Good News Day

It's been an interesting day. Apart from the sun finally disappearing, just in time for me to play golf tomorrow, I finally got the news I have been waiting for since last month.

A resolution has been found and I will receive payment of the salary owed to me when The Webb Group went into administration. My umbrella company has been able to negotiate and agree a repayment plan with the agency through whom I was working. Admittedly it will be over a 4 month period but at least I will get something. I sympathise with the situation that they found themselves in, but there was nothing I could do about that.

Over and above that, it's been another good day for getting connected and, fantastically, several of these contacts are being very positive about me and are offering their help. I know I said thank you yesterday but I want to reiterate those words.

It's still a slog searching job boards and company sites and picking up on nods from others. It really is a full time job and more. There are not enough hours in the day. 

I must be mad but at 5am today I was sending an email to somebody!!!! At least it was a positive email and kept me in the loop with an important contact for me.

I have had quite a bit of feedback from folks that they also expect the market to slow down in this period and today we see many schools break up for Easter so holidays will abound for people with children. One contact even feels that things won't pick up until May. I hope she's wrong, obviously.

At the moment, I'm contemplating launching a business venture and will work on that over the next couple of weeks. You'll have to come back to another blog to find out what the plan is - but it is exciting!!! And maybe it is the solution that I need.

I hope you have a great weekend and enjoy your time in whatever you do.

(c) Iain Williamson 2012

Thank You Supporters

It is coming up for a month now since my last interim role finished when the business was placed into administration. Certainly the job market is not as buoyant as I would wish but, as always, I remain positive. The role for me will come soon. There are a few things on the go but I'd certainly prefer more.

I wanted to take this time to thank all of my connections and supporters for their help so far. I'm very happy with the advice and support so far. Unfortunately we've not yet hit the home run yet but it is only a matter of time - I remain convinced of that.

Talking to my connections on LinkedIn, it seems a common theme that the Easter break has slowed down the market and, of course, this is the end of the financial year so businesses have spent the last of their money for this year. The second excuse feels a bit hollow in the respect that surely there are ways of allocating the money to the new financial year. In any case the new employee will probably not start this side of the April deadline.

I referred to these roadblocks in a previous blog and understand that they are not something that I can change. So I just have to get on with it.

It is clear to me that my connections, on the whole, have a real interest in helping me. I have been astounded, in a very positive way, that fellow HR professionals who might be in competition with me for roles are also willing to help. I have had lots of leads passed my way. Those of you who have done this for me deserve an even bigger pat on the back.

But I still need your support and would ask that you spread the word even more and circulate my profile and keep me in mind when or if something that might be of interest comes up.

And although I am making this plea on my behalf, we all should think of and support our fellow colleagues who are currently job searching. It's a good feeling to help others and it's even better to get a thank you from them when it is a fruitful outcome to the interaction.

For all of you, I have set my connections on LinkedIn for you to view - if you wish to contact any of them then please feel free to use me as your conduit. I ask only one thing in return - mention me in any conversation or discussions.

(C) Iain Williamson 2012

Feeling Rejected?

One of the outcomes of being out of work is that you have to deal with rejection. Of course, it's easy to feel that you have been rejected because you have lost your job through redundancy or the business has gone into administration, or whatever reason. The point here is that you have probably had little or no option on this happening and for some people they take it as a personal insult. And unfortunately at the moment, with the UK economy still being very much in flux, this type of situation is becoming more prevalent for people.

It certainly is not that. 

And then you get more and more feelings of rejection. The job market is very competitive in all sectors and in all roles. So when somebody applies for a role, and puts their head on the block, there is another opportunity for rejection. Statistically you are more likely not to get the job than be offered it.

So in job search terms, I try not to get ahead of myself and think that a job is secure until the offer is made. Of course, I get disappointed if I'm successful but never to the point of depression. 

