EP 1434. Job hunters make the mistake of not wanting to appear like they are desperate by keeping their job search hidden from the people that are closest to them and the ones they meet.
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a career and leadership coach who worked as a recruiter for more than 40 years. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 1400 episodes and his newest show, “No BS Coaching Advice.” He is a member of The Forbes Coaches Council. “No BS JobSearch Advice Radio” was recently named a Top 10 podcast for job search. JobSearchTV.com was also recently named a Top 10 YouTube channel for job search.
Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Schedule a free Discovery call.
JobSearchCoachingHQ.com offers great advice for job hunters—videos, my books and guides to job hunting, podcasts, articles, PLUS a community for you to ask questions of PLUS the ability to ask me questions where I function as your ally with no conflict of interest answering your questions.
If you want to know how to win more interviews, order “Winning Interviews.” You’ll learn how to win phone interviews, in-person interviews, the best question to ask on any interview and more.
Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.
There comes a point in your chitchat where it's time to make the break. That you could blithely blab on, but, isn't it more effective to end the conversation when you know it's really over? There's a few ways that you can do it.
1st of all, you can say something to the effect of, "Hey! Can I introduce you to someone?" Then you introduce them to someone else in the room who spent some time with or who you happen to know.
In another situation, you might basically say, "Hey, I'm just to get another drink. Would you like something?" Then, when you come back with your drink, (or they can obviously say no) if they say, "No," you can respond by saying, "Good talking with you. I hope to see you around." If they would like something and bring it back to you, you can say, "While I was on line, I ran into someone excuse me, I need to chat with them."
The 3rd thing you can say is, "Can we exchange cards so that we can stay in touch." Normally, the card exchange is going to signal that you want to stay in touch and that's really the time to end.
There is 1 More Way that I think is the most blunt overt way of doing it. You say something along the lines of, "I have to use the restroom. I'm sure will have a chance to talk on another occasion. Have a great evening." They go off to the restroom.
There's a few different ways to in the conversation.
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a career and leadership coach who worked as a recruiter for more than 40 years. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 1400 episodes and his newest show, “No BS Coaching Advice.” He is a member of The Forbes Coaches Council. “No BS JobSearch Advice Radio” was recently named a Top 10 podcast for job search. JobSearchTV.com was also recently named a Top 10 YouTube channel for job search.
Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Schedule a free Discovery call.
JobSearchCoachingHQ.com offers great advice for job hunters—videos, my books and guides to job hunting, podcasts, articles, PLUS a community for you to ask questions of PLUS the ability to ask me questions where I function as your ally with no conflict of interest answering your questions.
If you want to know how to win more interviews, order “Winning Interviews.” You’ll learn how to win phone interviews, in-person interviews, the best question to ask on any interview and more.
Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.
EP 1420 Hannah Morgan, The Career Sherpa offers many tips for how to be a sleuth and network or research their way to connecting with them
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a career and leadership coach who worked as a recruiter for more than 40 years. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 1400 episodes and his newest show, “No BS Coaching Advice.” He is a member of The Forbes Coaches Council. “No BS JobSearch Advice Radio” was recently named a Top 10 podcast for job search. JobSearchTV.com was also recently named a Top 10 YouTube channel for job search.
Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Schedule a free Discovery call.
JobSearchCoachingHQ.com offers great advice for job hunters—videos, my books and guides to job hunting, podcasts, articles, PLUS a community for you to ask questions of PLUS the ability to ask me questions where I function as your ally with no conflict of interest answering your questions.
If you want to know how to win more interviews, order “Winning Interviews.” You’ll learn how to win phone interviews, in-person interviews, the best question to ask on any interview and more.
Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.
I want to tell you a story today about a networking mistake I made.
I will simply say that I have been part of a business networking group for a couple of years and I was being elevated to regional role. So I was sent off to training and, as it turns out, most of the people in the room where the training was occurring had already taken this course and many of them were owners of franchises within this business. So, I may have been the one newbie in the room actually receiving training. It was a very frustrating experience for me.
I would ask a question because I wanted to know the answer and was treated as though I was an ignorant buffoon. I got frustrated and let my frustration show at different times. I'm not blaming them, but at times, my frustration became apparent in the little facial gestures and in little comments I would make that I thought no one could hear but they could. Later on, as someone was talking, they made a comment about me that said, “Why is he here,” and I realized the impact of what I had done in how people perceived me.
