By Karen Choucrallah

Being out of work or between jobs is a huge financial blow, particularly in an expensive city like Boston.  While it’s tempting to curl up and pretend everything’s fine, three-day Law & Order marathons will not help your cause (although I do love Benson & Stabler!).  Sometimes all it takes to find a great Boston job is a burst of energy channeled into a day of cover-letter writing, followed by a full evening of networking.  I’m having trouble thinking of anything worthwhile that was ever achieved on the couch (unless a laptop was involved).  So get up, push yourself out of your comfort zone, and hit the city to find a Boston networking event.

Networking events don’t have to be named as such.  You’ll probably soon realize that you make your most valuable contacts-and those most closely related to your desired line of work- when you get involved in activities you’re truly passionate about or those that fit your background.  Are you into art? Visit a free exhibition at Newbury Fine Arts, or submit a landscape piece to Arnold Arboretum.  Do you love to read?  Join a book club at Barnes & Noble, or check out a visiting author at a university book store.

Do keep in mind as you pick your events that no one likes a phony.  Showing up to a wine tasting with the sole intention of mingling with Boston’s gainfully employed is a sure-fire way to look like a big fraud.  Not to mention that people who really are there to sample the wine will be annoyed if you are incessantly passing out your business card at every opportunity.  Of course it’s ok to try new things and DO be proactive about meeting people, but keep it relevant and keep it respectful.  Here’s a great list of events to check out. Happy networking.

By Contributing Blogger, Lauren Shiraka

Be Confident.

This is the one piece of interview advice during the job search that is heard most frequently by job-seekers. Without confidence in yourself, you diminish your ability to sell your skills to future employers. However, there is a thin line between confidence and arrogance. When it comes to self-promotion, the hard sell isn’t always the right sell. Whether you’re shy, arrogant, or somewhere in between, read the tips below to learn how to seal the deal on a prospective job with the right balance of confidence and tact.

Make your interview a conversation, not a monologue.

Whether your tendency is to boast or to choke during an interview, expressing reciprocated interest in your interviewer and your potential employer is a surefire way to avoid making a poor first impression. Instead of providing longwinded, one-sided responses about your qualifications, intersperse your anecdotes with relevant questions to engage your interviewer.

Be a team player, not a solo act.

Talking up your role at your previous position is tempting, but be careful not to give yourself too much credit. While employers do value independent thinkers, they are also looking to recruit candidates who work well with others. If you find yourself overemphasizing your individual contributions to a group effort, try shifting your focus to how you positively affected the team dynamic.

Seem passionate, not pushy.

Displaying drive is critical to interview success; yet, you should be wary of letting your demeanor slip into overdrive. When trying to showcase your passion, avoid overbearing behavior. Over-the-top displays of enthusiasm and eagerness can seem off-putting and insincere. Instead of amplifying your personality, try infusing your responses with increased inside references to showcase your industry expertise. Insatiable curiosity and knowledge are often the truest indicators of passion and dedication.

Say “Thank you,” not “See you Monday.”

Walking away from an interview with the assumption that you’re as good as hired can be detrimental to landing the job. Though you may be right in your assumption, failing to follow the proper post-interview protocol may cost you the position. No matter how confident you are in your interview performance, always follow up with a handwritten thank you note expressing both gratefulness to your interviewer and optimism about the opportunity.

By Gillian Seely

If you have recently retired or lost your job, you are undoubtedly feeling some measure of restlessness and frustration. As can be expected, depression is rife among those newly unemployed, and also – perhaps surprisingly — among recent retirees. Even retirement, which is supposed to be a time of relaxation and celebration of a life’s work ended, often leaves people with a sense of diminished worth, and without purpose. A culture that seems to define people by their titles rather than their achievements and contributions leaves many feeling as if there is little left to which they can look forward. Add to this the grim financial realities facing many Americans in the form of foreclosures, dwindling nest eggs, and lack of or decrease in health care coverage, and it’s easy to see why both of these demographics are prone to depression.

As someone who works for a staffing firm, I can attest that barely a day goes by that I don’t hear about or meet people who are going through these struggles. That being said, I’d like to go through a list of common questions people at their professional crossroads ask themselves, and attempt to answer them for you:

1)      Question: Why did (or why didn’t) this happen?

Answer: In just the third quarter of 2009, 277,924 employees found themselves jobless. With unemployment soaring, people are forced to watch as their longtime colleagues are let go without fault of their own. This can instill a false sense of guilt on those still working, when the reality is that there is not necessarily any rhyme or reason to who is chosen for lay-offs. Sometimes it really is just the (bad) luck of the draw.

2)      Question: Should I have waited to retire/ Should I try to go back to work for my former company?