I'll always try to find out why I have not been appointed and reflect on my performance at interview. Could I have done anything different? Could I have presented myself differently? Was the decision made on something that I could not change no matter what?

It is more difficult to understand when I don't get an interview when, to all intents and purposes, I fit the bill in all respects. But then I reconcile it with the probable knowledge that there were lots of applicants and it was a difficult decision, etc. More importantly for my sanity, I also think it is their loss and not mine. The job I deserve and want is always round the corner.

The target is to find the correct corner!!!!

So a message for my fellow job seekers - 

• Don't get into despair. 
• Your career record will sell you.
• Prepare well for your interviews when they come.
• Ask why you did not get a role and reflect on the answers you get.
• Keep up with your contacts and network, network, network.
• Keep up with your professional knowledge.

Is there anything that you can pass on to your fellow job seekers?

I always keep myself upbeat about my prospects. I know my career history is a significant sell for me. And I always try to support others although still being selfish for myself, my wife and my family. Does that make sense?

Feel free to pass this blog onto your network and add comments. The more the merrier.

(c) Iain Williamson 2012

Monday Blues, Tuesday Blues etc.

The Monday morning blues are well known by employers when staff want to extend their weekend and cultivate a life threatening illness that means they cannot get to work that day. And it's a real pity that even with a very warm late March and pre-Easter that the member of staff has the sniffles and flu and will need to stay at home in bed!!!!

We all know the above scenario and as HR Managers we should know how to manage such situations and ensure the member of staff is treated appropriately. Remember the old phrase, all sickness is genuine!!!! But some sickness is more genuine than others.

Why am I bleating on about Mondays and sickness and it's Tuesday? Well, when you are seeking your next role, you cannot afford to be sick or want to take the day off. Every moment of your "working" day, your thoughts revolve around where is the next appointment and it can't come quick enough.

In my last role, I had a fantastic group of people to work with and really enjoyed their company. But I am sure they would all recognise that I put in a lot of hours in the day, worked hard and achieved lots. I used to leave the house at about six in the morning every weekday and might not get home until after seven in the evening. Long days!!! But that is work and a job.

In a job search, it is important to keep yourself on track and without deflection keep up with the latest vacancies and with your network. That in itself is a full time job. It would be too easy to watch Sky Sports or Deal or No Deal or, God forbid, Jeremy Kyle and not pay attention to the jobs of the day.

It is important to think 9 to 5 and make it your "job". That way your reward, your "salary" is your new role when it arrives. And the more work you put in, the more likely the new role arrives.

(c) Iain Williamson 2012

Employment Search Metrics

Friday is a typical day, when in employment, to review what you have achieved this week and start to consider what you will do next week - diary commitments not withstanding.

When I'm looking for a job it's actually no different. I consider my job hunt in exactly the same way -  it's about being professional and doing the right things, only this time I am working for a very personal business - Myself.

It's hard to put together metrics like you would if you had a real job but I think I need to have some targets to measure myself and be agile enough to adjust them as and when necessary. Talking to a colleague this morning we were reflecting on how important it was to reflect on achievements during the week but not to forget that the real measurement is the job offer and the start of employment.

But there must be more ways to measure performance in the job search world?

For me they can be broken down into two distinct areas with one that I can influence and the other is one that is dependent on others.

I reflected earlier this week that embarking on a job search was akin to a full time job. So an easy measure for me to reflect and measure is how much have I done this week in that job search.

• Yes - I spent a significant number of hours each day this week on my job search.
• Yes - I applied for a significant number of roles.
• Yes - I refreshed my CV on the job boards where it is currently held. A good tip for all job seekers to do because remember the job board works like an in-tray for a recruiter and you always want your CV at the top; i.e. first to be reviewed.
• Yes - I spoke to many of my connections.
• Yes - I have grown my connections on Linked In and more reviews of my profile have been occurring  which might lead on to offers of further discussions.
• Yes - I completed my Blog on a daily basis and have seen its followers grow.
• No - I could do more of all of the above so that will be something I work on for next week.