That I was treated as being ignorant and didn't belong in the room . . . that's their problem. My problem was how I said that message to them and we all know how this happens in the workplace on a day-to-day basis where someone makes a snide comment, which is, frankly, what I did, and it gets noticed, picked up on and the person's career is hurt as a result of it.
in this group, at 1 point I made a comment that I didn’t think someone could hear and let my frustration show. I didn't try and persevere. I kind of shut down. Thus, I relayed the story to you about realizing the little things that get noticed, filed away that creates the impression with people that isn't beneficial.
When you're in a networking situation, you want to be all in. You want to be trying to connect with people, trying to do outreach, picking up the relationships and not holding back. Even if you swatted away as I was by the instructor a couple of times and who was just very frustrating for me, it's irrelevant. My behavior is what hurt me because the room was with her and not with me. I had done nothing to win the room over.
This may sound complicated; it really isn’t. Just be aware that people notice everything you do, don't do, say or not say and think of the message that you're trying to convey in networking situations and whether that comment really needs to be said or whether that acting out really needs to be done or whether you can just put it aside and be an adult . . . Which I clearly wasn't.
You get what I needed out of the situation which, for me, was more connection with some of the people the room so I can work with them afterwards. I made a mistake and I am trying to head you are from a career or job search mistake that that happens way too often.
You go into a networking meeting. You're off on the sidelines. You feel frustrated. You don't communicate with anyone. You send the message of being aloof, instead of being connected.
You were there to network. Get into the conversation. You know how to do that. Seriously, you know how to do that. Even if you are a beginner, you kinda sidle your way over and start standing on the sidelines. Have your face seen and notice how the conversation is and then contribute something positive to it that moves it forward at the right time. You know what that is. I don't have to tell you that.
So, this is a mistake I made. I hope you don't make it.
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a career and leadership coach who worked as a recruiter for more than 40 years. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 1300 episodes and his newest show, “No BS Coaching Advice.” He is a member of The Forbes Coaches Council. “No BS JobSearch Advice Radio” was recently named a Top 10 podcast for job search. JobSearchTV.com was also recently named a Top 10 YouTube channel for job search.
Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Connect with me on LinkedIn. Then message me to schedule an initial complimentary session.
JobSearchCoachingHQ.com offers great advice for job hunters—videos, my books and guides to job hunting, podcasts, articles, PLUS a community for you to ask questions of PLUS the ability to ask me questions where I function as your ally with no conflict of interest answering your questions.
If you want to know how to win more interviews, order “Winning Interviews.” You’ll learn how to win phone interviews, in-person interviews, the best question to ask on any interview and more.
Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.
This is a video where it doesn't really matter whether you're thinking of a from the standpoint of being a business owner, a job hunter, a friend. People make mistakes with your networking. I'm going to do a series that talks about some of the things that people mistakenly do that adversely affects the success of the networking that they do And causes them to go, "Ah! Networking doesn't work! It's ridiculous!"
Mistake number 1 is that you do everything online and never really talked to anyone. I know the trend really started with email. People used to write letters to individuals and stay in touch. In that way. We've gotten to the point where he never hear one another's voice or see anyone and thus the will heartfelt connection Between people that causes is a relationship to grow doesn't really exist. In one way, you may feel warmly or in a kindly way toward someone but not enough to really take action. That's really what you're looking for, whether it's in your personal life or your professional life, You want some sort of action to occur. It just doesn't happen without the personal connection.
I recognize that all of us have relationships that are all over the country now and it may be impossible to do it face-to-face and in person now. There is Skype and FaceTime and other tools now Where you can see one another and talk to one another. It makes a difference.
I know there are friends of mine. I have not seen in years. We will talk.. We will Skype. We will do a number of different things to stay in contact.It's wonderful! That's mistake number 1 I wanted to call attention to.
Number 2, Let me go to professional level. People have unrealistic expectations. Whether is the impact that what they do on LinkedIn or on Facebook or in person, They may think that people are going to drop everything that they're doing and help them. They may not completely believe this but they hope this. It doesn't really work that way. If you're only communicating with people at times when you have a need rather than having a relationship, they probably won't be really motivated to take action. In addition, if you are doing that,People have lives to pull them in lots of different directions.
