It’s Called a Career PATH for a Reason
I Work with Stressed Out Professional Women
Licensed in Massachusetts & New Hampshire
Rachel C. Sykes, LMHC, LLC
Rachel@rachelcsykes.com
Are you looking?
As I have mentioned in prior blog posts, it seems to me that many highly experienced professionals who are currently looking for work are having a tough time. Many of them are getting interviews, making it through multiple rounds, only to be ghosted. When they are fortunate enough get an update, the company often hedges, saying that they are rethinking the position or holding off for other reasons (they hired no one). It seems like companies are increasingly worried about the economy and are not willing to make definitive choices until they feel they have increased certainty about their operating environment. Good luck with that.
Hiring managers-if you no longer feel comfortable filling a position, please stop wasting everyone’s time and energy. It is unprofessional and reflects poorly on you and your organization. Clearly communicate with everyone in the chain, including your applicants. Try to remember what it’s like when you’re the job applicant.
Candidates-it’s definitely tough going right now, especially if you are looking in finance. Maybe other industries, too, such as higher education and companies who have contracts with the government. It’s tough, particularly for those with more experience. Let’s admit it-you probably cost more money and hiring managers may be looking at you as an expense rather than on the value/revenue you would bring to the organization. There certainly could be some ageism in play as well. It’s a tough place to be but perhaps there are other strategies for moving forward in your career.
First things first:
Research
do some research
Photo by Dan Dimmock on Unsplash
If you’ve been out of touch with the market for a while, you may need to brush up.
Are you staying informed on the market, your target industry, the companies within the industry, their financial statements, and on their current stance on hiring?
When talking with a recruiter, hiring manager, or prospective colleague, are you as prepared as you should be?
Are you well-versed on recent press releases, articles, or posts on the company website?
How well do you know your own finances? Have you done research on your own financial position to help determine the urgency with which you need to start a new job? Is it critical to get back to earning soon or do you have the luxury of time to wait until the right role presents itself?
Networking
I am a big proponent of networking. I suggest you set a target for how many contacts you reach out to per week. Look at your connections’ connections on LinkedIn and ask for introductions. Consider reaching out folks who work at your target companies and ask if they are willing to chat. No harm done if they decline or ignore your request. You can’t control how many people respond or who will agree to speak with you when but you can control your own efforts. Take offers for video chats if that’s all your contact has time to do. Ask for their thoughts on your desired position as well as on the environment at the company. Ask them for their suggestions and opinions. Express your appreciation, follow up as appropriate, and stay in touch.
It’s a PATH, not a straight line
a path is not always straight
Photo by Damian Siodłak on Unsplash
Okay, now take a step back for a bit and think more broadly about your job search objectives. Is it possible that you are looking for too straight and narrow of a path? Is it possible that you may be an attractive candidate in a role that is adjacent to your target role? Would you consider working in a different functional area? I am not saying that you must change your target but it may be worthwhile to weigh your desire to get back to work against the importance of landing in a specific seat.
Have you considered starting up your own company or working as a consultant? You may possibly consult for others or do so independently, depending on your willingness to manage the operational aspects of running your own business versus effectively outsourcing them to someone else. Also, some firms have established relationships with consulting firms to simplify the workflow. If this is a possibility for you, figure out how much you would charge.
Are there roles in other industries that would benefit from your experience? For example, if you are looking for a client-facing role in an investment shop, would you consider a similar role in investment technology, investment compliance, or another industry that does business with investment shops? Are you interested in working in the finance department of another industry? Working for an insurance company or a pension fund? Teaching at a local university or industry organization? Working as a financial advisor or tax accountant? No one says you need to remain in these positions forever, so, if it is not a great fit, you may be able to find a better opportunity in the future.
This is hard
If you’ve never been out of work before, welcome to the club. The world has changed a lot over the last 20-30 years and most people I know have been out of work, as a result of layoffs, restructurings or position eliminations. Whatever you want to call it, it’s not a lot of fun. However, it is likely not really a reflection on you. Most of the time, it’s just something you have to accept and move on without taking it too personally. Easier said than done, though. It’s definitely worthwhile to reflect on anything you learned and if it makes sense to make changes in any future roles. For example, I can admit that I often relied on just my direct boss’ good will and didn’t put much energy into managing up in other ways. In future roles, I tried to make it easier for my boss and others to share my accomplishments so people know who I was and what I did. This was not my favorite aspect of my work but I changed my perspective and put more energy into this as a necessary part of the job. Now that I work for myself, I don’t have to manage up in this way but I have traded this for another set of responsibilities. : )
Make sure you have support
I know some of you folks might be uncomfortable sharing their worry and stress about job loss, finances, and difficulty finding one’s next role with friends and family. While I don’t know everyone’s situation, I generally think failing to ask for understanding and support from loved ones is a lost opportunity. Being able to discuss this pressure with a partner or friend can really keep you move forward in a more healthy way. It may also be a stress release and actually improve your relationships. If you don’t have these kinds of relationships, consider working on this.
Questions?
Have thoughts on this blog? Have some questions? Feel free to reach out by email or phone.
You can request an appointment or call/email to ask for a free 15-minute consultation.
email: Rachel@rachelcsykes.com
phone: 781-630-4670