they be happy with the job I'm giving them or leave in a yr?
  - WriterChanelle: I think I've been burned by that. Answering that I really want to be a screenwriter interviewing for office job

Jelfster: I'd love to do an MBA but cannot afford it - neither in a financial or temporal sense.

WriterChanelle: LOl...if you found a company that paid for it, would you do it?
Jill_Perlberg: Financial concerns are big for me-- 40-50k is huge investment &some companies just can't help out as much as we'd hope
- ASQ_Trish: no kidding. And how far is it really going to get you? What's the true ROI?
aoakes: Do your research on companies that offer tuition reimbursement. If you can wait out the repayment agreement-do it
MyPath_MP: If you don't have the $$ or resources for an #MBA, try a certification program. Or even free webinars online.
MyPath_MP: Of course @Jelfster that doesn't solve the temporal problems...

WriterChanelle: Can you list webinars on a resume? That's the pickle I'm in. No $ for extra education

SaleStart: wouldn't recommend listing webinars
bizMebizgal: If they are credible and have a following. Do the research on them.
aoakes: I would be selective to only list webinars that show very specific interest/experience directly related to the job
Jill_Perlberg: I would, but only if they tie to your area of work & R legit.Create ur own learning portfolio-great initiative
MyPath_MP: Even webinars can make up a kind of portfolio to showcase skills you're learning.

When you are picking a school what should you consider?

KyleMcShane:Pick a school that has a network of people that are willing to help u get where u want to be. The people r the best resource
Kblennon: going along with what @KyleMcShane said:take advantage of student organizations, events, speakers, networking opportunities etc.
- aoakes: Just don't overcommit to too many activities - chose a select few and do them well or hold leadership positions.
- aoakes: Ask people who have received their MBA's what their perception is. And when networking, ask ppl what they've heard
aoakes: Your classmates and people will be a great support. However, if the school's rep is negative, it won't get you far.
Jill_Perlberg: When picking a school, look at class times, attendance requirements, and school rank/reputation.
- aoakes: Agreed - start with your balance first, what program suits your schedule. Then go by reputation.
WomensAlly: choose the institution that meets both your personal and professional needs.
Jill_Perlberg: You don't want a degree from a degree mill
- NicoleElise: the phrase "degree mill" irritates me. online masters programs have their place -- people that need to work ect.
- NicoleElise: as long as you know what you're getting into, and what exact education you're getting, its valuable.
- - aoakes: But, if a school will give a degree to anyone who will pay tuition, it loses credibility
  - Jill_Perlberg: We're not saying that all online programs degree mills, just some universities aren't as reputable as others.

bizMebizgal: What is everyone's take on getting MBAs online?

Kblennon: price, quality of classes, connections they have, school reputation, class sizes, online classes available..
- KyleMcShane: yes these are all things people forget about or r too lazy to take advantage of. You’re paying lots of $. Get involved!
jim_horrell: I investigated taking a class at a local technical college then found out it looks like they don't offer it anymore.
- MyPath_MP: Oh, that's a shame! Maybe if enough interest is shown, they'll bring it back?
- - jim_horrell: Maybe the college decided other technology is more important. I guess colleges can't offer everything.
  - - MyPath_MP: That is very true. Hope you can find what you're looking for in another nearby college.
Kblennon: online classes can be great if the professor knows how to run it and get ppl involved
- MyPath_MP: Agreed. You'll still have "team" assignments and people's emails/phone #s to connect.
Jill_Perlberg: Alumni connections. Where are the alumni and how well do they support the school.
SaleStart: cost, reputation, location, & resources
Kblennon: I personally like "real" classes because I do better learning in a classroom setting
- CaSuPe15: same
- streetmapp: And harder to slack off