I can influence all of these and work on them and measure my success.

The measures that I cannot effect are as follows:-

• The number of vacancies advertised and unadvertised.
• The location of these roles.
• The level of the roles.

But as time progresses, I will need to consider my approach to these areas. It's not an easy decision to relocate or take a lower salary but at a point it may need to be considered.

An obvious measure, which I have deliberately not mentioned until now is - interview rate and job offer rate. I need to consider my approach to my job search so that I can get more interviews in the bag. 

In summary, I am happy with progress but as always in situations like this it is far too slow. Maybe it is meant to be that way but I would prefer to be doing something rather than nothing (although I am obviously very busy!!!).

Next week is another week and I remain upbeat about my job search and will continue to review its progress. I'll reward myself with golf at the weekend and maybe some football on TV (particularly early Sunday afternoon) when a league might be won!!!

As always comments are welcome. Feel free to add your views. It is a democracy here.

(c) Iain Williamson 2012

Roadblocks or challenges? Can you help others?

Looking for a job is an all consuming exercise and can be frustrating when it feels like you're getting nowhere fast. Today it felt like one roadblock appeared after another.

I looked at the vacancies on the job boards and the vacancies coming through on Linked In and it just seemed that the vast percentage were southern based roles with little or nothing Birmingham or Northwards. I know the M1 and M6 are difficult trips at the best of times but this feels like one hell of a roadblock.

Then when I was having catch-ups with recruiters and other contacts another roadblock appeared. It seems that the market is slowing down pre-Easter and in the close down to the financial year, so no roles are getting signed off by business.

And then another roadblock - it appears that the level of role I'm looking for is not as available as other levels, particularly at lower salary levels. 

And then another roadblock - some sectors, in this candidate rich market, are being highly specific and restrictive in their requests that the new potential employee absolutely must have experience in the sector. No exposure equals no interview.

For me, these are not roadblocks at all but merely challenges that need to be taken up and overcome. I have an answer for all of these roadblocks if people care to listen to me. And these are answers for all job seekers.

Of course, I could consider moving location but that's a big decision not taken lightly and I might need to speak to my better half before I take this route.

The roadblock of Easter and financial year end won't last forever and indeed it gives me a chance to do more sourcing of opportunities.

I can see that salary level is a bit of an issue but not one that cannot be overcome - what are the other benefits attached to the role and the business that might make me consider taking a salary at a lower level? This is the challenge.

As for the sector specific roadblock? Well I can't change their mind even though I firmly believe they are wrong. Indeed, when I look at my career which has encompassed both private and public sector organisations and really quite varied business, from the global to the local, I know that I can show any employer, in any organisation, that I can do the job for them. No problem!!!

And there lies the solution. There are no roadblocks in my job search. Only challenges for me to work on and for me and my supporters to resolve. 

My request is for a resolution sooner rather than later. In terms of my current situation there are a few things on the go at the moment and fingers crossed something happens sooner rather than later. I'm getting bored and my golf handicap isn't coming down.

I also heard from a contact of mine today who is moving from a role straight into an interim role with a local council - so congratulations to her. It shows to me the power of persistence and she deserves it. And it also proves that Linked In and direct approaches work.

It also makes me think of all the folks from my time at The Webb Group which went into administration recently. At least I'm used to the perils of finding the next role because I've been working in interim positions so I know that I've got to be on the look out for the next position. Many of them might not have been prepared for what happened and not even have the online presence or an up to date CV or the agency contacts.

Some of these folks might not be in as good a mindset as me, so if any of you readers can help them then please do so. Their details will be in my Linked - In connections. Lots of people with lots of skill sets - available now. Help them overcome their challenges.

(c) Iain Williamson 2012

Reality Time

It was that day today when reality hits home and you remember vividly what work was like. Not only does it remind you about the things you were dealing with at work. Not only does it remind you about the people you worked with and you think about how they are getting on. Not only does it remind you about the fact that you used to get a wage.

