Opportunity does not always knock

Looking for a new job/ career can be very stressful. Within the past five years I have changed companies, and have had quite a few friends and colleagues move onto new jobs and careers during this time.

There are hundred different reasons’ you may be looking for a new position. Your reason for looking/ leaving your current position will be one of the first questions you will be asked.

The first step in your job ‘hunt’ is to position the reason you left or looking to leave into a positive light. You need to make the hiring manager/HR feel confident in you as a candidate.

Below are some of the lessons that have been learnt. Many are common sense, yet I feel it is always a good reminder.

Lessons Learnt:

·         Even if you are not looking to change companies, grow your network with companies you could see yourself working for.

·         Decide what is most important to you (e.g. medical, salary, commute, hours etc.)

·         Keep in contact with ex colleagues. They generally stay in the same field, and are excellent resources. (e.g. providing you information about their new company, getting you in front of the right people)

·         Do not apply online! Make sure to get a contact within the organization to send your resume too.

Use LinkedIn to find Managers and HR Leaders within the organizations you are looking to work for. Contact the Manager and HR directly. If they are interested they will have HR reach out to you or the Manager will reach out too you personally. (I.e. send separate emails to HR and Manager)

Ask questions during the interview which are relevant for you, not just what you found on the internet. (E.g. Give scenarios of current situations happening at your current work which you do not like and/or do like and see how they would handle it. If medical is important to you, find out about the coverage available)

·         Research Research Research (What does the company stand for, who are the leaders/ managers…what is their philosophy etc.) With the internet become a ‘stalker’. Google ‘everything’.

·         Discuss salary, benefits etc. with the hiring manager (time it correctly), not only with HR.

·         There can be miscommunication which could make an offer fall through. Make sure everyone’s message is clear  (https://goo.gl/Gu3GdU)

·         Make sure everyone knows what the next steps and expectations are.

·         Salary is negotiable

·         Ask to meet the staff you will be working with

·         Rapport is extremely important.

·         Send follow up email to thank whomever you met (make sure to get everyone’s business card that you meet)

·         Some questions to ask yourself: “Can I see myself having a career with the organization”, “Can I grow, and learn?”, “Are their growth opportunities?”, “Would I enjoy going for a drink with my manager and colleagues?”, “Are the goals attainable?”, “What  can I achieve for the company”

·       

  Remember that it is a two way relationship. What do you bring to the ‘party’?

“Finding a job that is a good fit is as much about you selecting the right company as it is about them selecting the right candidate.” ― Miles Anthony Smith

“When my father was 17, he went to Montreal and found these submarine sandwich shops that were really successful, and weren't in Toronto [his home town]. So he went to my grandparents and said: "Look, you have to give me the seed money to open up one of these places. We'll make a fortune. They've got lines going round the block. There's nothing like that here." And my grandfather's response was: "Look, I'm sure these sandwiches are really good, and if we scraped the money together we could make a lot of money and your mother and I would be really proud of you, but you need to find something that has *magic* in it for you.

It was off of that conversation that my father went to college on a music scholarship, started a film club and became one of the most successful directors of all time.” ― Jason Reitman

Good luck in your search and may you find the career you deserve and are looking for.

No Answers Provided- No Judgment Given- Your Advice Only

I have included  scenarios, which have come up in  numerous group and individual conversations I have had over the years. (Number 7 not so often- that was a very unique situation).

I have purposely not included my views as would like to hear how  you the professional  would respond. There will be many viewpoints, as everyone will have a different perspective due to their work background, industry/ field  or management level.


The interesting ‘read’ will come from you the reader through your suggestions and views.


When providing  your opinion/ advice  please provide the scenario number.


What would be your advice be in the scenarios below? (what would you do?)

1. The company you work for implement new procedures that they believe will improve their overall process. Instead it causes ‘headaches’ for the staff on the front line. You provide feedback to management as requested on how your previous employer dealt with the same process they are looking to improve. Nothing changes. After an extended period of time (more than a year) they finally recognize it is not accomplishing what they had intended. They then put new managers in charge of the process and ask for feedback.
2. You have a telephone interview with HR. You go over your salary range and what you are looking for. You pass the initial HR telephone interview and then have telephone interview with hiring manager. HR then organizes in person interviews for you with multiple hiring managers. The managers like you, and HR offer you an option of positions.  HR mentions the salary, which is considerably lower than what you discussed. HR apologizes and states they must have written it down incorrectly, and will get back to you. The week that follows  there is complete radio silence and calls not returned. You finally make contact and HR state that the salary was higher than they were prepared to pay. They do not make any counter offer.
3. You have been hired for a position, and all they need to do is complete their background check. (They have provided you with a start date - you have signed all documents required). They see a short sale on your record and rescind their offer.
4. You resign from your job and leave on excellent terms with your immediate managers, and staff you worked with. (You always received excellent reviews and were a top performer for the organization). You hear (and find out it is true), that a higher manager you had limited contact with during your time with the organization is spreading negative information about you to managers who you did not work with. (What is being said will rule out boomerang hiring for you if you decided in the future you would like to re-join the firm)
5. You are a manager who is constantly short staffed; you are continuously working though lunch and having to wear multiple hats. Being short staffed is starting to effect the job you were hired for, managing the branch. You have spoken to your manager who has stated that they are looking for candidates. It has been months and nothing has changed.
6. You are a top performer for an organization. Salary history is common knowledge. You are earning less than many of your colleagues in salary who are not doing as well as yourself. You are earning better bonuses than your colleagues because of your performance, however overall you are earning approximately the same.
7. You have booked an overseas trip with a connecting flight months before departure. You give yourself plenty of time between flights. The airline emails you stating you have been bumped from the flight and put on the next flight. This will cause you to miss your connecting flight and increase your layover considerably. (They have not cancelled the flight you were initially booked for  –because you  booked early you got a good price- the airline is now selling the same tickets for more)
8. Your dentist informs you require a crown on your chipped tooth. The dentist for unforeseen reasons had to cancel your appointment, thus you go to a friends dentist. Your friends dentist looks as your tooth and states that your tooth just requires a small filling, and not a crown (tooth is in excellent condition). The dentist is shocked that your dentist had recommended a crown, and triple checks your teeth to make sure they were looking at the same tooth your dentist was.
9.  After providing your 2 weeks notice, management ask you to stay. They offer you a 'bump' in salary which they had previously denied. (matching the salary that the new company has offered)

“I don't pretend we have all the answers. But the questions are certainly worth thinking about.” Arthur C. Clarke

Feel free to add additional questions in the comment section.