Normally, it takes several touches over the course of time to really get your network going. Don't be surprised if there is no instant response to you reaching you. Don't get angry. Don't get to stall. Don't get annoyed. Don't throw your hands up as I did before and complain that networking doesn't work. It does work.. It's just that you haven't been doing it right. You can correct this mistake.
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman – , The Big Game Hunter – Job Hunting Coach – Job Search Coach
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a career and leadership coach who worked as a recruiter for more than 40 years. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 1300 episodes and his newest show, “No BS Coaching Advice.” He is a member of The Forbes Coaches Council. “No BS JobSearch Advice Radio” was recently named a Top 10 podcast for job search. JobSearchTV.com was also recently named a Top 10 YouTube channel for job search.
Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Connect with me on LinkedIn. Then message me to schedule an initial complimentary session.
JobSearchCoachingHQ.com offers great advice for job hunters—videos, my books and guides to job hunting, podcasts, articles, PLUS a community for you to ask questions of PLUS the ability to ask me questions where I function as your ally with no conflict of interest answering your questions.
If you want to know how to win more interviews, order “Winning Interviews.” You’ll learn how to win phone interviews, in-person interviews, the best question to ask on any interview and more.
Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.
I want to tell you a story today about a networking mistake I made.
I will simply say that I have been part of a business networking group for a couple of years and I was being elevated to regional role. So I was sent off to training and, as it turns out, most of the people in the room where the training was occurring had already taken this course and many of them were owners of franchises within this business. So, I may have been the one newbie in the room actually receiving training. It was a very frustrating experience for me.
I would ask a question because I wanted to know the answer and was treated as though I was an ignorant buffoon. I got frustrated and let my frustration show at different times. I'm not blaming them, but at times, my frustration became apparent in the little facial gestures and in little comments I would make that I thought no one could hear but they could. Later on, as someone was talking, they made a comment about me that said, “Why is he here,” and I realized the impact of what I had done in how people perceived me.
That I was treated as being ignorant and didn't belong in the room . . . that's their problem. My problem was how I said that message to them and we all know how this happens in the workplace on a day-to-day basis where someone makes a snide comment, which is, frankly, what I did, and it gets noticed, picked up on and the person's career is hurt as a result of it.
in this group, at 1 point I made a comment that I didn’t think someone could hear and let my frustration show. I didn't try and persevere. I kind of shut down. Thus, I relayed the story to you about realizing the little things that get noticed, filed away that creates the impression with people that isn't beneficial.
When you're in a networking situation, you want to be all in. You want to be trying to connect with people, trying to do outreach, picking up the relationships and not holding back. Even if you swatted away as I was by the instructor a couple of times and who was just very frustrating for me, it's irrelevant. My behavior is what hurt me because the room was with her and not with me. I had done nothing to win the room over.
This may sound complicated; it really isn’t. Just be aware that people notice everything you do, don't do, say or not say and think of the message that you're trying to convey in networking situations and whether that comment really needs to be said or whether that acting out really needs to be done or whether you can just put it aside and be an adult . . . Which I clearly wasn't.
You get what I needed out of the situation which, for me, was more connection with some of the people the room so I can work with them afterwards. I made a mistake and I am trying to head you are from a career or job search mistake that that happens way too often.
You go into a networking meeting. You're off on the sidelines. You feel frustrated. You don't communicate with anyone. You send the message of being aloof, instead of being connected.
You were there to network. Get into the conversation. You know how to do that. Seriously, you know how to do that. Even if you are a beginner, you kinda sidle your way over and start standing on the sidelines. Have your face seen and notice how the conversation is and then contribute something positive to it that moves it forward at the right time. You know what that is. I don't have to tell you that.
So, this is a mistake I made. I hope you don't make it.
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a career and leadership coach who worked as a recruiter for more than 40 years. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 1300 episodes and his newest show, “No BS Coaching Advice.” He is a member of The Forbes Coaches Council. “No BS JobSearch Advice Radio” was recently named a Top 10 podcast for job search. JobSearchTV.com was also recently named a Top 10 YouTube channel for job search.
Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Connect with me on LinkedIn. Then message me to schedule an initial complimentary session.
JobSearchCoachingHQ.com offers great advice for job hunters—videos, my books and guides to job hunting, podcasts, articles, PLUS a community for you to ask questions of PLUS the ability to ask me questions where I function as your ally with no conflict of interest answering your questions.
If you want to know how to win more interviews, order “Winning Interviews.” You’ll learn how to win phone interviews, in-person interviews, the best question to ask on any interview and more.
Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.
This is a video where it doesn't really matter whether you're thinking of a from the standpoint of being a business owner, a job hunter, a friend. People make mistakes with your networking. I'm going to do a series that talks about some of the things that people mistakenly do that adversely affects the success of the networking that they do And causes them to go, "Ah! Networking doesn't work! It's ridiculous!"
Mistake number 1 is that you do everything online and never really talked to anyone. I know the trend really started with email. People used to write letters to individuals and stay in touch. In that way. We've gotten to the point where he never hear one another's voice or see anyone and thus the will heartfelt connection Between people that causes is a relationship to grow doesn't really exist. In one way, you may feel warmly or in a kindly way toward someone but not enough to really take action. That's really what you're looking for, whether it's in your personal life or your professional life, You want some sort of action to occur. It just doesn't happen without the personal connection.
I recognize that all of us have relationships that are all over the country now and it may be impossible to do it face-to-face and in person now. There is Skype and FaceTime and other tools now Where you can see one another and talk to one another. It makes a difference.
I know there are friends of mine. I have not seen in years. We will talk.. We will Skype. We will do a number of different things to stay in contact.It's wonderful! That's mistake number 1 I wanted to call attention to.
Number 2, Let me go to professional level. People have unrealistic expectations. Whether is the impact that what they do on LinkedIn or on Facebook or in person, They may think that people are going to drop everything that they're doing and help them. They may not completely believe this but they hope this. It doesn't really work that way. If you're only communicating with people at times when you have a need rather than having a relationship, they probably won't be really motivated to take action. In addition, if you are doing that,People have lives to pull them in lots of different directions.
Normally, it takes several touches over the course of time to really get your network going. Don't be surprised if there is no instant response to you reaching you. Don't get angry. Don't get to stall. Don't get annoyed. Don't throw your hands up as I did before and complain that networking doesn't work. It does work.. It's just that you haven't been doing it right. You can correct this mistake.
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman – , The Big Game Hunter – Job Hunting Coach – Job Search Coach
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a career and leadership coach who worked as a recruiter for more than 40 years. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 1300 episodes and his newest show, “No BS Coaching Advice.” He is a member of The Forbes Coaches Council. “No BS JobSearch Advice Radio” was recently named a Top 10 podcast for job search. JobSearchTV.com was also recently named a Top 10 YouTube channel for job search.
Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Connect with me on LinkedIn. Then message me to schedule an initial complimentary session.
JobSearchCoachingHQ.com offers great advice for job hunters—videos, my books and guides to job hunting, podcasts, articles, PLUS a community for you to ask questions of PLUS the ability to ask me questions where I function as your ally with no conflict of interest answering your questions.
If you want to know how to win more interviews, order “Winning Interviews.” You’ll learn how to win phone interviews, in-person interviews, the best question to ask on any interview and more.
Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.