- MyPath_MP: I think I would too, but online seems so convenient in some ways.
- - Kblennon: oh it's extremely convenient
  - Kblennon: probably because that's what I grew up doing and online classes are relatively new to me
SaleStart: also check out the connections they have with businesses in the region.
bizMebizgal: I think reputation has a lot to do with picking your school. Make sure it has a similar reputation like your undergrad school
KyleMcShane: rep is import-but the kid who went to Harvard & networked w/ no1 is going to be behind the pro netwkr at a 2nd tier
Jill_Perlberg: I'm actually considering an online program through UWW-traditional state school that took their progr. online for working folks

- KyleMcShane: Yes Syracuse University has done that in some programs for working professionals as well
- sarahklein_PHR: #uww has really created a good online mba one of the top business schools in the midwest
- - Jill_Perlberg: Thanks. Great school for undergrad too.
  - - sarahklein_PHR: @SarahHofmann don't forget too has I did the organizational communications program, great experience at uww!
WomensAlly: #MBA promote working in teams. a combination of on/off would be best. all online cannot replicate the team interaction|conflict
- aoakes: However, there are a lot of jobs out there these days where you work with an entirely virtual team. So online exp=+
bizMebizgal: no matter what knowing people and experience are going to take the furthest. Education is great.
- KyleMcShane: I agree!
aoakes: Online or not, it's all in how you articulate what you put into it and what you got out of it.
- Kblennon: agree. you will get more out of it based on the amount of effort you put into it
sarahklein_PHR: my learning team from university of phoenix added great diversity to my experience
bizMebizgal: Online does get away from the face to face interaction and building those relationships with classmates, professors etc
KyleMcShane: being able to work virtually is a very important skill & will become more valuable in future yrs as jobs become virtual

- MyPath_MP: So you see the trend going that way too?
- aoakes: Just be able to articulate what skills/competencies you have that make you good at virtual work/schooling.
SaleStart: online classes r widely accepted as =ly credible as "real life" courses, but check reputation 1st. some do it better than others
Jill_Perlberg: Also look at credit transferability--you may want to go finish it somewhere
- SaleStart: absolutely! Good point

Jill_Perlberg: What about schools that are for-profit? Do they have the same clout that trad. schools do?

sarahklein_PHR: @Jill_Perlberg for profit don't ask for donations for years after graduation they tend to be more business oriented vs academic

Jill_Perlberg: For anyone who's been through it, how bad is the GMAT?

WomensAlly: GMAT is torture,as you would expect. Some programs (incl hi-end) will admit u with company endorsement (no GMAT)
- Jill_Perlberg: Great to know on the co. reference. I'll definitely look into that.

bizMebizgal: What is your opinion on certificates vs. MBAs?

aoakes: Same question = know your motivation for the cert or MBA...where is it going to get you, why do you need it?
bizMebizgal: I am starting to do a lot of corporate training and really don't have anything to back it up.
- MyPath_MP: So you're missing the actual cert that says BizMeBizGal Has Mgmt Training?
- - bizMebizgal: exactly! I am not sure if I need it or if my experience can carry me through.
aoakes: References and hard work will go a long way. Work your network and you shouldn't need an official certificate.
- bizMebizgal: That is how I am doing it right now, it is working but I need it to work harder!! haha
- - aoakes: Patience and persisitence. Then when you reach your next plateau, you'll know it's time for something new - MBA?
genblu: Resources on career changing after 60? ROI on further training.
Jill_Perlberg: Depends on where you want to go and what skills you're missing. Experience might be the way to go.
Jill_Perlberg: For some, getting an MBA is a personal goal vs. needed for career growth. I commend those folks!
ASQ_Trish: For a QA professional and some others - Engineer, Oper - an ASQ Cert could be much more helpful than an MBA.

What do companies think about #MBA or prof certs?

