Fallacies about promotions

HBR Magazine has an article about career development fallacies. The author looked at the CVs of approximately 1000 executives to determine how executives get ahead. She found there were four fallacies about career advancement:

• Job hoppers can hop their way into a promotion; instead stability with a company and internal promotion seem to lead up the ladder;
• Move up the ladder; instead lateral moves can offer more exposure to senior management and then into a promotion;
• A big company will lead to big moves. We have this problem in the career center: students are convinced they need to work for the Big 4 or the Big Ten or the Ivies, instead of thinking about how they will stand out better amongst a smaller pool;
• Switching industries will hold back your career; instead think how you can bring a fresh perspective. The example about salary is a little fishy, since it means some industries are bargain shopping for managers in other industries.

I have one quibble with this article: I do not know one career counsellor who advises flagrant job hopping, or even tentative bunny hopping, as a way to get ahead in a career. Most counsellors are talking risk takers away from frequent jumps based on brief infatuations with other companies or perceived slights that the job seeker takes as a sign to jump ship, instead of a sign to learn to work problems out.

However, the advice is good for career planners: stay steady, make your choices based on what you want to do and know that sometimes small can become big.

Book Review: Seven-step job search by Michael Farr

In my library, books with perfect phrases, write a cover letter in an hour, and step-by-step resumes in the title are popular books, since the patrons have usually picked them up because they are pressed for time. Their interview is tomorrow or the deadline to submit the resume is at 4pm today, so they gravitate to the books that promise them a speedy solution. Seven-step job search may not promise a speedy solution, but it does provide a plan for getting a job search organized and on track.
Seven-step job search explains how

• to identify skills which you will need to display on your resume and while in an interview
• determine a job objective which you can use in your online job search
• employ effective job search methods: if networking works, work it
• resume writing which is basic and includes some sample resumes
• interviewing and salary negotiating skills
• following up

Getting organized for a job search is the hardest part, since some people don’t always recognize that it is a logical process. For example, they write a resume before conducting an inventory of their skills, so they are not quite sure what to put in their job descriptions or on their cover letter. You aren’t locked into an order—and you may have no choice about the order of the process if you get an interview before your resume is ready—but a basic book like this can help you get organized and may even reveal some of the weaknesses in your job search, such as your interview skills are superb but you always choke the minute money is mentioned.
Seven-step job search is a good overview of the job search process and how to put it in order. It is skimpy on how to use online resources to look for work, but there are other books and resources that can fill in this gap. Some of the steps may have to be filled in with other resources, such as occupation specific resume samples when writing a resume, but this book explains the process for a person who is not finding work and needs to fix their strategy or for a person who is gearing up for a job search and who wants to conduct one efficiently.

Seven-Step Job Search: Cut Your Job Search Time in Half (Help in a Hurry)

Helping Job Seekers? Vertical Search Engines

The Points of Reference blog has a post on Helping Job Seekers and the one recommended resource is Indeed.com? That's it? That's the online job seeking source that Booklist could come up with for librarians that are helping job seekers? They could have at least linked to this article from the Searcher, The Info Pro's Survival Guide to Job Hunting, which even if it is a little dated, was thorough.

Not that I have any problem with Indeed. I actually like it and use it with our clients, but there are many other resources that might be better suited to this question. Maybe I just object to the title "Helping Job Seekers" as if this one resource will do it. Maybe I just need a cup of coffee. Anyway, there are more.

Vertical Search Engines

There are many vertical search engines, like Indeed, that scrape posting from major job boards or that accept feeds from employers. SimplyHired is another vertical search engine which has similar tools to Indeed, which includes the keyword and geographic descriptor mentioned in the blog post. They also have salary information, mapping tools and mashups with social networking software like Facebook and LinkedIn, so you can see if anyone in your network is currently working for the company.

These two vertical search engines also have a Trends feature that you can use to find out just how many of the jobs you are looking for are indexed in their engine.The Trends feature is meant to show you increases and decreases in job postings for a specific, title, region or keyword over time. If you take a look at the axis marked "Percentage of Matching Job Postings" you'll get an idea of how many jobs with that keyword are found in their database--or just how many jobs with that keyword there are available. Look at "librarian" compared to "engineer".

Librarian

librarian Job Trends

Librarian jobs

Engineer

engineer Job Trends

Engineer jobs

You can see just how many more jobs that mention "engineer" are available, as opposed to "librarian". That has to do with our economies, the types of professionals that are needed for each industry and sector, and just how many different flavors of engineer there are. (There are four distinct types of engineer civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical and more swirling sectors and specializations than what you could find at Baskins Robbins.) I just used it as an example to show that some vertical search engines will index more jobs of a certain type depending on where they scrape from and who's feeding them their feeds. This is something a librarian should consider when they recommend the search engine to patron: if you check the trends for "electrician" and compare by your state, one vertical search engine may have more postings than another and you may want to try another vertical search engine for your patron.

