Today, the job seeker’s fear is focused not just on finding jobs, but more on missing out on one.

Lima Sehgal

The intrinsic nature of the job market is chaos. But that’s no assurance for someone who is trying to maintain balance with a surfboard on a tidal wave.

And we worry about how savvy we can get?

We’ve learnt to look for jobs world-wide on the internet with easy elan, but we continue to be as unplugged as ever. And yes, we can juggle hundreds of placement firms with confidence. But it doesn’t mean that they have a fish to catch.

One squeak and there are a million hands to help. What with the proliferation of placement firms and other services that promise to polish, groom and sell you, and those that promise to zap, zoom and shoot your resume to every corner under the stratosphere.

Today, the job seeker’s fear is focused not just on finding jobs, but more on missing out on one.

Though their neon lights can be quite bewildering, definitely the support systems for job seekers are useful. We must grow up enough to know whom to blame for not getting job offers. It’s may not be faulty resumes, defective personality packaging or ineffective mass resume distribution — there just might be no vacancies.

Déjà vu? Of course it’s the same old problem. Only, since the last generation, the paper has been replaced by Power Point.

Try and try again isn’t applicable only in Kindergarten.

Copyright © 2011, Jobnet magazine, issue 103

Republication or dissemination of the contents of this article are expressly prohibited without the written consent of the publishers of Jobnet magazine

Courtesy Jobnet’s Directory of Placement Firms

Posted under Articles by Lima Sehgal

The treadmill effect is rampant in the job – seeking process in India

Lima Sehgal

Ever since the list of holidays has become longer than the list of working days, business has boiled down to taking pot-shots. Oops! I thought that was the prerogative only of Bush and Saddam.

Though everyone in the job market claims to be working harder than before, one admits that the treadmill effect is rampant. Lots of sweat, but reaching nowhere.

One of the reasons for it is that the job-hunting process has moved from hi-tech to primitive. The all-fangs-and-claw technology is the only one that has, over time, proved to be unfailingly accurate.

Competition for jobs has taken new dimensions. The glamour and gloss will not entice any more. No pussy-footing any more. And those who complain about learning new tricks have forgotten that they were the same old ones.

Publications, and especially job websites unable to cater to the hunger of the masses of job-seeking professionals are in danger of closing shutters. The placement firms are surviving only because the job-seeker has become wiser — than them. Luckily, head-hunting and networking is keeping both of them inter-twined.

A few months later, the shape of the job market along with it’s lifelines and information systems, will reveal an alien landscape.

Change is always a raw deal. Especially when it is too premature to pluck or cook. All we can do is wait for it to ripen.

Copyright © 2011, Jobnet magazine, issue 98

Republication or dissemination of the contents of this article are expressly prohibited without the written consent of the publishers of Jobnet magazine

Courtesy Jobnet’s Directory of Placement Firms

Posted under Articles by Lima Sehgal

Our job hunting methodologies have become primitive

Lima Sehgal

There has been no dent in the problem of how to pack in jobs for the multitudes of jobseekers of such diversity.

Such solutions are not about drops in the ocean, but more like collecting dewdrops in the afternoon.

Today, the job seeking professional no longer wants information on jobs – but jobs! The mushrooming job websites and career publications are catering to the advertisers rather than to the readers. Also, the advertising revenue sources being the same has resulted in the same job being packaged and repackaged and displayed everywhere.

It certainly looks good on the racks. But however good the supermarket looks, it is of no use if they don’t have your size.

The desperation level is evident in the ‘hit or miss’ technology used by jobseekers. Mass email your resume everywhere, and hope to hit a job match, and hope to miss your boss’s PC.

I think it’s time we leave the selling of hope to the Avon lady or to Amway.

Our job hunting methodologies have become primitive. The need of the hour is to strip this business of its traditional secrecy. We need employers to get more open about their vacancies. Placement consultants need to network more with each other, since their clients are no longer going exclusive. It would reduce the redundancy of effort, a major factor that is throttling the placement industry and resulting in a loss of confidence in them amongst job seekers.

In the fast lane, there are no shortcuts.

Copyright © 2011, Jobnet magazine, issue 88

Republication or dissemination of the contents of this article are expressly prohibited without the written consent of the publishers of Jobnet magazine

Posted under Articles by Lima Sehgal

Job seekers in India, need to use rejection as a positive feed back mechanism

Lima Sehgal

However seasoned, no one can get immune to the aches and pains of the job hunting process.

What we tend to do is get into a mindset of either aggression or denial rather than admit the pain of the process. Result is poor results.

Rejection, being an integral part of the job hunt, makes us go through various ego protection exercises -

Me great –find me.

Very popular with freshers with firang education and those who qualify from institutions which charge exorbitant fees. Also popular with senior level people. But waiting is a dubious job hunting strategy.

The golden shortlist of placement firms.

This minimizes the pain of rejection. Placement firms say no or, at worse, ignore you if they cannot cater to you. Small list less pain, big list more pain. So, reduce the number of nos from placement companies by keeping the list small and then continue to flog a dead horse. Then blame it for not responding properly. The blame game is quite popular.

Net the internet.

