One delay after another - be patient

The start of the 2012 London Olympics is still a few days off but already the news is full of traffic delays and athletes complaining about how long it takes to get across London from Heathrow to their accommodation in  Stratford. They're the lucky ones - at least they'll be in vehicles that can use the Olympic Road Lanes without fear of fines.

Waiting to hear the outcome of an interview is a bit like that as well. It seems like an eternity before you find out whether you have the job or not - indeed sometimes you never find out at all and have to assume that you have been unsuccessful. Talk about customer focused!!!

And it's the same when you're job seeking as well. There are never enough opportunities around at the time you want them. And 2012 has been a bumper year for the normal excuses - Christmas and New Year fell at the wrong time this year, lots of people took an extended holiday around Bank Holidays and the Jubilee celebrations and now summer holidays are upon us so the slow down (did it ever get out of first gear?) will also be upon us.

Delays in recruitment processes are common place and as a job hunter you just have to face up to the fact that although it's a number one priority for you, for others it is less so - even if they say different.

And you must never get despondent about it all. There are roles around, it's just a matter of finding the right one at the right time. 

You might need to reconsider your strategies. My preference is for a permanent role, but until that happens I'll take on interim roles with the view that they add something to my CV. For others, there might not be the willingness to take on interim appointments but then you are restricting yourself and may wait even longer with no finances being added to your bank balance. Very much a balancing act and a personal decision on this one.

Constantly badger the recruiters, and constantly be checking the job boards and ALWAYS keep up your networking, either via LinkedIn or in person. 

As always, please circulate this blog widely and review my LinkedIn profile. All comments on this blog welcome.

Never a quiet moment in job seeking

Well that's the end of the European Championships and all we have to do now is wait for a few weeks and the new league season will be on us. It's the close season and things are supposed to be quiet, but daily there are reports of new potential signings and transfer rumour follows transfer rumour. So really never a quiet moment and never time to stop.

Job seeking is like that as well. You cannot turn off for one moment. Every day there are new opportunities arising and you need to set aside time on a daily basis to review all the new vacancies that have arisen. It becomes a bit of an art after a time but when you are looking for a role you need to find ways to quickly get to the roles you want to review. Missing a few days means you can fall well behind and miss the opportunity.

The job board review is important but don't forget that you also need to keep in touch with your connections. Obviously they're not expecting to hear from you every day, or maybe even every week, but you need to find a way to keep you on their radar.

I use my blog. I use my Linked In profile. I use phone calls. I use email. I use Twitter.

And also think out of the box. Are there other ways to earn a living other than what you have been doing? Obviously we would all prefer to stay in our profession, but sometimes there's an opportunity to cut the cake in a different way. Often, you hear of somebody who has completely changed direction and made a success of it. So constantly review your options and don't be obstinate to sit and wait for your perfect role to come rolling round the corner.

I'm currently doing a part time role which has evolved into more hours than I started with, but still part time and still on an interim basis. There are a few other things bubbling away and one is a little bit of a change of direction but seems like a good potential. Over the next few weeks, I need to speak further with the person who has raised it as an option for me. So watch this space.

As always, please share my blog as widely as possible. To jog your memory, my preferred option is a full time, permanent senior generalist HR role, although I will consider interim roles. I have no specific inkling for a particular business sector; indeed, my career has encompassed both the private and public sector environments. Please review my LinkedIn profile and see what I can bring to your business. Call me on 07722447847 or email me via this link for informal and no commitment discussions on how I can support you and your business. 

Unemployment, self esteem and positivity

It is little comfort to read the somewhat positive news that UK unemployment has fallen by 51000 when you are not in work, or your contract is about to run out, and the future looks bleak with nothing on the horizon.

This week I have been picking up quite a lot of the feeling from my connections in the recruitment world that the job market in my particular specialism is still very difficult and there's not a great future ahead. Indeed, some of them have even said this is the worst quarter for quite a while and although there had been an expectation of green shoots of recovery, nothing had happened.  Now that might seem like bad news but it is not!!!

For me, as a job seeker I fully understand that the market is slow but that is where I have to translate that to my benefit. I still believe that there is a role for me and that being busy with actions, such as the blog and maintaining and growing my connections, will bear fruit. Recruiters remember me when I call and more often than not, they return my calls - Thank you to those of you who do that - rather than the normal refrain I hear from other job seekers that they don't get calls back. Of course, it could all be down to the fact that people want to talk to such a likeable character as me anyway!!!

And I have also seen an increase in people contacting me with discussions about other options for me to consider. Its not protocol to discuss them here but I've got things to consider as alternative avenues.

On the other hand, I've had some disappointed job seekers getting more and more frustrated at how the market is at the moment. They find it difficult to see how things can get better and their self esteem is getting lower. Indeed, it feels like they might never work again despite a long and predominantly successful career to date.

I have a profound belief that my positivity in these difficult times is a bonus. A recruiter likes to hear and feel the infectious wish to work and the positive approach rubs off. I am sure that they can feel negativity and that doesn't help a job seeker. Getting down on yourself does you and your family and friends no good whatsoever.

