Dear J.T. & DALE: After living overseas for 23 years, I returned to the U.S. almost two years ago and still have not found a job, despite having sent my résumé to every company in town. I’m enclosing my résumé, asking both of you to please look at it and tell me if there is something wrong. As you can see, I have a lot of experience and speak two foreign languages, so what is wrong here? – Clara
DALE: I’m trying to think of a case where we said, “YES, it is your lousy résumé that is keeping you from finding a job.”
J.T.: We have seen some shaky ones. And some eccentric ones.
DALE: But have we ever concluded that the résumé is killing the job search?
J.T.: No, we have not. And we both know why.
DALE: Because a good job search can overcome a mediocre résumé. In fact, you can restart a stalled job search just by envisioning how you would find a job if you did not have a résumé.
J.T.: It’s true, Clara, that most résumés get buried in the sea of applicants and that most jobs are gotten via referral. This means, of course, networking. I realize that you spent most of your career overseas, and perhaps you feel that you don’t have a network to leverage, but there are things you can do.
DALE: The first is to realize that there’s a network waiting to welcome you. There are organizations related to the languages you speak. For instance, you probably have an international school in town. The parents of those kids are likely to be foreign nationals, working for international corporations that want people with language skills. The school’s administrators could help you meet the right people.
J.T. I also would suggest that you reach out to local staffing companies and see if you can do some temporary work. It’s a great way to let local employers test your abilities. Plus, some temporary jobs become full time. Finally, don’t be afraid to do your homework and create a Top Ten list of employers you’d like to work for. With that in hand, you can focus on finding people who work at these companies, learn more about the companies from them and, if all goes well, hear about upcoming job openings and get introductions to hiring managers.
DALE: Remember: Your résumé is like a big business card – it supports your search, but it is NOT your search.
Dear J.T. & Dale: I got a new job a year ago. I like this firm and had hoped to be with it for a while, but a promised raise never materialized. My father’s advice is to bite the bullet and defer my financial obligations while I gather the experience for a stellar résumé. Should I wait, or should I start getting on the HR radar in case an opening appears?
– Erin
J.T.: As long as it doesn’t interfere with your ability to do your current job, there is no downside to researching other employers and doing informational interviews. However, your father has a point: While pay is always an important factor in choosing a job, it’s not the only one. There are times when a low-paying job has high-level financial advantages. That happens when you are a kind of apprentice, earning a low salary but also getting an education around job skills or meeting people who can help you later.
DALE: I hear about such relationships with certain professionals, like artists or architects. In the corporate setting, however, the “apprenticeship” position could be a myth. The same employer who squeezes you on salary is likely to squeeze you on training and introductions.
J.T.: It all comes down to weighing your options. That is why, Erin, you should go ahead and explore what’s available to you. Without options, you are trapped. The worst that can happen in looking for a new employer is that you either find a better one, or realize that the one you have is actually the one you want.
– Workplace consultant and career coach J.T. O’Donnell has coached, trained and mentored employees and managers on a wide variety of career-related subjects since 1994. Her book, “CAREEREALISM: The Smart Approach to A Satisfying Career” is available at JTODonnell.com. Management guru Dale Dauten has written six books and is an authority on innovation in the workplace. His latest book, “Great Employees Only: How Gifted Bossess Hire & Dehire Their Way to Success” is available at Dauten.com. copyright 2013 King Features.