KyleMcShane: If it can be executed efficiently, it will save companies tons of overhead $ and I know they want to do that
davecarhart: Have to run--meeting for a career work group with 1st year MBA students. Talk to everyone later!
SaleStart: w/ belt tightening is harder 2 find companies willing 2 pay 4 advance schooling but they're still out there
aoakes: There are few roles that I can think of that ask for specific certs. Many higher level roles do like to see the MBA
Jill_Perlberg: Depends on the position. For engineers or IT profs, certificates might be more applicable--Mktg exec--MBA....
KyleMcShane: Yes. And the experience of working in a virtual team in a college class would definitely build your virtual competencies
Kblennon: since I am getting my MBA I'm very interested in response
- Jill_Perlberg: what are you focusing on? What do you want to be when you grow up?
- - Kblennon: traditional track for my masters in biz admin. and not sure haha. one of the reasons why I am still in school
  - Kblennon: I got my BA in PR but didn't feel prepared for the biz world whatsoever, so I just stayed in school
  - - bizMebizgal: Are you currently working while going to school?
    - - Kblennon: twice a week yes
      - bizMebizgal: are you working for a PR agency?
        Kblennon: marketing communications firm
        bizMebizgal: Great, so you still are gaining the experience!
SaleStart: schooling doesn't necessarily prepare u 4 business world just have to jump in & do it nothing beats solid experience
sarahklein_PHR: i'm so glad i got mine, great connections and learning and i do certificates too, i love continuing education
SaleStart: many companies paying for advance schooling 4 employees not blanket policy anymore~selective based on individual
ASQ_Trish: many that post on ASQs job board, specifically ask for our certifications - like Quality Engineer

Jill_Perlberg: Do you need an MBA to move into a Director or VP role or can you show the same qualification with experience?

ASQ_Trish: not at a lot of companies. I know several who only have a BS but have worked for years at the company
- ASQ_Trish: I think they should have a MBA though
aoakes: You don't need the MBA, but it can help IN COMBO with experience. It shows diligence and relevance in todays biz
SaleStart: as noted earlier, most companies see certs & MBAs as nice 2 have, not absolutely necessary. Strong exp can still win out
- KyleMcShane: yes budgets are being tightened and tuition is becoming more expensive. companies need to be selective
- - SaleStart: absolutely makes sense that they have to be more selective.
- MyPath_MP: That's good to know. What about companies that _think_ they need that MBA for the job? Can you talk them out of it?
- - aoakes: If they say in the posting they want a MBA, you may not even make it past the screening to be able to sell yourself.
  - SaleStart: we have been able to do that for our candidates. you just have to be able to sell your experience.
jim_horrell: I know a guy who made it to a VP role without an MBA. I think it just depends on the company's expectations.
SaleStart: can differentiate u from competition, but if comparing MBA w/ no exp vs indiv w/ strong exp., most likely exp will win
WomensAlly: Depends on the companies. Larger organizations that I've been associated with unofficially require #MBA for execs.
- bizMebizgal: I love that word "unofficially" lol

Jill_Perlberg: Many people went straight to MBA from undergrad & will all grad soon, for those who worked but no MBA, who's at the adv?

sarahklein_PHR: i'm glad i had some experience going into my MBA program, i took 3 years inbetween
Kblennon: this is what I did, but am working twice a week on the side so I guess I get best of both worlds so to say?
aoakes: I believe that ppl who have worked will still be at the advantage as their skills/experience are fresh.
ASQ_Trish: a lot of companies are only paying for more classes IF you stay with them
- KyleMcShane: Yes, I would not blame them. No reason to spend $ educating an ex-employee
- SaleStart: absolutely don't want 2 make that investment then have u jump ship. Makes sense 4 company
CaSuPe15: I got my BS in Marketing/International Mgmgt, working now to gain experience and find out if I want an MBA
- MyPath_MP: Good choice there. #MBA is a lot to invest in without being sure!
- bizMebizgal: That truly is the best way to do it. Chances are your path will change as you get to know the industry.
- - CaSuPe15: That's what I'm anticipating will happen!