There is definitely more to fishing than dipping a net in the ocean. Job hunting on the internet is the ultimate in wishful thinking. I suspect that the popularity lies in the anonymity. If you can’t get a job there is no human to blame which is great for the ego but not too great for results.

The by- pass.

If all the above mentioned exercises fail then one concludes that all systems are big no – nos and the only recourse is to go to the companies direct. If one reaches such a stage then a coronary by-pass is a safer option. Even Safer if you kiss your career good bye.

All said and done job hunting is always about – A thousand no’s for a single yes. Let us just be brave and swallow the bitter pills.

Copyright © 2011, Jobnet magazine, issue 179

Republication or dissemination of the contents of this article are expressly prohibited without the written consent of the publishers of Jobnet magazine

Posted under Articles by Lima Sehgal

Jobs like marriage is about finding the right match, but finding the match right match is not all there is to marriage.

There are various perceptions about finding jobs.

Lima Sehgal

Those who believe that finding the right job is about formula find that the neighbour who has the greener grass in his backyard is not likely to share the formula with them.

Those who believe that miracles rule successful jobhunting also find that the guy next door is better blessed.

For those who see the hand of karma, are least stressed. The wait and watch style in jobhunting is relaxing as long as it does not become too long.

For most of us jobhunting is a dubious cocktail.

Perhaps what is shared by most jobseekers is the fact that jobs have to be caught and got. Most of us are armed with lists of where to go and whom to ask which get taken out and dusted free of the cobwebs of the mind, on a need basis. Added to which are a few new things which others are using.

After all, what is the fuss when all one wants is the next best job.

Easier said than done, but jobs like marriage is about finding the right match, but finding the match right match is not all there is to marriage.

Going beyond methodology implies that one discards tried and tested methodologies, or logical courses, in favour of creating something new. We favour following the herd, then trying to beat it by being the first at getting to greener pastures. Since everyone else has the same idea, we get hurt in the stampede.

Competing for jobs definitely means using a strategy that no one else has.

Copyright © 2011, Jobnet magazine, issue 189

Republication or dissemination of the contents of this article are expressly prohibited without the written consent of the publishers of Jobnet magazine

Posted under Articles by Lima Sehgal

Has your company asked you to quit?

If you are a working professional you have to be equipped with handling forced resignation.

Very few of us are. The pink slip, forced early retirement, retrenchment, getting booted in a merger … It all boils down to getting the sack.

It is natural to get hurt. It is rejection. But in the work environment today, world wide the hire and fire line of employee treatment is the reality of the times. So it is wise to straighten out your perspective of the problem so when you get derailed you can get back on the rails fast and successfully.

The first shock of “Why, what is wrong with me? – has to be handled. Worldwide thousands of good, efficient people get laid off their jobs. It does not mean that suddenly you got proved a wrong or inefficient person, sometimes the nature of the business climate changes, or the company changes, or the nature of management changes and you become a casualty of change. Or maybe your boss tells you to your face that you are sacked because of poor performance, it may hurt you but definitely it is not the end of the earth. There is always another place to prove your worth.

This is the best time to examine and reset your goals. What do you want to do? What aspects of the job or the company you worked for were positive – or negative? Do you want to change your line? Or the job function? Is this the time to upgrade you skills, or go for higher education?

This is also the best time to examine your feelings? How much jobs satisfaction am I getting out of what I do? Do I feel stuck in a rut? Maybe this is a good time to branch out on my own? Should I start my own business? Should I relocate to get better opportunities?

This soul searching is extremely important.

Once you clear your thoughts and take a decision on what course your career should take, you reach the next stage of getting a game plan together.

You decide to look for a job …. Then follow a positive course of action …

Make a good resume – with a focus on your achievements. There are plenty of free resume templates on the internet which can be used to make a good resume.

Have a positive speech ready. The reasons for getting sacked or laid off are not as important as focusing on your achievements and contributions in your last job. Be confident, not defensive. Have a positive reason prepared as to the reason why you lost your last job. If you decide to resort to White lies, be sure that you call pull them off successfully and it bears the scrutiny of a reference check.

This is the time to network. Talk to your friends, even ex colleges and bosses if need be, spread the word around that you are looking for a job.

Talk to the placement consultants, market yourself actively. Make a list of those who are specializing in your line of work and interact with them. Remember that most companies use the services of placement firms today. Keep an open attitude; go for all interviews that they call you for. It is a great way to get interview practice and who knows what may turn out where. This is not a time to fuss, go with it.

This is also not the time for passive half measures like resume blasting on the net, or fussing about not getting the perfect opportunity. The crucial step is to go for interviews find a job as soon as possible. If you have to compromise then take a job as a breather to get you into the next one.

It is important to actively network. Make a list of contacts you have in your line of work. List even people who have been your competitors. Your social contacts of family and friends are important too. Make a plan of action for interacting with them.

Make a list of companies that you would like to work for. Check them out through their websites if they have a system of direct recruitment that you can use.

Constantly fight your negative feelings which may be lurking inside. Only when you fight with a positive attitude that can you win.

Posted under Articles by Lima Sehgal, Articles from Jobnet Magazine