What on earth is he rambling on about? Has he gone mad finally? 

No, of course not. But today was my first time for signing on at the Job Centre. A remarkable building that says it's a Job Centre but it doesn't actually have a job for you. Admittedly the Direct.Gov website might have one!!!

I had to fill out my form telling them what actions I had been taking to find work in my profession. And guess what - only a cursory look at it and sign here Mr Williamson and you will get your money into your account probably Monday!!!

It was just another reminder for me that no matter how much work I am doing to find a job, I need to do more. More job board reviews, more calls to recruiters, more reviews of businesses through Linked In and more discussions with people that can help and support me in this search.

The weeks go by so quickly and all of a sudden we're nearly at the end of another week and nothing has come through yet. Not for the lack of trying but I just have to do more. I told you before, this job searching lark is a full time job and more.

(c) Iain Williamson 2012

Hit rates

It seems to have been a day where recruiters have been emailing me their "regret" letters. So it's been a bit of a "bad" day in that respect and it got me thinking about my CV and its contents and wondering if I need to change its contents. Of course, not to tell lies about my experience or achievements, but to try to get a bigger hit rate in terms of being invited to interview.

I have some experience of writing CV's for others but find it difficult to be self critical. I hear myself saying the same things that clients say to me when I talk to them. "I can't write about myself so need you to do it for me" they say.

And now I'm having to consider how do I sell myself? What is my brand? What are my achievements? Where and how have I added value? How do I hit that target more often and get more interviews?

I don't want to continually change my CV for every role that I apply for - that seems like a route to disaster. I know from professional experience of interviewing candidates who clearly have been talking to the wrong CV at interview because they can't remember what they wrote.

But I think I can possibly have two CVs - one for applying to permanent roles and one for interim roles. That seems like a potential option. They are two different targets and therefore can be addressed differently.

For an interim role, it feels like the idea would be describe in more details the achievements in my roles and make them live for the recruiter.

For a permanent role, it still needs achievements but there also needs to be a reflection of the businesses where I have operated and the commercial knowledge I have acquired.

Plus in these days of the social media, recruiters can also look at your on-line presence. So I will need to look at my Linked In profile and make sure it reflects me well.

So I have decided to seek silk on this matter and talk to some trusted colleagues and ask their opinion. Apologies if I don't speak to you direct but you can always leave a comment here if you should wish or email me directly.

(c) Iain Williamson 2012

Is it a full time job?

The weekend is over and I ask myself, and you dear reader, why did I do nothing on my job search over the weekend.

Well it's simple. I treat my job hunting exactly like a job. That is, I work hard on finding a job during the week and then relax at the weekend. Simple really.

And when I do have a job, I try to forget about the trials and tribulations of work at the weekend and spend time with things that I would want to do - maybe a bit of golf, or some football on TV, but more likely being told by my better half what things need fixing round the house!!!!

It is so easy to feel guilty when you are job hunting to think that you cannot miss a second because that job you need becomes so all encompassing and your only focus. I totally get that but I also think that you need to be realistic about matters.

Jobs are not placed on internet boards every second of every day and at weekends you will not find recruiters in the office. So the logic is have some down time and then feel refreshed for the week ahead. Do something you want to do and try to forget about your employment situation.

I had a relaxing weekend ahead of my return to my job search and now I'm back into it with a vengeance.

Sunshine Day

I thought I'd continue the weather theme. Today has been much brighter in my job search and I have been re-energised after a great meeting with a down to earth recruiter this morning. It was a very refreshing difference to meet somebody who was not full of promises that would probably not be delivered. Yes she was candid about the current job market for HR professionals like me but she could see that I would be a real asset to any business.

It is sometimes easy to be pulled in by the promises of lots of available jobs and we can market you easily and then very soon we will have you in a role. Sorry folks there are some of them out there but, in my experience, they are few and far between. Recruiters come in for lots of criticism so I'm not going to add to their troubles.

