Since the downturn in the energy market I have helped many top-tier oil and gas professionals with landing that next career move. Many are shocked with how hard it is to get hired in today’s market, but it is doable providing you are competitive and you can highlight the skills and experiences that you can bring to that next employer.
I have talked to numerous professionals who said that they have never had to apply for a job, or even look for one! We use to have such a competitive labor environment that skilled professionals had to turn down weekly calls from professional search consultants such as myself seeking someone like them. Much has changed since the boom times of $100bbl. Why Is It So Hard to Make a Career Move? Consider:
It has been a tough couple of years for the energy industry; bankruptcies, mergers, acquisitions, closing regional offices, etc. and many skilled professionals were laid off.
Colorado is a desirable place to live, and there are a lot of skilled professionals on the market.
Employers are overwhelmed with the number of qualified applicants for each open position.
Hiring managers are holding out for that proverbial “perfect” candidate, and that position often goes unfilled, or there is a promotion from within.
The market still feels unstable for many employers and employed professionals are working more hours and employers are bringing on more contractors until they are sure the market is stable.
Professional networks are more important now than they were before. Submitting a resume through a computerized system is just not as effective as knowing someone in real life.
I offer career transition counseling for professionals, top in their fields, but are novices at job seeking, where I consider myself and expert and I am very familiar with the skill sets employers are seeking in today’s competitive labor market. I provide personalized support to everyone I work with trust, integrity, understanding, and with the utmost confidentiality.
Here is how we work together to help you with landing that next career opportunity..
Personal Career Consultation:
It’s important that we meet in person to either discuss why you want to make a career change. We will have an honest discussion of why you want to leave your current situation, why you haven’t been able to find a new position on your own. We will talk about the culture you are seeking and just what seems to be missing for you. And, I help you identify your skills, which I have found that many professionals have a hard time identifying what they are good at and their key achievements.
It is nice to speak with your spouse, significant other and friends about your career, but they will have a different perspective I will have for you.
Professional Branding
The term branding has long been relegated to companies, but today almost every individual has a personal brand and most of us have not consciously cultivated these brands, but they exist nonetheless. There may not be much difference between personal and professional branding, but from my perspective, your professional brand is what matters to a potential employer, networking contact, or anyone who can help you find a job or grow your career.
We start with developing a Professional Resume, then a Professional LinkedIn Profile.
Professional Resume
The importance of a well written Professional Resume cannot be stressed upon enough. A Resume is a medium for advertising yourself, it’s the first means in which you use to present yourself as a job applicant and try to claim you are the best choice candidate to a prospective employer.
A Professional Resume is always an evolving document, which improves over time and during your career. An employer or Recruiter takes only 8-10 seconds to screen your Resume and Job Application before considering an applicant to either be shortlisted for a pre-screen telephone interview.
In my professional career, I have screened thousands upon thousands of job applications and I know that Resumes are screened and scored accordingly and we can increase your chances of getting the employer to speak to you as a person on the telephone or face-to-face in an interview? A well-written Resume will produce results.
Professional LinkedIn Profile
Having a well-written professional profile sets you apart from the crowd and is part of the Personal Brand. A professional profile is like having an online CV to which employers, recruiters, and potential business partners have access. It is a public profile and the quality of its content is as important as the resume.
“97% of all HR and staffing professionals use LinkedIn in their recruiting efforts.” Headhunters and recruiters search within the LinkedIn groups and blogs. LinkedIn is gaining more and more importance, and thus your need to have an excellent professional profile.
Job Search Strategies
The Colorado labor market is very competitive and one of the most important job search strategies you can use is make sure that you stand out from the competition and show the hiring manager that you are a candidate who should be selected for an interview.
Stand Out from The Crowd
Your resume, correspondence (LinkedIn InMail’s, Emails, etc.), must be perfect and tailored to the position you are seeking. I will assist you with this process.
Networking
Also, you will need to use your connections, aka “network” to help get an "in" at the company. You'll also need to actively market your candidacy and yourself, rather than waiting for a new job to find you. To build upon your connections, you need to always be networking. A former boss/mentor and friend of mine at Coors told me once “Patrick, you are always being interviewed for your next job.” As with most things, he was right. I took it to heart and it helped me advanced my corporate human resources career.
For many, networking can feel firmly outside of their comfort zone. I find this is true for many professionals I work with in the engineering, scientific and technical professions. They work hard, dedicated to what they are doing and often not skilled at meeting contacts they don’t already know. This is not true for me. I really enjoy meeting people and I am constantly building my network.
Networking is an important career and job search move: it's through contacts and connections that many interviews are scheduled, and jobs earned. I will share with you what works for me and others, and introduce you to my network of skilled professionals.
Research Companies and Jobs
Together we will identify the companies that match your selection criteria and show you how to determine if they are a good place to work, e.g., company culture, leadership styles, financial condition, etc. I will also identify the hiring authorities, and their contact information. I will do everything except contact them for you. If I end up placing you with a company that pays me a search fee, I will refund your money.
Continued Consultation Throughout Search:
I will continue to work with you throughout the interview process and employment offer stages. We will discuss;
Intervewing
Telephone Interviews
Interview Questions and Answers
Preparing for an Interview
Panel Interviews
How to Dress for an Interview
How to Ace the Interview
Professional References
Follow up thank you notes/emails
Staying in touch with the Interviewer(s)
Evaluating the Employment Offer
How to Negotiate
Non-Competition Clauses
Consulting Contracts
Starting Your Own Business
Cost and Guarantee
For a confidential free telephone consultation, email a copy of your resume to patrick@allencongroup.com. Career Transition Consultation programs start at $300.00. If I am able to place you with a company that pays me a search fee, I will refund you money.
In today’s competitive environment, it helps to receive professional consultation from a Seasoned Career Transition Consultant.
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