- bizMebizgal: It will believe me, I am just starting to figure it out and I am 28!
Jill_Perlberg: The reason I'm looking now at MBA is because I think I have work experiences to apply to the learning we'll get.
KyleMcShane: I am currently getting my masters, but feel like I got the education of an MBA by starting @dreamfetcher
- MyPath_MP: I've seen @dreamfetcher, very very nice!
- - KyleMcShane: thank you. we are getting ready for a site relaunch hopefully by the end of september

Kblennon: I knew nothing of the biz world though and felt very unprepared,now I'm gaining more confidence and knowledge eachday
- KyleMcShane: keep working while in school. show future employees that u r a go getter. make them wonder how u balanced all the work
- - Kblennon: that's what I have been doing my whole life..balancing 39034902 things :-P
  - - CaSuPe15: I think that's what every ambitious student has been doing! it's competitive out there! I know I did that!
    - KyleMcShane: haha. well your hard work will not be overlooked. keep grinding!
    - SaleStart: great keep up the good work. Always good 2 get real biz experience under ur belt 2 show on resume
SarahHofmann: the working have adv for five years, after the MBA has adv. The combo gives you an adv, not one or the other.
- Jill_Perlberg: agree.. getting the degree and then doing nothing with it at work is a waste
ASQ_Trish: I think one thing about getting your MBA - it the time. We're a society of 'now'- I don't want to wait 3-4 years

- aoakes: Either way, when you're done it'll be fresh and you may have a better idea on how you want to use it?
WomensAlly: I worked FT, MBA at night. While I had experience, the MBA opened different doors and changed the discussion. Right thing 4 me.
aoakes: Many MBA programs won't let you in without the biz experience, as they believe it takes that to make it through
streetmapp: for me prof certs are big. the IT field changes so fast so the best way in my eyes to keep learning is with certs
- MyPath_MP: Excellent point about certs, depending on the industry.
- SaleStart: in IT certs r big but b selective on which u get. They change so often & some better than others depending on path
- - streetmapp: definitely. right now the one i have is because of the path my job wants me to go on. some are even worthless to some
CaSuPe15: I felt prepared for the biz world through past work/internships, school was great for terminology/basic know-how
- bizMebizgal: and of course you read bizMe.biz!

- CaSuPe15: Of course!
Jill_Perlberg: Certs: If you want to dip toes into continuing ed, certifications might be a good option without the huge pricetag.
- aoakes: Certs are big for IT, for sure!
- - ASQ_Trish: Quality folks too
- Jill_Perlberg: And having a co pay for a cert or a IT class may be easier than funding an MBA--and you apply it to work immediately
- sarahklein_PHR: UWM Cont education has a great variety including Spanish, Chinese, Adobe, Project management, PHR and more!
- - aoakes: Project Mgmt is a great one, as it's applicable in a lot of careers
  - - Jill_Perlberg: MyPath has PMP and PMI cert. books in our knowledge center for free!
    - SaleStart: project mgt is huge. good choice to get. Lots of demand still out there for that
buzzandrea: I don't have an MBA, but I also don't feel as if I am lacking anything; found other ways to stay current within my industry.
- aoakes: Perfect - either way...be relevant!
buzzandrea: I also think it's worth mentioning that the MBA itself isn't the "golden ticket." What you do with it is important.
- Kblennon: very true!
- WomensAlly: u are right. MBA is like practicing 4 marathon. Doesn't guarantee you'll qualify, finish or even win.

bizMebizgal: What about for entrepreneurs? If you run your own company, it becomes more about what others think.

KyleMcShane: If u own your own company, I think the connections would be the most important. u gain most biz experience by doing
- ASQ_Trish: true
- aoakes: Unless you know someone who can help sell you

ASQ_Trish: Can your personality, work experience and self taught skills get you as far?

buzzandrea: Yes they can. They've always worked for me.
bizMebizgal: I totally think so
Jill_Perlberg: In many cases yes. But if you are working on nuclear power, you may need to prove through cert U know what UR doing
KyleMcShane: educate urself by reading, listening & being active. want to learn about SM-do it. want to learn about finance-listen to experts
bizMebizgal: You need to be able to apply what you learned and your MBA into real life situations. otherwise a waste.
Jill_Perlberg: Sites like Bright Talk have webinar channels based on categories like IT, Finance, etc. Great place to start.
KyleMcShane: Yes there are so many free resources that u can take advantage of from your home. these wont put you in debt lol
aoakes: Find out what people you admire are reading from LinkedIn booklists. Copy it!
Kblennon: start projects with the skills you already have to add to your experience/portfolio

