How much is that liberal arts degree worth in the job market?

On Drudge yesterday, there was a link to an interesting article in the Washington Examiner which repeated a recurring theme lately; that higher education may be the next bubble to burst.

With family finances tight, loans getting harder to come by, and everyone wary of taking on more debt, it seems that those college bound students and their parents are starting to scrutinize whether spending $200,000 on a bachelors in religious and women's studies makes any kind of sense considering the likelihood that the degree will likely never translate into a job that will pay off that kind of exorbitant debt.

What should today's middle school, high school, and college students do? Think about what they really like to do, but then start going for targeted technical education in that area. You'll spend less, and most likely be more employable.

How to Own The Interview!

If you've landed an interview in this economy, let us be the first to say, Congratulations!   Now that you have an interview, you have to seize this opportunity.    In today's ecomony, there are many more people competing for a lot less jobs.   You HAVE to stand out!    Here's how:

Get "Fit"
Your interviewer wants to find out ONE thing – whether you will FIT - with them, the position, your co-workers, the organization. Because of this, spend the bulk of your prep time finding out everything you can about the position, company, and your future boss. Then review your background and note your skills, experience, and accomplishments that fit best with the position.

Here’s the Pitch
In the interview, you’re selling yourself. And like any good salesperson, you want to “Wow” your interviewer with a powerful opening pitch that will persuade them to buy. Develop a two-minute pitch about yourself by incorporating your strongest, most relevant accomplishments, skills, and experience into it. Note awards won. If your nickname was “The Closer” for solving problems, include this. Use measurable accomplishments when possible. Tweak your pitch until it is perfect.

Questions
DO NOT memorize answers to hundreds of questions. It can’t be done, it’s a poor use of prep time, and it adds to interview anxiety.

DO prepare answers to some likely questions like; why are you looking?, describe your worst boss, what was your greatest challenge?
Always be positive in your responses. If you’re asked a question that you haven’t prepared for, think back to your sales pitch as it may contain an answer you can expand on.

Attitude
Be positive, confident, and enthusiastic. Surveys have shown enthusiasm is often the tie-breaker among otherwise equally qualified candidates.
Do NOT be humble. Many in the over 40 crowd don’t like to take credit for a job well done. If you saved your company $1 million, developed a great product, etc., SAY IT! No one else can say it for you. DO NOT SAY “it was nothing”. There are two reasons why that’s a bad idea;
1) the interviewer might believe you, and
2) the next candidate in the reception area may have no problem saying how great they are.

Salary
If asked, "so how much are you looking for?", do not answer with an amount. Usually, the first person who gives a number loses.
While negotiation is a subject in itself, try your best to politely defer the salary discussion. Use some side-stepping responses like; “I’m confident that we’ll be able to work something out that we’ll both be comfortable with.” etc. If the interviewer says you can’t leave until you give a number, give at most a salary range.

Stick the Dismount
Late in the interview, you’ll be asked if you have any questions. Here are two tactical questions you can ask that can help you seal the deal.

“Do you have any concerns about my qualifications?” The goal is to find out any remaining objections about yourself and addressing them on the spot. Successfully doing this can move you from being a strong candidate to the BEST candidate. A secondary benefit is that this question shows you have guts since you can’t know with certainty what the interviewer’s lingering concerns might be. However, you can anticipate them during your prep by noting aspects of the job that may not synch perfectly with your background (lack of technical experience, career change, etc.).

“How do I compare to the other candidates?”. The interviewer’s response can tell you where you are in the order of interviewing and in the rankings, and may provide you with more feedback on strengths or weaknesses the interviewer sees in you.

First Impressions
A Robert Half International survey showed that a majority of hiring managers formed an opinion of a candidate within 12 minutes. And the clock starts the moment the interviewer meets you. So to make a great first impression, make sure your clothes are clean and pressed, hair is coiffed, shoes are polished, and piercings are removed. Arrive early. Treat everyone you meet respectfully. Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake and a “Hello”.    Follow these steps and you’ll dramatically improve your chances of turning an interview into an offer.

