You’ve been out of work for quite a while – maybe even more than two years. Your family gives you advice on what you should be doing, as if your own efforts aren’t enough. Your friends are quick to weigh in on everything they think you are doing wrong. You go to your college professor, hoping he will be able to provide you with the right solution. The frustration mounts.
You know your family and friends mean well, but it is hard for them to truly comprehend what you are going through. Losing your job is scary enough, but along with the fear comes humiliation. With all the advice you are receiving, solicited and otherwise, you begin to question your self-worth. You know you are good in your chosen field, but being out of work and unable to secure interviews has you questioning everything. You are so focused on searching for your next position that it is hard to see beyond your next step.
You realize that the feedback you are receiving from family, friends, and your Alma Mater is not working, and decide to seek the advice of a professional career services organization. There are so many to choose from; how do you select one that will benefit you and not take advantage of your vulnerable state?
Here are a few tips:
1. Find an organization that will provide you with a free, no pressure, critique of your résumé. What many do not know or realize is that a résumé is the foundation to any career search, and should be the one area you are willing to spend money for professional help. Through a free critique, you’ll find out what the organization believes and how they will treat you. You also want to be sure the organization employs Certified Professional Résumé Writers (CPRWs) who will be working on your résumé. Otherwise, you will have someone that thinks they know how to write a résumé, but quite possibly does not. The quality of a CPRW written résumé will surpass that of those not certified. Listen to your instincts. If what is being said to you doesn’t make sense, or if you don’t feel they truly care about you and are invested in your success, move on to the next organization. If the critique is provided by email, you are just a number and are probably receiving a form letter that only appears to be personalized. Run far and fast from the company that cannot be bothered to speak to you through any other means but email.
2. Ask about the organization’s success rate over the last two years. Once they give you their percentage, inquire about the industries on which they focus. If your industry isn’t one they list, ask them what their success rate is in your industry. If they try to skate around the answer, or are not successful in your industry move on to the next organization.
3. Ask about the organization’s guarantees. Are they in writing? Will they send them to you in writing? If the answer is no in either case, move on to the next organization.
4. Review the organization’s website – do they even have one? Does it raise more questions than it answers? If the answer is no in either case, move on to the next organization.
5. Has the person you are working with ever worked in any other position? What was it? Ultimately, you would like someone that has worked in HR, as a hiring manager, as a recruiter, or a combination of any of these fields. If they have only ever worked as a career coach or counselor, they probably don’t keep their fingers on the pulse of HR, hiring managers and recruiters. If they have worked as subordinates, then as a career coach or counselor, find out how long they have worked as a career coach. If it has been three years or less, chances are pretty good that they went into this field since the recession as a means of making some sort of income. That would indicate they were probably not successful in their own career search. Next!
6. Will you be working with one individual or multiple within the company? What is their availability? What situations will they help you with? What is the cost for their help? What do they offer for free? Again, the answers to these questions will give you a clearer picture as to whether or not you are just a number. If you don’t like their answers, move on to the next organization.
7. Lastly, research the individual and/or company on LinkedIn. Check their recommendations. Connect with the individual who made the recommendation and ask if they still feel the same way as they did when they wrote it. Ask how effective their resume has been. How many interviews have they received since having it rewritten? If you aren't comfortable with their answers, move on to the next company.
Remember, you are interviewing them while they are trying to sell you on their services. It is much like your career search, but in this case, you control the selection process! How empowering! The right organization will help you recover your confidence and provide you with all the tools you need to conduct a successful career search.
Kim Cyr is the owner and Director of Career Services Partnering Groups (CSP Groups) and can be reached at www.cspgroups.net, kcyr@cspgroups.net, or (855) 297-7019 ext. 700.