I have learnt from previous job search exercises that I need to talk to as many of them as possible so that I can give myself the best chance of finding a role. It is clear that I know lots of people but recruiters know more people and, significantly, they also know the people who make the job decisions. So I have to use them.

This afternoon and yesterday afternoon, I've been talking to more recruiters and there are therefore a few more irons in the fire. It's not that I want to impersonalise them but I need to keep me on their radar as much as possible. I've developed a rota for me to contact them so that they can't or won't forget me!!!!!

One of my connections on Linked-In said to me earlier this week that she felt that the the traditional recruiter route is dying out but she did agree with me that for now we had to use them for our job search. She had found roles via Linked In which was interesting to me so I plan to look at that option in more detail. 

I haven't seen the weather forecast for tomorrow but I know that it is Saturday and as always it never rains on a golf course so an early morning tee time for me. 

And that reminds me, I need to tell people at the golf club that I'm on the look out for a role. It's not about begging but as I already know it will do my job search no harm. A friend of a friend and all that.

If you wish to leave any comments please feel free to do so. I will be posting again after the weekend. 

Thanks

(c) Iain Williamson 2012

Foggy Thursday and Its Resolution

It was foggy this morning when I woke up and had my breakfast. That almost describes my job hunting day today. There are literally hundreds of places to look for roles and it's difficult to work out a routine to make sure I cover them all in the best most time efficient way. 

Task Number One in this Job Search is to find a way to do that because when I'm sitting at the PC there's nothing worse than just wading through one job board after another after another. Does anybody have the answer?

And the frustration is that without doubt I know I can do many of the roles that are there but often they don't fit my needs. Either they are too low in terms of experience level, or maybe salary is too low or ...... well you know. 

It's that old conundrum. I know that at the end of the day this will be a numbers game. The more applications I make the more I will be likely to get interviews and therefore, by default, be likely to be offered roles. 

But why apply for a role where the recruiter sees immediately that I have far too much experience? How do I convince a recruiter that because I have applied for a role then that means that I take on board the Ts and C's of that role? Yes - told you it was a conundrum.

Its all about rejection and there's nothing more hurtful than a rejection. I'd like to think that through my career I have consistently provided a high level of HR professionalism to whichever business I was working with at the time. And through my Linked In profile, where I have some very positive recommendations from both work colleagues and Senior Level Executives including COOs and CEOs,  I believe it shows I deliver on the projects I have been hired to complete. Just need to convince recruiters, agency and business.

To resolve Task Number One, I will make a list of my favourite job boards and review them daily, and then have a secondary list which I will review on an every-other-day basis. Of course, because each job board has its vacancies dated, I will not need to review a full week at a time. So hopefully that will reduce the drudgery and the foggy nature of this exercise.

Come back soon for my next update in my job search.

(C) Iain Williamson 2012

Back On The Job Trail

It was a huge disappointment when my last interim role as HR Manager at The Webb Group ended rather abruptly when the business was unfortunate enough to be placed in administration. Of course, I hadn't prepared my job search so I'm in a position now where I need to get on the treadmill of job search.

I thought I would relaunch my blog and give myself an opportunity to share with you all the ups and downs of a job search. The grind of email alerts, the phone calls returned and not returned, etc.

So watch out for daily updates on how things are going - for better or worse.

One thing I want to say is that my thoughts are with the folks at The Webb Group who find themselves in the job market. There were lots of great people there with great skills and competences and if you need any referrals to them then please don't hesitate to ask. It will do you and them no harm.

A full list of my contacts can be found at my Linked in Profile as follows:- http://uk.linkedin.com/in/iainwilliamsonfcipd

If you want a to speak to one of them then I can refer you - all at no cost to you, apart from the old saying that one good turn deserves another.

Come back tomorrow for my latest views.