CaSuPe15: What happens if you think an MBA is worth it but halfway thru you realize it's not? Do you quit or stick it out?

aoakes: If your personal or career goals have changed, you should take time off to reassess. If it's the program, give feedbk
ASQ_Trish: depends - how much have you invested? how close are you to finishing? It's not going to be a bad thing to have
- CaSuPe15: Right now nothing - just graduated undergrad but thinking about what if it happens down the road
Jill_Perlberg: look at how your skills transfer. A diff. program might be what you need. Key consideration for eval. up front
bizMebizgal: having work experience before u enter should help w/ that. U have a better understanding of how to apply & importance

Jelfster: If job ads specify an MBA requirement, are there ways round this to still get the job?

ASQ_Trish: IF you can get into the interview...
sarahfracek: Great discussion on MBA degrees/certificates and their importance today on . Thanks @bizMebizgal. @CUWisconsin - check it out!
Jill_Perlberg: in similar fashion, if it prefers a green belt or black belt Six Sigma, do you really need it?
- ASQ_Trish: yes
aoakes: You probably won't get through the auto screen ?'s online or w/recruiter. Network internally to help make connections

SaleStart: yes, working w/ recruiter can help
- aoakes: You may need to go deeper than the recruiter - they are trained to screen out based on hiring mgr requirements
- - SaleStart: yes but if already have relationship w/ recruiter they can pitch ur experience 4 position
  - SaleStart: 3rd party recruiter can get u in the door w/ hiring mgr if ur experience is strong enough we've been able 2 do it

Jill_Perlberg: Join a prof. association for networking & 2 see what types of certs/degree the members have--they are your competition
- MyPath_MP: I can think of @ASQ for one!
- - ASQ_Trish: ASQ offers many different certs - from engineering to Six Sigma BB
ASQ_Trish: Most asking for Six sigma experience want that because it shows you have worked through a project & saved $$

aoakes: Do a search on LinkedIn to see who does the job you want - do they have their MBA? Certs?
aoakes: Anything that can show you dedicated time/resources will be helpful - but like everything else, it's how you sell it
ASQ_Trish: Certifications do show that you know what you're doing in a very specific area

Jill_Perlberg: So, did we help anyone make any decisions or give you the right things to consider?

Kblennon: well my decision is made b/c i'm already in :-P but very interesting convo!
- aoakes: Best of luck in your program!
- - Kblennon: thank you very much!
sarahfracek: Great info on MBA. I'm holding out for a company that will reimburse! Til then, real-world exper will have to do!
- MyPath_MP: Get the experience while you can!
- - sarahfracek: I agree. But those three letters after your name can really boost your pay sometimes. Tempting...
jim_horrell: I learned something new. Interesting and thought-provoking conversations.

Jill_Perlberg: Anyone interested in running an group on MyPath centered on MBAs? DM me or @MyPath_MP!

Other chats:

7/13/10 All About Interviewing

7/20/10 Job Searching While Employed

7/27/10 Negotiating Your Pay Package

8/3/10 Flirting With Office Romance

8/10/10 Generational Differences in the Workplace

8/17/10 Intern Chat

8/24/10 Personal Branding and Social Media

Too Much Stress on your Plate??

noreply@MyPath.com — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:28:58 GMT

Stress can be lethal if not brought under control. It can affect your health, well-being, relationships and employment.

Many people miss the signs when there's too much on their plate. However, there are a number of indicators and symptoms you should recognize so that you may remain calmer and more focused at completing the task-at-hand while increasing your performance and productivity. Be aware of high stress, anxiety, frustration, irritability, depression, or inflexibility. Notice when you become impatient with others and respond rudely. If you find yourself making an increasing number of foolish mistakes or bad decisions, pause and shift your energy so that you alleviate negative consequences.

