Sharon – Page 4 – Penn & Beyond

Job Search Self-Talk: Asking Yourself Better Questions

by Sharon Fleshman

Why am I not getting interviews?
Why didn’t I get an offer?
How many applications do job seekers typically send out?

For those in the midst of the job search, questions like these are posed at some point, and not without valid reasons. However, I wonder about the effect of asking them too often and for too long. I imagine that ruminating on the first two queries could produce a downward spiral of frustration that is counterproductive. The hiring process can be complex and answers to these questions can be hard to pin down. There may very well be concrete reasons for not getting interviews or offers, but might there also be better questions to ask to get reenergized? From time to time, I hear the third question from those who seek a formula for sending just the right amount of applications. Yet, is such a strategy really helpful?

Consider the following questions:

How can I identify jobs that best fit my skills, interests and work values?
How can I connect the dots between my skills, strengths and accomplishments, and what is most important to the employer?
How can I show where my core values and interests align with the mission and values of the employer?
How can I speak with those who can offer more insight into the job market for my targeted career fields?

Notice the shift from disappointment toward possibility. These questions are more empowering as they address actions that the job seeker can take in the quest for interviews and offers. If you are feeling drained by the questions you are asking yourself about the job search, check in with a Career Services advisor who can help you refocus.

“What people think of as the moment of discovery is really the discovery of the question.” – Jonas Salk

Beyond Commencement: Navigating the Next Phase of Your Journey

by Sharon Fleshman

I will be attending my 25^th year college reunion this weekend. When I think back to May 1990, I recall feeling excited and yet overwhelmed as I walked across College Green toward Franklin Field. As a Penn alum, I can relate to being goal-oriented and having a given destination clearly in view. What I’ve learned over the years, however, is that the journey will reroute you to unanticipated places that offer their own life lessons. Whether you are graduating or simply regrouping for your next semester or career move, these quotes from commencement speeches will offer food for thought.

“As you start your journey, the first thing you should do is throw away that store-bought map and begin to draw your own.” Michael Dell

“It doesn’t matter that your dream came true if you spent your whole life sleeping.” Jerry Zucker

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.” J.K. Rowling

“It’s harder to build than destroy. To build is to engage and change. In jazz, we call progressing harmonies changes. Changes are like obstacles on a speed course. They demand your attention and require you to be present. They are coming…they are here….. and then they are gone. It’s how life comes. Each moment is a procession from the future into the past and the sweet spot is always the present. Live in that sweet spot. Be present.” Wynton Marsalis

“You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. You can’t get there by bus, only by hard work and risk and by not quite knowing what you’re doing, but what you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover will be yourself.” Alan Alda

“You cannot authentically live anyone’s life but your own. That is the deal life offers us.” Gabrielle Giffords

Yea or Nay?: Weighing the Job Offer

By Sharon Fleshman

Wherever you are in the job search, it wouldn’t hurt to consider how you might decide on a given job offer. To that end, here are some key steps.

Allow for adequate time for decision making. This may require some negotiation if an employer requests that you decide on the offer by a certain date and you feel that you need more time. The worst thing you can do is to prematurely accept an offer, and renege on it later. After you express your enthusiasm about the offer, note that you want to take the time to make a well-informed decision.

Do your research. Make sure you are as clear as possible on the employer’s core values to see whether they align with yours. Hopefully, your research started when you prepared to interview but you may still need to review the organizational website, read recent news related to employer, or speak with others (especially alumni) who work at the employer. As it relates to salary, be aware of what a reasonable range might be so that you can negotiate effectively. A number of resources accessible on the Career Services website can be helpful in this regard. Consider other criteria such as professional development, health benefits, financial planning options, location, and so on.

Know your bottom line. Regarding the offer, think about what allows for some flexibility and what is non-negotiable. Perhaps you know that a certain salary is required for you to meet your financial obligations. Maybe you need a certain level of supervision for the pursuit of a necessary licensing or certification. Your responsibilities to your family may require that you live in a certain region.