Other vertical search engines include Career Jet, Oodle, and JobCentral, which is a project of a consortium of employers to provide a place to post jobs for free.

SimplyHired is also messing around with a Local Search feature that is relevant to the job seekers that come into your library who need to find local work and who sometimes forget to add the limiting keyword of their homebase to their job search. Combine this search with a map and you can help someone who needs to relocate. This is the real power of a vertical search engine for job postings alone: it can look everywhere. At least everywhere or every sector it has indexed.

International Job Posting Vertical Search Engines

For Canadians, try Eluta. The result lists are smaller, since the board doesn't scrape but accepts employer supplied feeds only. I would also recommend WowJobs since it also includes Craigslist in its results, which is a great place for people to find a wide range of employment opportunities, especially work in the trades or short-term gigs. Yes, there may be job scams, but there were scams posted in the print classifieds; you need to educate your patrons about them.

Many of the vertical search engines mentioned have international channels of their search engine: Indeed, SimplyHired (click on the link marked USA below the location field to switch countries), CareerJet (click on Career Jet Worldwide for more information), Job Rapido and WowJobs.One of the reasons why I include the Career Jet widget on this blog is that is lets you search in different languages to get local results--I tested this on the Chinese version of the site to look for jobs in North America--which would be an asset to some library patrons that need a boost in English.

Indeed, though useful, is just the tip of the job posting vertical search engine iceberg. You should also make your decision for which vertical search engine is useful for your patron by asking them a bit about the type of work they are looking for, beyond I need a job. That's like responding to a patron's query of I need a book by just pulling the closest one off the shelf. Now, I know you're tempted to do that some days, but a little more questioning will help them find a vertical search engine that may lead them to some relevant jobs.

The Round-Up

• CareerJet
• Eluta
• Indeed
• Job Central
• Job Rapido
• Oodle
• SimplyHired
• WowJobs

Best Canadian Cover Letters by Sharon Graham

Looking for a sample cover letter in French? Need a quick check for a word's Canadian spelling? Best Canadian Cover Letters, a companion book to Best Canadian Resumes which was just released in a second edition, has this and more.

The basics of cover letters is covered including how to write and format the cover letter. There are sample cover letters for new grads, mid-level workers and senior level from a wide range of industries. There is also good indexing in the book, and I especially liked the "Index of Obstacles", since job seekers sometimes have a career obstacle that will keep them from their goal, such as a career gap or a relocation is required.

I do have some concerns about the book. For example, on page 35 there is a sample letter for an animal control officer dispatcher and the comments at the bottom talk about how the cover letter writer showcased their interest in "animal rights". Now, I don't know about your animal control authority, but I don't think an "animal rights" political stance will attract a person to work in animal control. "Animal welfare" on the other hand is the accurate term. This made me concerned that there might be other letters in the book that incorrectly referred to or suggested terminology that might be inappropriate for the industry--I recognized this one because I do have an interest in animal welfare.

Despite that concern, which careful reading and a knowledge of the specific industry will overcome, I think this book is a good choice for Canadian libraries and will be an asset to Canadian job seekers, since there is a wide range of samples and it includes a few examples of the difficult to find French cover letter.


Best Canadian Cover Letters

Broke USA on Democracy Now!

Online Identity Calculator

I found out about the Online Identity Calculator from the Twitter Job Search Guide and I thought the tool was interesting. It would be especially useful if you are concerned about what a Google search would reveal about you and your professional history.

I'm not sure how accurate it is since I run four blogs, none of them under my personal name--my interests are really diverse--but I was still counted as "digitally distinct".

Amazing what a LinkedIn profile can do:)

NACE Salary Calculator

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has released salary calculators for both job seekers and employers. The employer version requires purchasing credits to get the salary data, but the one for job seekers is free.

And yes, it works for librarians.

To use it, you need to indicate the region where you are looking for work, the type of work you are looking for, the education that you possess and the amount of experience you have in the field. The calculator reports the amount of compensation you can expect to receive. If available, it also tells you how many salaries it used to come up with this figure.

For example, I tried Librarian in Flagstaff, Arizona and gave the minimum requirements of required degree and less than one year of experience. The response told me how many librarians were employed in the region (80), provided the starting salary $23,370 and suggested that a librarian with this level of experience was most likely to be offered a salary of $28,200. The calculator also reported that the salary information does not include any other compensation information, such as benefits.

This is a useful tool not only for recent graduates and current librarians but for our clients that are researching salary information to plan a move or to include this information on a cover letter.

Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corp, Housing Information Analyst

This is an interesting position for an experienced librarian--they are looking for some with 5+ years experience in reference--to work for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. Yeah, that's the site you go to to find out about the ins and outs of buying a house in Canada. I think this would also be a position to check out if you are thinking that business reference will become your calling.

To see the posting on their site, you have to create a profile, so I added it to this post. I'm guessing that the CCCC code under languages refers to the language assessment for Government of Canada jobs (scroll down to see what C means.)

I like the "commitment to official languages" functional skill. Points for vagueness. Does it mean you're BFFs with a language? That you pinky swore your faith? Maybe it only makes sense in French? Just so you know, I do appreciate bilingualism, but I also appreciate clarity.


Housing Information Analyst, Canadian Housing Information Centre - Level 08 (temporary assignment up to 17 months)

Description
The primary objectives of this position are:

• To manage the housing information services of the Canadian Housing Information Centre ensuring the delivery of timely, accurate and comprehensive (verbal and written) responses to complex housing information enquiries received from CMHC staff, the housing industry and research community, members of the public, and government officials at all levels and jurisdictions in Canada and abroad.
• To develop, implement and manage self-service reference and research tools for the use of CMHC researchers and external clients.
• To plan, develop and deliver training programs and presentations.
• To manage copyright requests for CMHC information products.

Qualifications

Education/Experience

• Masters Degree in Library and Information Science and a minimum of 5 years of reference/research experience with increasing responsibility or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience in negotiating and reaching agreements on issues and deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience in project planning/scheduling and strong project management skills.

Knowledge/Skills

• Proven abilities in the analysis of information.
• Broad knowledge of the complex fields of housing, construction and community development, and the information resources related to these fields.
• Demonstrated knowledge in accessing, searching and delivering information electronically.
• Responsive in dealing with client service issues and requests.
• Able to manage effectively multiple priorities at one time and to delegate appropriate assignments with authority.
• Good presentation, training and public speaking skills.
• Strong team player and demonstrated ability to lead teams.
• Proven ability to work independently and without supervision.
• Demonstrated decision making and effective problem solving skills.
• Knowledge of CMHC's organization, policies, programs, and business activities would be an asset.

Competencies Core:

• Client focus
• Entrepreneurial/Innovative
• Valuing and Respecting Individuals

Functional:

• Analytical Thinking
• Commitment to Official Languages
• Communication (presenting and influencing)
• Efficiency
• Flexibility
• Project Management
• Relationship Building

Candidates must meet the language requirements to be considered. A language test may be
required. Please note that test(s) may be administered. If so, candidates will be advised in advance.

Job Field Marketing
Primary Location ON-Ottawa
Organization Corporate Marketing

Job Posting Apr 23, 2010
Closing Date May 11, 2010

Security Requirement: Reliability Status

Eligibility for Overtime Compensation: Yes
Eligibility: Open to casual, contract and regular employees (including probationary employees) and to external recruitment
Position number: R2399
Minimum Salary ($) 57,564
Maximum Salary ($) 71,942
Language Designation of Position: Bilingual
Language skill levels of position (Read/Write/Understand/Speak): CCCC

Library Voices

I don't think there is a librarian amongst them, but they are a great band out of Regina and, well, it's Friday and it has been a week. Enjoy!

Step Off the Map and Float



Drinking Games



You can also listen to more from Library Voices, with much better quality, on CBC Radio 3.

Last year, they also had their gear stolen in Vancouver and they made an appeal on youtube to get it back. Watch what they reveal at the end about their band name:

Gender and the Recession

Emily Bazelon and Rebecca Traister discuss the effect of the recession on the depiction of gender, [hetero] relationships and the pay gap. This video-dialogue is from early March, but it is still full of good stuff that people are thinking and feeling, and how the recession continues to be depicted in major media.

Great Place to Work Canada

The Great Place to Work Institute has released their list of the best places to work in Canada. The list is selected based on employee surveys. The detailed pdf from the Globe and Mail explains the metrics that they used to determine the best workplaces. It also has a different list based on the size of the organization.

The Greatest Place to Work is Environics Communications, a public relations firm. They have offices in Toronto, Montreal and Washington D.C. This is their recruitment video. Get this: they want a person with a sense of humor.



Video from The National last night (sorry, they won't let me embed) briefly explains the survey and has requisite clips from The Office, cuz you know, that's the only office.

Potential changes to the hiring of graduate students into US Federal positions?

These two articles appeared on a message from WRK4US and I felt that they may be helpful to some librarians, and librarians who help grad students research work options.

• Agencies urged to hire more graduate students non-competitively
• OPM launches tool to cut red tape in hiring