Signs of Hope in Tech

Wall Street Journal is reporting that tech job listings on career sites are up 22% from this time a year ago. Whether this is a short term bump, or a predictor of a long term change, it's good news either way. Here's
the article.

Does Grad School ALWAYS Improve Job Prospects?

The mantra for years has been that more education equals more opportunities. But is this always true? Part of it depends on the type of education. The link here is to an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education that challenges the value of graduate degrees in the Humanities. It's one thing to go for a certification in your current line of work, or to study for a specialized technical skill. But that Masters degree in History or English, while intellectually stimulating, may leave you deeper in debt down the road, with no more career prospects.

Turn Your Pitch Into A Video Resume

You need to be creative in this job market. Careerbuilder has 10 creative ways to get your name, and accomplishments in front of employers. One way is to create a brief video resume of yourself. You can create this using the principles of the pitch that we discuss elsewhere here on the blog. Click here to see the Careerbuilder article.

Older workers - Shave the 'Stache!

Follow these tips to spruce up your exterior to make yourself look younger and hipper.

What Employers Want

I've linked to a very interesting interview in the NY Times with Bobbi Brown, founder of Bobbi Brown cosmetics. She says it takes her only two minutes to know whether she'll hire someone (same length of time it takes to deliver your personal sales pitch). She also gives other insights on what she as a CEO thinks is important to getting and keeping a job, and starting a career. Read the interview here.

50 Best Careers of 2010

If you're thinking "career change" or want to know how your current career rates as being either "hot" or "not", this US News and World Report article lists the jobs and careers that look promising in an otherwise challenging job market in 2010.

Insider Secrets to Getting Hired

Liz Wolgemuth of US News and World Report writes a helpful article of useful tips for getting hired.    Some of the themes are familiar but always bear repeating;  neatness counts, and watch the small stuff.   Also, hiring managers can read body language, and you should be aware of yours during the interview.

Finding a Job in 2010

Here's a video from the Wall Street Journal on finding a job in a down economy. 

Make Your Resume FIT The Job

One word that you'll see a LOT on this blog is "Fit". And it's a word that anyone attempting a career change needs to remember too. The link below is to a Wall Street Journal article of a laid off construction project manager who wants to get into facilities management. Per the resume experts who reviewed this man's resume, he hadn't highlighted the skills he had that would lend themselves to facilities management. On his resume, he needed to make his skills "fit" a facilities management position.   Click here to see his resume, and the review of it.

Know Your Skills

Last week, I wrote about the out-of-work mortgage broker, and architect couple in Atlanta who were reinventing themselves. The Wall Street Journal follows in their career section a number of currently unemployed MBAs, who document their experiences and list job seeking strategies that have and have not worked for them. One of the subjects, Steve McConaughey, found that he felt more energized in his job search when he started to pursue positions that matched his skills, and not just past positions he had held.    Read his and other's stories here.

Follow The Stimulus Money!

Click here to find out who has won stimulus money for projects in the Phildelphia area, and what RFPs are in the pipeline to win money for other projects.

Where the Jobs Will Be Across the US in 2010

Business Week picked regions around the country that they predict will see economic growth in 2010.
Click here to read the full story.

Try New Things to Keep Skills Sharp

Fox had a story yesterday about an Atlanta husband and wife who lost their jobs as a mortgage broker and architect. Now, he is running a sports bar, and she is running a contest to redesign it. Their story provides some insights in the value of doing SOMETHING while looking for work that will keep your skills sharp. Click here for their story.

Job Outlook for 2010

This Michigan State University study conducted in Nov. isn't a surprise. The study says that college grads will have a TOUGH time finding work come graduation time. Advice: if graduation day is just a few months away, it's time to focus on what you want to do when you get out of school, and start thinking about your skills, talents, and experience in and out of school that support the case that YOU are the person for the job!