I like to try to surround myself with good things and good positive people, even at these difficult times. My wife especially is always positive and supportive of me. I try to see the best out of others and what they do for me and others without me even asking. And you can use that spark as well.

One of my positive learning points has come from my contact with a great coach called Steve Nicholls. I'm not here to sell him but all my contacts with him have made me more positive about myself and my targets . You can use him as well. Contact him at http://www.stevenichollscareercoaching.co.uk/ There is free information on the website via the podcasts and blogs but you may wish to invest further. A free career assessment is available as well. 

The stuff I've used there has been really helpful for me and, even if it was reminding me of some things I already knew, it reassured me that I was and am on the right tracks for delivering my role for me.

I should add, and Steve won't mind me saying this, there are other career coaches around as well  so use the one with whom you can get the best rapport. 

From my other connections there have also been many messages of support and offers of help. Thanks.

In summary, its about being positive about your career and its current temporary holding position. It will sort itself out. Don't lose your self esteem. It is not your fault but you can do things about it. Don't wait for the job to come to you -  you need to go after it, but get help wherever you can. People will be only too glad to help.

As always, a reminder for you. My LinkedIn profile gives you details of my career. Please circulate my details as wide as possible. 

I'm a senior HR generalist professional with a demonstrated track record of achievement in operational and strategic roles in both the private and public sectors.  If you have a role, or know somebody who could use that background get in touch via Linked In or call me on my mobile. I'm happy to discuss any business opportunity as long as it is legal.

(c) Iain Williamson 2012

Job Hunting or watching sport?

For those of you who know me you'll know that I'd probably sit in front of the TV all day and night watching football, golf or darts or actually most sports till the cows come home (including snails competing for Olympic glory in their marathon!!!). But that doesnt help when you're job seeking.

I have reflected previously on how job seeking was pretty much a war - it has to be rigorously planned and timetable yourself into when you will search and when you will contact people and so on. When there are other distractions on such as sport or whatever you would prefer to be doing then there is a solution.

Just amend your timetable and do things differently. It might mean getting up in the morning half an hour earlier or doing something later in the evening or doing something at the weekend. Importantly you do need to do it. Then reward yourself with the time on the settee with a glass of wine or a beer and some crisps. You deserve the reward.

It goes without saying which team I do not want to win, so I won't say it!!! I don't want to upset anybody out there who might have a job, permanent or interim, for me so I will maintain my radio silence on that one and plead the Fifth.

Generally though the recruitment market is still quiet with few roles around and sector specific experience still being asked for by clients. A very frustrating element in the respect that for many years, if not always, we in HR roles prided ourself on being able to transfer from role to role and business to business. My recent marketing blitz seemed to reinforce that. Hey, onwards and upwards and something will come along.

It is really good to hear and see that my blogging is having such a positive impact. I'm constantly getting positive feedback from fellow job seekers but also recruiters who remember me and keep me on their radar. It convinces me that a far reaching job seeking strategy is now needed by somebody when looking for a role. No longer can you rely on one strand of a search. 

At the end of the day, it will come down to right place and right time. I am sure of that.

In the meantime, I'm working well at the current 3 day per week interim role and getting down now to the real nitty gritty elements of the change programme and people will start to see and feel the impact of the proposals. This is not the place to explain them, but for me it's good to be working.

Still though, I'm on the look out for a full time, permanent or interim, generalist Senior HR role. Please review my LinkedIn Profile and if you want to discuss opportunities then contact me via this Blog or via LinkedIN or call me on 07722447847. 

Where does the time go?

Its been three weeks since I started my interim part time role and I've been very remiss in not blogging and keeping myself in your mind. And more importantly, I've taken my eye off the ball in terms of job seeking.

Naughty, Naughty Iain!!!!

When job hunting it is such a relief to get back into the rigmarole of work and getting up in the morning and climbing into the car to go and earn some money. It's certainly a much better feeling than sitting at home, looking at a PC screen searching job boards and waiting for phone calls to be returned.

And yet I have slowed down my job search, and not kept in contact as much as I should with connections. But I know that my current role only has a certain shelf life and I'll be back to the market full time - quicker than you can drink your beer when the British weather is too hot.

So I have to get back to my regime of job seeking and work it around my current part time work commitments. The investment is in me and my family and I cannot not do anything and expect things to drop on to my plate. 

And I'll be more religious about doing as a minimum a twice weekly update for the Blog readers who are displaying withdrawal symptoms. I have had several people ask me when the next edition is coming - they need their fix!!!

Job searching is such a frustrating task so it is all the more rewarding to share experiences with others, both those in the same boat and those who just want to help. I have found LinkedIn to be very valuable. Indeed, my belief in the human spirit has been raised by the way that others have reacted to my predicament. 

Recently, I did a marketing blitz. It worked and revived my spirit and also reminded recruiters of me. A lot more contacts and connections were made and I remain convinced that the full time, permanent role that I want is out there just waiting for me. I know it is - another important thing in job hunting is to remain forever optimistic.