Today, I want to do a review of a video I saw on YouTube that was done by Marie Forleo, who is a terrific marketer, terrific information provider. Everything that I've heard about Marie is terrific. So I don't want to make it seem like, in reviewing this, my intention is to go out of my way to beat her up. She doesn't deserve that at all. She's a terrific advocate for people. So, the video is called "Networking Basics: 8 Tips to Networking Without Being Fake." Now, I want to stop by saying this is a networking Basics video. So, it covers the obvious points in networking, but it has her own twist to it. I think they're quite good. So let me start by saying the most important thing that she says early on, the one thing that I think most people will overlook when they think about it, is that networking is an ongoing organic process. It is not something that you do once every two years when we are changing jobs or when you need something from someone it's something that has to be part of your repertoire so that, in this way, you don't appear like a mooch. You are developing relationships with people which is really what networking is all about. So, she then continues by going through her 8 points. I'm just going to go through them quickly. Networking involves focusing on giving, rather than getting. Introducing people. Doing things to share with them without any expectation of anything in return. You need to be present is her second point and that, when you're meeting someone at a networking scenario, don't be looking behind them. I'm trying to do that now to illustrate. Don't be looking behind them to see who else is there who you might go to next. Be present with the individual. She tells a great story in the course of illustrating this point. Listen more than you talk and she uses the metaphor of two ears /one mouth as part of teaching us. Always think in terms of the long term. It's not a short term situation which to me is kind of redundant with her big point which (networking) is an ongoing organic process. Don't overcommit and feel guilty is her fifth point. By that is promising more than you can really deliver at that particular time. Number six is be honest. No false promises offered. If you have no intention of getting in touch with this person ever again and they are looking to set up a time to speak, it's really easy to go, "Okay, no problem. Give me a call," and never respond and that makes you look terrible. Better to simply say, "I am booked solid. Could you bear with me and I'll see if I can get to you," or "I don't know when I'm going to wind up having time," and just kind of push them away from the immediacy to a time later on. If you are interested in networking with them, take action immediately. So, if you've promised to do something for someone, you can do it on your phone, right? A lot of things you can handle immediately, like within five minutes of leaving the conversation that creates a great impression. At the latest, if you're meeting them at a conference, in a trade show, at a networking event, do it when we get home. Don't push it off when you might risk forgetting about it. Give yourself a memo on your phone to remind you to take this action. Lastly, I think this is an important one, only go to events that excite you. Only go to make friends. If your reason for going to a networking event is to take, if you're not really interested in the subject of the event at the conference, don't go! At the end of the day, you have to do things to please yourself and not fixate on the connection. Afterall, the game plan in networking is to make friends and to build a partnership with someone, not just go gimme, gimme,gimme,gimme,gimme. Her video was good, but it's basic and that was the intention. So, for those of you who are new and or uncomfortable with networking, (thumbs up)
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ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a career and leadership coach who worked as a recruiter for more than 40 years. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 1300 episodes and his newest show, “No BS Coaching Advice.” He is a member of The Forbes Coaches Council. “No BS JobSearch Advice Radio” was recently named a Top 10 podcast for job search. JobSearchTV.com was also recently named a Top 10 YouTube channel for job search.
Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Connect with me on LinkedIn. Then message me to schedule an initial complimentary session.
JobSearchCoachingHQ.com offers great advice for job hunters—videos, my books and guides to job hunting, podcasts, articles, PLUS a community for you to ask questions of PLUS the ability to ask me questions where I function as your ally with no conflict of interest answering your questions.
If you want to know how to win more interviews, order “Winning Interviews.” You’ll learn how to win phone interviews, in-person interviews, the best question to ask on any interview and more.
Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.
I recently learned that the best way to land a job is to know someone within a company. But I also learned that I don’t know that many people…. I have been messaging people on LinkedIn (people I know, and that I don’t know) and, hopefully, that will get me something. What do I do to expand my search? What are some networking tricks when your job hunting? I hate this question and I hate the implication of this question. Let me explain. The first implication of the question is you only network with the job hunting. The second one is that you have to trick people into helping you. What are some networking tricks? I know. I know. What are some networking tips that I can use when I am job hunting. Step number one. Don't leave network with your job hunting. That's the real big one. You have to think of networking has been part of her job at every stop in your career, not just when your job hunting. Your employer may not be paid you for it, but you will employer is – – namely YOU. You are your own employer. You are self-employed and every decision you make is looking out for their own interests, you and your career. Don't outsource that to your employer otherwise you are screwed. They are looking out for themselves and, although they tell you that they care about you and they think you are wonderful, they are not looking out for you, nor is it their job to look out for you. That is a seduction on your part is not true. You have to think in terms of being self-employed and doing the things that are needed in order to build a brand for yourself. You want to become known as an expert in your field, as well as your particular level in your field. So if you are junior developer, you can't compare yourself to a CIO or a VP of technology. You are different and comparing yourself to them is a mistake. Learn from those people, but comparing yourself to them is foolhardy. So I hate this question because it's just all the bad qualities of job hunting that cause it to become has hated as it is. After all, job hunting shouldn't be about needing to suddenly network; that's what career should be about – – building your relationships so that if you need one another at different times you are there to help one another at those times. It's a two-way street. It's about developing relationships over the course of time. After all, if you are suddenly connected to someone on LinkedIn, do you expect them to jump through a hoop for you? No! You wouldn't jump through who for them; why would you expect them to jump through hoops for you? Think smart. You are the chairman of the board of your organization (in my case, it is "The Altman Organization). Get out there, get known and build relationships. Then, people will be more than willing to help you.