Recognize what you can and cannot control in your life. Let go of what you absolutely have no control over and concentrate on what you can control or at least influence or negotiate. You can regain control in many situations by simply:

· Rethinking the ‘shoulds’, ‘musts’, and ‘coulds’

· Acknowledging your reality and current situation

· Accepting your abilities and limitations. Leveraging/maximizing your strengths.

· Having a positive can-do attitude

· Minimizing stressors

Some stress cannot be totally eliminated and is actually effective to helping you be at the top of your game. However,many different behaviors and attitudes help better cope with stress. My personal favorites include exercising, smiling/laughing, taking things in stride/going with the flow, breathing through difficulties (too help slow things down and stay in the moment while consciously choosing how I want to respond rather than just reacting), planning ahead and creating contingencies in case things go as unanticipated.

Other effective behaviors for coping with stress so that you can increase your productivity and contentment include:

· Defining your limits (having realistic standards and limits)

· Slowing down (stop hurrying)

· Learning to deal with anger

· Using meditation/yoga

· Avoiding catastrophic thinking

· Listening to calming music

· Using imagery or daydreaming

· Knowing your natural rhythm of when you’reat your best.

· Scheduling your day so that you have structure

· Paying attention to noise levels and minimizing

· Using pent up energy wisely

· Taking time for yourself

· Getting off adrenaline/avoiding procrastination

· Regrouping after stressful periods

· Eliminating worry (87% of what we worry about never occurs or is out of our control anyway)

· Learning to say “no”

Reduce your stress and improve your productivity! For more stress tips, subscribe to my free bi-weekly e-newsletter at www.theprioritypro.com.

Tell Me A Story - Behavioral Interview Prep Strategies

noreply@MyPath.com — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:47:25 GMT

Behavioral interviewing as a strategy is built on the simple idea that any interviewer who wants to find out if a you’ll do a good job for them tomorrow had better find out if you did a good job for somebody else yesterday. In short, the assumption – and it’s a good one – is that the best predictor of the future is the past. Behavioral interviewing, then, is all about story – telling. So the trick is to tell stories – good ones.

What stories to tell? Start with the assumption that companies using behavioral interviewing have already decided what skills the successful candidate will bring to the job. Sometimes they come right out and call them “skills”, but sometimes they’ll confuse you a bit by calling them “competencies”. Not to worry. By any label, they’re going to ask you questions that fall under some broad and general categories, like:

Communication
Interpersonal skills
Planning and organization
Critical thinking skills
Team building
The ability to influence / motivate others

A few ideas to help you focus in on telling the right stories include:

Simply ask the HR person who schedules the interview some questions: Will this be a behavioral interview? If so, can they share the competencies that have been associated with the position? Better yet, ask if you might be able to review a copy of the job description. In any case, express that you are committed to doing the best job you can to prepare for the interview. Just being interested and engaged at this level should let you pick up a few points early.

Use Monster or CareerBuilder to pull 10 – 20 job postings that are similar to the one you’ll be interviewing for. Note the similarities, key words, and shared characteristics of these listings. As you identify the common trends, it may help you focus on stories from your own background that align with them.

Do your own job analysis. If you were hiring for this position, what would you be looking for? What are the necessary skills to do this job? What would make a successful candidate? An unsuccessful candidate? What is the most difficult part of this job?

With this info in hand, identify six to eight examples from your work / life history where you demonstrated behaviors and skills that line up specifically with the job. Include stories that are totally positive from start to finish, and don’t forget the ones that started out negatively and then came out great. But be very sure that you’re ready for at least one or two stories that totally blew up on you. They’ll ask a few of those for sure. Learning from hardship is recognized as a top predictor of leadership these days, so don’t be afraid to talk about where you were when you learned one or two of those valuable life lessons via failure. Specifically, questions about running projects, working in a team environment with others, and those that illustrate your strengths and weaknesses in a work setting are to be expected.

In short, telling stories – any stories - is the key to behavioral interviewing. But it’s telling the right stories that’s key to getting the offer.