Answer: Not necessarily. Our brains tend to remember most experiences in a more positive light than they actually were. We think fondly about the “good old days” when maybe, in actuality, there was little “good” about them. Think back to your most miserable moment working in that position and try to remember all of the frustration and negativity you felt at that moment. Do you really want to return to that? Look ahead, not back!

3)      Question: Without a job, have I lost my value?

Answer: Of course not. Losing a job or leaving one through retirement is not a mark on your value. You are grieving.  In a sense, you are mourning a death — the loss of your income, your security and your routine — but it doesn’t have to be a loss of identity.  Before your career dominated your life, what were your dreams? What have you been putting off for years? Don’t let money be the bottom line here. Sit down with a pen and write out your aspirations, no matter how ludicrous or impractical they may seem. Maybe the Peace Corps is calling your name. Maybe you want to sell those oil paintings you’ve been working on or maybe you just want to spend every waking moment with your kids. Now is the time.

Many people feel ashamed and avoid talking about their recent unemployment.  If this is true of you, know that you are far from alone. If the stress of your unemployment makes it difficult for you to face the day-to-day, there are many options availabe to lessen your burden. For further information about depression or seeking treatment for depression, please see the available resources on www.webMD.com  and www.depression.com.

By Joshua Weichhand

According to statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), while the rest of the economy slowly gathers momentum in 2010, PR and media communication positions will be sprinting ahead of the pack with a projected increase of 24 percent through 2018 – more than twice the national average. So why is the field expecting such a large increase?

The reasoning goes something like this: the combined effects of the stabilizing economy with the emergence of new media as a viable marketing and communication tool have created a perfect opportunity for expansion. Companies who had cut back on marketing and public relations costs during the recession are now experiencing the crunch to refill those positions as the market rebounds. The speed with which new media has begun its integration into modern business has opened up immediate opportunities for those with the proper skills.

Meanwhile, traditional approaches to public relations and media strategy are being relegated to the backburner in favor of inbound marketing strategies and creative approaches to new media. Companies like Pepsi and Chase are pulling money out of advertising and putting it instead towards philanthropy and community investment opportunities they can promote over Facebook and Twitter. The game is changing as the “PR professional” quickly evolves into the “New Media professional.”

So what will this mean for those seeking jobs in PR?

1. It means the opportunities will be there. Given the nature of their work, professionals in public relations are positioned to enjoy the advantages of new media better than any other field. Take advantage of new opportunities as companies integrate these new tools into their communication approach and create positions to handle their social media presence.
2. It means a change of job description. While traditional communication skills will remain invaluable, PR is becoming less about the art of the pitch, and more about the art of the Tweet. As company dollars are funneled away from advertising and towards corporate social responsibility and social media campaigns, PR professionals who can comfortably navigate the waters of new media, while finding creative ways to repurpose them, will be in high demand.
3. It means that entry level positions will be more competitive. Having a degree in public relations doesn’t necessarily guarantee a position in the field and certainly won’t be as valuable without the knowledge and skill sets necessary to harness the new opportunities on the internet. PR professionals in 2010 should distinguish themselves by being familiar with inbound marketing tools like SEO and web analytics, as well as social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter.
4. It means you should be prepared to step up and in. While entry-level positions are initially expected to be competitive, the Department of Labor is expecting a rise in retirements from the industry over the next decade. As these seasoned professionals step down, you should be prepared to confidently step in with your experience and invaluable new technical knowledge.

(Facebook, Chase Team Up for Crowdsourced Philanthropy Program, Ariel Schwartz, FastCompany/Nov. 16, 2009)

Being able to negotiate salary is an essential part of the hiring process, and one which people often approach with trepidation. While being too pushy with your salary requests can be a red flag to potential employers, it is important to protect your financial livelihood and ensure that you’re being paid a fair price for your services and for the value you offer a prospective employer.  There is no “right” way to negotiate salary, as every hiring process is different.  Here are some things to keep in mind as you navigate the complicated world of the hiring process.

Industry standards

I wouldn’t ask for $30 an hour if interviewing for a retail job, just as I wouldn’t expect a C-Level position to come without a hefty benefits and compensation package. Part of your due diligence when applying for a position should include researching salary standards.  Remember in your research, however, that you will not find a consistent salary for a given position.  Websites vary widely on “average” salaries, so be sure to use a bit of common sense regarding geographical location, and type of company.

Economic stability

The stability of the economy in general, as well as in your particular sector, plays a role in what you can ask for.  Do your research, but do be careful here. The economy is defined by fluctuations, but don’t undersell yourself because you think a company might not have the resources to pay you what you are worth.  A certain amount of “sticking to your guns” will show just the kind of confidence they may be looking for.  Also, do you really want to work for a company that is financially unstable?