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a career and leadership coach who worked as a recruiter for more than 40 years. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 1300 episodes and his newest show, “No BS Coaching Advice.” He is a member of The Forbes Coaches Council.
Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Connect with me on LinkedIn. Then message me to schedule an initial complimentary session.
JobSearchCoachingHQ.com offers great advice for job hunters—videos, my books and guides to job hunting, podcasts, articles, PLUS a community for you to ask questions of PLUS the ability to ask me questions where I function as your ally with no conflict of interest answering your questions.
If you want to know how to win more interviews, order “Winning Interviews.” You’ll learn how to win phone interviews, in-person interviews, the best question to ask on any interview and more.
Would you like to talk through a salary negotiation or potential negotiation you’re involved with? Order and schedule time with me.
I received a good question from someone that I thought was worthwhile to choose for a variety of reasons.
Let me just read it to you.
"I hate stagnating in my job, but can't find a better one. Should I take a career break? I grew rapidly in my company but got stuck in middle management (“Head of…”), mainly due to hard politics. The worst thing is that other companies don’t seem to hire at my level.
I made huge sacrifices to get here and burnt out, so I would only be satisfied with higher pay and/or level of responsibility."
I want to expand the question a little bit to address less experienced workers and then come back to deal with this specific scenario.
For the younger workers finding it difficult to find something, maybe you don't like your job and are not getting job offers, often the issue is that your interview skills need to improve. Thus, I encourage people to learn and practice and become better a job hunting. After all, the skills needed to find a job are different than those needed to do a job.
However, this is a scenario where we are dealing with a middle management professional who feels stuck. There are two ways of addressing this.
The first is to get "unstuck." Start defeating the politics and learn where you been typecast in the wrong way and adapt. You to find your problem is being with your current firm and you are stagnating because people see you in one way and value something else.
Thus, the idea is to find what they value and start playing to it. This doesn't mean you have to change jobs but it also doesn't mean that you have to quit, go home and watch TV all the time.
That should probably be your first choice.
The second may be similar to the advice that I gave to the young professional but I'm going to emphasize something a little bit different.
For the inexperienced one, I spoke about getting better at job hunting. For you, I want to encourage you to get better at networking, Often, for people who are stuck in middle management, they worked so hard for so long, keeping their heads down to do a great job that networks outside their current firm are next to nonexistent.
You need to build the network seeking question and build the validity of the statement that you made that "other companies don't seem to hire at your level."
Often they don't have an opening right now but (1) they may create one for the right person, and (2) the opening may come later on as corporate "musical chairs" starts to occur and people move from one vacancy to another.
What I'm getting at is that you are obviously frustrated with your current job but also frustrated with job hunting so you're looking for permission to give up.
I don't buy that. For the person who's worked hard their entire career and for the first time have run into a career obstacle, quitting should not be your choice. Taking a break should not be your choice.
Finding the path to the right situation should be your choice and practicing patience should become part of your repertoire, rather than giving up.
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a coach who worked as a recruiter for what seems like one hundred years. His work involves career coaching, all as well as executive job search coaching and life coaching. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 1200 episodes and his newest show, “No BS Coaching Advice” and is a member of The Forbes Coaches Council.
Are you interested in 1:1 coaching, interview coaching, advice about networking more effectively, how to negotiate your offer or leadership coaching? Connect with me on LinkedIn. Then message me to schedule a free discovery session.
JobSearchCoachingHQ.com offers great advice for job hunters—videos, my books and guides to job hunting, podcasts, articles, PLUS a community for you to ask questions of PLUS the ability to ask me questions where I function as your ally with no conflict of interest answering your questions.