Consult with a mentor and/or Career Services advisor. It can be very helpful to invite another person to be a sounding board. Speak with trusted mentors who know you and your chosen career field well. Make an appointment with a Career Services advisor who can point you to useful resources and help you sort out your thoughts about the offer.

Curiosity & Careers: How Informational Interviewing Can Build Your Network (Revisited)

My colleague Xiu Mei Long has offered some food for thought on networking, particularly for those who are more introverted or those who seek to strengthen their connections. From my observation, it seems that informational interviewing remains a relatively underutilized means of developing a solid network. With that in mind, I have updated and reposted a previous article on this topic.

Wherever you are in the career planning process, it never hurts to chat with people in careers that have piqued your curiosity. This process, often referred to as informational interviewing, is a great way to gather helpful insight on a career and receive advice on moving into that career. Why not schedule some interviews this fall? Here are some tips to get you started:

1) Be open to the many opportunities to engage people.

You may want to start with Penn alumni, who are generally happy to help. Check out QuakerNet, Penn’s online alumni community, and search for alumni who are in careers that interest you. Assuming that they don’t have major time constraints, many alumni are glad to talk about the work they do and offer their own perspective on what it takes to be successful in their field. You can also identify alumni with careers of interest by way of LinkedIn alumni groups and Penn Regional Alumni clubs.

Don’t feel like you are limited to alumni. It is often tempting to overlook those closest to you, such as family, friends of the family, and relatives of friends. Peruse the website of an organization that you respect and see if you can locate staff biographies and identify those doing work that you could see yourself doing in the future; if any Penn alumni are working there, all the better.

Once you develop a list of potential contacts, send an e-mail message introducing yourself and stating how you became aware of the person’s work. Mention that you have developed an interest in the contact’s career field and that you would like to talk with him/her for 30 minutes to glean insight and advice. Informational interviews can be conducted by phone or in person, depending on what is most convenient.

2) Prepare well.

Once the informational interview is scheduled, make sure to read up on basic information about the career field as well as the organization at which your contact works. Good preparation is key to asking thoughtful and focused questions that spark engaging conversation and leave a great impression. Helpful tips and sample questions are available on the Career Services website and you can make an appointment with a career advisor who can help with preparation. Though you will not be going to a job interview, professionalism is still important. If you are meeting your contact in person, be clear on what attire is appropriate and where the contact’s office is located. If you are talking over the phone, you should be in a quiet place during the interview. Be sure to send a thank you note after the interview, and keep in touch periodically.

3) Respect the boundaries.

It is crucial to remember that an informational interview is neither a job interview nor the venue to ask for one. The purpose of an informational interview is to gather information and advice as well as more networking contacts. That being said, a contact who is very impressed with you may choose to offer additional assistance to you at his or her discretion.

4) Enjoy!

Informational interviewing allows for an intentional conversation where there is relatively little pressure to convince someone that you are totally committed to a given career or the best fit for a job. The process offers a great opportunity for you to learn from another’s experiences and get clarity regarding your own career goals. It can be one of the more enjoyable aspects of networking, even for those who typically see networking as a daunting task.

A cool job, favorite things and careers

By Sharon Fleshman

As I dedicate this blog to two of my favorite things (summer and sweets), I wonder how fun it might be to dream up jobs related to them. With the heat of the summer months comes an opportunity to enjoy something cool. As much as I appreciate a frosty glass of iced tea or lemonade, there’s nothing quite like a scoop of ice cream. (Just about anything with chocolate works for me.) So imagine my glee when I stumbled upon information about John Harrison, who has what I would call a “cool” job – ice cream taster.

Hypothetically speaking, let’s say ice cream is a favorite of yours. As you add ice cream taster to your list to related jobs, consider some more possibilities. You could develop new flavors, manage or own an ice cream shop, develop a marketing plan for a brand of ice cream, and so on.

Brainstorming around favorite things for career options may seem whimsical, but imagine what could emerge. This process may not be so much about finding a career involving that specific favorite thing as much as a chance to allow your creativity some space to roam in your career development.

Enjoy the last days of summer and the treats that come with it!