Experience

This will be the largest factor in determining how much you can request in salary.  A company may be willing to hire you with only an internship under your belt, but you probably will have to start at a low rate of pay, and won’t be able to negotiate as much as a person with several years’ experience.  If you are newly entering the workforce, focus more on things like health benefits and a 401K plan than base pay, which most decent companies should provide without hesitation.

Remember as (or indeed, if) you negotiate salary, to be diplomatic in your approach. Unless your interviewer brings up salary, do not mention it in a first meeting.  The first round of interviews is designed to get a feel for what you are like in person, and to see if you would be a good fit for a company.  Even if you seem to have great rapport with your interviewer in your first meeting, no one is going to be setting up your direct deposit just yet!  If and when you receive a job offer, you can start to get specific.

Use these Web sites as a guide to figuring out what you’re worth.  Use common sense as you negotiate, but don’t compromise too much.  Putting yourself on sale can come across as desperate, and won’t do you any favors in the long or short term.

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/City=Boston/Salary

http://www.salarymap.com/salary-survey-comparison/index.cfm/Principal/668

http://www.salary.com/Compensation/icrltd.asp

http://bostonjobsource.com/salaries.html

By Gillian Seely

According to a Boston Globe article, the results of a recent Massachussetts Innovation & Technology Exchange hiring survey show that things are looking up in the digital, online, and technology spaces.

The Globe report details the survey’s optimism, saying on average, respondents will be looking to hire six new people per company, with one company (Boston-based CSN Stores) planning to hire 50 or more.  The most sought-after positions will be in the areas of Web development, creative & marketing, account services, design, and IT.

The survey results show that 95 percent of respondents will be hiring for jobs that require a BA or BS, while 81 percent are looking for advanced degrees.  77 percent will be hiring both.  Students and recent graduates will be happy to know that 81 percent of respondents will be offering college internships, and 76 percent of these will be paid.

Ending 2009 on an optimistic note- Happy New Year, job-seekers!

(“Good news from the HR office: Digital media and marketing gigs may be more plentiful in 2010”, Scott Kirsner, Globe Staff / Dec 17, 2009)

Looking for a career change, but don’t want to leave Boston? Here are some of Boston’s best job niches in  prominent and stable industries, including a few that you may not have considered.

By Gillian Seely
Higher Education
Beantown and its immediate suburban area boast no fewer than fifty-one colleges and universities. While higher education hasn’t come out unscathed by the economic crisis, the sheer number of these institutions means that there are jobs to be had- not only in traditional academia, but also in more alternative areas of research.

Education, K-12
Boston’s public school system is the oldest in America, and the area is well known for the quality of its schools.  In addition to excellent public schools, this city is home to some stellar private and religious schools that provide a great work environment and benefits. Just think- summer holidays!

Finance
Boston’s financial district is recognized as one of America’s banking and investment hubs. Big-timers such as Fleet Bank, Fidelity Investments, and John Hancock Financial Services all have a strong presence here, and Boston’s proximity to New York makes it a great place to land a first job in finance.

Biotechnology & Clean Technology
It’s no surprise that many clean and biotech firms have set up shop locally, with MIT and Harvard sharing an area code. The city is known as a “green” hub, and this industry isn’t just a trend. A simple Google search of the words “Biotech Boston” will yield hundreds of start-ups, as well as firmly established companies.  A potential goldmine of jobs await you here.

Healthcare
Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham Women’s, Children’s, Beth Israel Deaconess, Massachusetts General, New England Baptist, Tufts New England, St. Elizabeth’s, Newton Wellesley, and nine campuses of the VA Boston hospital, to name a few. Don’t forget the countless university medical centers, medical research institutes, and nonprofits.  Need I say more?

Hospitality/Tourism
In a culturally rich city like Boston, there will always be a decent tourism and hospitality industry. Such beautiful and historic hotels as The Lenox, The Seaport, and The Ritz dot the landscape, making Boston a sought-after destination for tourists and businesspeople alike.  Don’t forget that where there are chic hotels, there are luxurious spas (The Spa at Mandarin Oriental comes to mind!), tour companies, world-class restaurants, and cruise lines. All of these are great places to launch a new career. Even if customer service isn’t your thing, do check out vacancies at the corporate offices that may suit your background.

Entertainment
While often overshadowed by New York, Boston has an exceptional theater district-largely due to the presence of many excellent liberal arts schools and music academies. Furthermore, Boston has turned into a sort of East Coast Hollywood of late, with dozens of blockbuster films shot here in the past few years. Casting companies are on the rise, and regularly employ local extras and talent for television and film productions.  Even if drama isn’t your thing, you can earn some decent cash milling about on set with celebs!