You may remember that my last full time interim role finished rather abruptly when the business went into administration. Its great to report that more and more of those folks are getting back in to work, but also depressing to see that there are still some of those folks struggling in the current job climate. I wish them well. If you have a role that you need filling then maybe they are in my list of connections. Check them out.

As always, I ask you to share this Blog with your connections, make comments and review my LinkedIn profile. And remember if you need a fantastically experienced senior HR professional just get in contact via LinkedIN or my mobile on 07722 447847. Look forward to speaking to you soon and blogging for you soon as well.

(C) Iain Williamson 2012

Marketing Blitz Update

There is absolutely no doubt that anybody who is unemployed cannot just sit and wait for a job to be delivered on a plate. It just doesn't work like that.

The reality in the current economic climate is very much a case of get out there and be active and then be even more active and seek out the diamond that is your next job. Otherwise it'll be a long time sitting on the sofa staring at the latest version of Countdown or Deal or No Deal and worrying about how to pay bills and keep afloat.

I have recently been on the job search market (and still remain on the search for a full time role either permanent or interim) and felt that I had to do more to get myself noticed. Over the past few months since I finished a role I have taken the following actions:-

1. Updated my Curriculum Vitae and circulated to multitudes of recruiters AND religiously refreshed the CV so it got to the top of the virtual inbox that recruiters review.
2. Registered on job boards and with recruitment agencies and set up email alerts.
3. Spoke directly to recruiters.
4. Added many contacts on LinkedIn
5. Received leads from friends and connections and always followed up.
6. Attended interviews and assessment centres.
7. Wrote a blog on my trials and tribulations as a job seeker - a cathartic exercise.

All of these were great in their own way and together and is to be highly commended. I am sure that they raised my profile and indeed many people commented on my Blog which has surely been a fantastic reward for me.

And its the context and content of that Blog which had an instrumental impact when I went on a massive LinkedIn self marketing blitz.As well as launching my own business - ABespokeCV - a CV writing and job search and support business - I also individually emailed my recruiter connections and reminded them of my latest updated CV and that I was still around. 

Almost immediately I had email responses, meetings arranged and telephone calls. The response rate was staggeringly high. I was surprised but I was being proactive and  getting results. Recruiters needed reminding of what Iain Williamson brings to the HR profession. No they hadn't forgotten me but needed a reminder.

Then I had an offer for an interim part time role arrive. I've taken it because it will keep me busy and in the professional loop but also give me time to continue the search for a full time role. 

The message is yes - marketing works - but keep it up and FOLLOW IT UP. Don't do it once and let the dust settle. It doesn't take a second for somebody else to overtake you so keep up the pressure and the gruelling hard work of doing all the things in the list above. Success is only a matter of time.

As always, keep sharing and circulating my blog as widely as possible and comment as well. And review and share my LinkedIn profile widely as well. 

You can contact me by email at iain.williamson24@yahoo.co.uk or on my mobile at 07722 447847

Thanks for all your support and help so far. Please continue your efforts.

What to do?

Its been a while now since my last interim role finished rather abruptly when the business went into administration but now slowly but surely these folks are getting back into the job world. Obviously it has been a difficult time for them and even more so when it appears that as yet they have not received their due payments from the Administrators.

But the good news is that they are getting back into work. Congratulations to them and with a good following wind let's hope that it's not too long before the rest get some result.

I was in a slightly different situation from them in that I was not an employee, operating as the Interim HR Manager - their best ever, I'm told - so was not embroiled in any of the fall out regarding payments from the administrator. You may recall that I had some difficulties getting payments from the agency but these were happily resolved, apart from payments being made over a 4 months period. But at least I will get it.

Recruiters are continuing to tell me that the market is not as good as they would like it. Imagine how I feel about matters!!! And now I am at the point of reconsidering and reviewing my options around salary levels. Thereby lies the conundrum.

If I apply for a role that pays at a level lower than I have worked at before how do I convince the recruiter/business that I won't leave the minute that a better offer comes along? And I am sure that recruiters/businesses automatically reject me for roles when they perceive that I have clearly operated at a higher level previously. Indeed, i had one business recently who told me that I would be bored with the job because I'd been involved with so much in roles prior to that. And so I was unsuccessful for that appointment.

Surely the fact that I'm sitting in front of them, surely the fact that I've done a round trip of 150 miles and prepared a 10 minutes presentation is more than enough evidence to confirm that I have considered all the issues and still considered the role as appropriate at this point.?

Of course, I don't particularly want to take a reduced salary level but  believe me that it is more than you get when you are signing on as unemployed!!!

But even so I am still positive that I will find the right role at the right level at the right business when the time is right. All job seekers go through ups and downs and it it important to keep strong and be positive.

MESSAGE for Recruiters and businesses - if you need a fantastic senior HR professional with an operational and strategic background from both private and public sector organisations then please contact me. My LinkedIN profile can be viewed through this link. Go there and contact me. It will do you and me no harm to have a discussion, in confidence about what value I can add.