By Gillian Seely

Research the Dress Code

In interviews, the importance of first impressions can’t be overstated. This largely relates to your attire, like it or not. While many offices have shifted (internally) to a business casual dress code as the workday standard, suits are still generally the way to go during the interview process. A solid rule of thumb for interviews is to always dress one category above the dress code of a company. If employees wear business casual attire on a daily basis, you’ll want to interview in a suit.  And if you’re not sure, just play it safe and go with the suit. You can’t go wrong here.

Simple is Best

The easiest interview attire consists of a neutral colored suit (black, brown, gray or navy), and a white button-down shirt. While often overlooked, your shoes can speak volumes to an interviewer. Ladies will want to forgo the five-inch stilettos, as well as any gaudy accessories and a full face of makeup. Anything that might distract the interviewer from the interview process is usually taboo.

Keep it Neat

Do remember that your clothes should fit impeccably well. Jackets and blouses that pull at the buttons make you look unkempt and unprofessional. Too tight or too loose clothing also reflects poorly upon your overall level of put-togetherness, and can send unintended messages. Budget in some time before you leave to iron shirts, trim loose threads, polish your shoes, and get your hair situated so it’s not falling in your face as you interview.  If you’re traveling any distance to get to the interview, bring along a spare shirt or tie in case Murphy’s Law goes into action and you spill.

Add Some Subtle Flair

While dressing simply is best, don’t feel that you have to look dull or completely hide your fashion-personality during an interview.  There are many understated accessories, such as a classy watch or simple necklace, that ladies can integrate into their ensemble to add a little flair to a look. Guys wanting to spice up their interview wardrobe with a little personality should check out Blank Label – an innovative website where men can customize their shirts, from the color right down to the buttons.  

Interviewers will appreciate that you’ve taken the time to put together a tidy and well-polished outfit. Remember that your outward appearance is often a reflection of how prepared and together you are on the inside.  Good luck!

By Nick Holt

Many HR and recruiting professionals are well-trained to notice the behavioral nuances that can ultimately uncover truth from fiction in a candidate interview. Analyzing your movements and handshake are only the beginning. Before a company commits to taking you on their team, they will want to know about those tricky situations you’ve encountered in your career and how you dealt with each. They uncover this information by asking behavioral interview questions.   

So what is a behavioral interview question? Behavioral interviewing, which is more than 40% more effective than traditional Q&A style interviewing, was developed in the 1970s by industrial psychologists. It was introduced to HR and recruiting professionals as a way to pinpoint potential employees’ soft skills, such as creativity, drive, values and versatility. By asking candidates specific questions about past performance and experiences, future performance can more accurately be predicted. For example: 

“Describe for me a time when you failed to communicate important information to your supervisor.” No one is perfect and everyone fails at one point or another. With this question, the recruiter is interested in learning about how you handle and reacted to a professional failure that involved communication with your manager. By asking about this real-life situation, they are able to study not as much the failure itself, but more importantly, study the relationship you had with a previous manager and understand how you developed from your experience. This information will help them to understand how you will handle similar situations in your future career and perhaps how you will communicate with managers in their organization.

“Describe a time when you made a major sacrifice to achieve an important goal.”  By asking this question, the recruiter is simply looking to test your career loyalty. They want to know that you’ll commit to their team and crank things up when the going gets tough.

“Give me a time when you had to make a quick decision with incomplete information.” When you are asked this type of question, the recruiter could be looking to see how much direction you need from your manager in your job. Do you desire to be micro or self managed? Depending on the role you are applying for, this question could also be asked to uncover your ability to lead and make difficult decisions with a limited amount of information.  It could be their way of asking whether you can take charge and make critical decisions where others might flounder. 

As a job seeker in an very competitive market, you’ll want to take the time to prepare for these behavioral interview questions. Recollect all of those awkward, stressful, and ethically questionable work situations you’ve been confronted over the years- even as far back as being an intern. Keep in mind that people like to hear stories, so take your experiences and turn them into the life stories that have brought you to be who you are today. Please though, whatever you do, don’t attempt to fabricate an answer. An experienced recruiter will easily detect your poor story-telling ability and likely slam you with a curve ball follow-up question.

Other Behavioral Interview Resources:

 About.com: Behavioral Interviewing

http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/interviews/a/behavioral.htm

Monster.com- You can Survive the Behavioral Interview

http://career-advice.monster.com/job-interview/interview-preparation/you-can-survive-the-behavioral-interview/article.aspx

Quint Careers – Sample Behavioral Interview Questions

http://www.quintcareers.com/sample_behavioral.html