Are Startup Companies a Good Option For All Potential Employees, by Brent M. Jones →

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Are Startup Companies a Good Option For All Potential Employees, by Brent M. Jones

Career changes and job seekers face challenging decisions in today’s evolving world. So what about Startup Companies? They might be an option, but is it the right option?

• What would lead you to accept a job at a startup?

• What would your main concerns be about working for a new and small employer?

• What factors should people consider before making a move to a startup?

The factors influencing these questions can be positive and negative and must be carefully considered.

In recent years some markets have offered attractive startup markets. For example, the Utah Tech Startup Incubator is committed to turning new technologies and ideas into companies. They say they provide resources to foster the growth of entrepreneurial start-up companies and early-stage technology research projects.

As a career development coach and advisor, I have often worked with job seekers to review these opportunities' pros and cons.

Working in a startup can offer you the best chances of rapid personal growth if the start-up succeeds and your role fits your career objectives. Moreover, the learning opportunities at a startup could benefit you throughout your career.

The experience of successfully working with a startup has future value in the job market and will help you stand out from the competition. Startups place loads of responsibility on their employees because they usually help with everything outside a rigid and established job description where opportunities for learning and growth are plentiful.

Owners and employees work together, often with no middle management, and you can learn from the sources. The hours will likely be extended and the pay low, but when you leave the company, you may stand out as a real expert if the work fits your overall resume direction.

The risk for these career choices is accurate, as shown by the "Small Business Administration (SBA) report in 2019 that showed the failure rate of startups was around 90%. The research concludes that 21.5% of startups fail in the first year, 30% in the second year, 50% in the fifth year, and 70% in their 10th year."

Research with the startup business owners found that reasons for failure included money running out, being in the wrong market, a lack of research, bad partnerships, ineffective marketing, and not being an expert in the industry—all reasons startups are risky.

Job Seeking candidates I have worked with sometimes tell me about these opportunities and think they are "better than nothing.” They have long been looking for a good career fit and are mentally exhausted. In those situations, their motives are not helping them make the right decision, but the potential employer who would hire them likely sees that, and the employers’ motives may not be right in either. Perhaps in those cases, they are just looking for cheap help.

Job Candidates who feel desperate may only make things worse in the long run by jumping into a job that is a considerable risk or from which the work is outside their current career focus. It is always better instead to help them find a job fit that will last and enable them to recover from their challenges.

Is it Ok to Change a Job Title on Your Resume →

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Resume key points include name, titles, companies, start & end dates, keywords, and education, and these may all be seen by an employer who may only spend 6 - 7 seconds scanning the resume to decide whether to spend more time.

“6 - 7 seconds”

Job titles are important because they allow members of your own and other organizations to know the type of work you do and your experience level. For example, if you are looking for a job, the job title is the most vital message initially seen on your resume and serves multiple purposes, but it needs to describe the duties you performed.

If your job title is unique and vague, consider adding corresponding traditional tags next to yours in parentheses on resumes and LinkedIn profiles, which will help match employers’ keyword searches.

A good time to consider the strength of your job title is each time your job changes by adding new responsibilities. For example, asking to change the job title or expand to include the additional burden will be an important way to show your job growth and track record on your resume and LinkedIn profile.

When is it Ok to Change the Title?

When job titles generally mean the same thing and are used interchangeably. Sometimes it makes little difference if your Media Manager, Marketing Manager, or Engagement Manager. Pick one that fits what you’re applying for.

If your job title doesn't accurately reflect what you do, consider labeling it to fit what you do.

If your job has changed, your official title still needs to be. Maybe you have taken on new responsibilities and or were promoted.

Even if you can’t change the title, you can add new or different duties that the title doesn’t reflect.

How to Prepare for the Coming "Great Resignation" →

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An article in Yahoo News by Erica Pandey on June 14th, 2021, titled “The Great Resignation”: Upwards of 40% of workers are thinking about quitting their jobs, makes some interesting observations and opens up a lot of questions.

The article asks, “What's happening: Workers have had more than a year to reconsider work-life balance or career paths, and as the world opens up, many of them will give their two weeks' notice and make those changes they’ve been dreaming about.”

The same article quotes the World Economic Forum, adding these thoughts to the subject.

• 41% of workers globally are thinking about handing in their notice, according to a new Microsoft survey.

• A hybrid blend of in-person and remote work could help maintain a sense of balance – but bosses need to do more.

• Junior workforce members, including Generation Z, are facing digital burnout.

As an experienced Career Coach, my thoughts about these predictions are heavily influenced by the time I spent working with hundreds of individuals looking for jobs throughout the Pandemic.

Changing Careers can be expensive unless you find where your skills and experience still fit. Don’t quit your job before you find a new one. Don’t just assume it will be easy to find a new job. Learn more about the “Informational Interview” and use it before you quit and during your search. LinkedIn is the perfect tool to use to look while still working.

Read a good book on job search strategies first before starting your search. I wrote a book and published it in September 2020 while the recent economic changes were fresh, so it is relevant and will help you.

Work Matters Insights and Strategies for Job Seekers in This Rapidly Changing Economy is available on Amazon in eBook or paperback

#thebigshift #workmatters #careers #theGreatResignation

The #1 Reason people quite their jobs →

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A poll of over one million workers in the US by Gallup found that leaving a bad manager was the number one reason workers quit, and 75% of those left the job voluntarily because of their boss and not the job itself.

Another essential reason is common sense: the desire to move to a new level in your career is a common reason for leaving a job.

A recent Pew Research Center Survey showed that low pay (63%), a lack of opportunities for career advancement (63%), feeling disrespected at work (57%), and childcare issues (48%) were the most significant determinant for employees quitting their jobs in droves.

Of course, it is better to find another job first, but sometimes quitting, even without a backup job, is just necessary. When your current job is toxic, you might need more time to devise a plan before getting yourself out of there.

The Hardest Job You Ever Will Have is finding a job →

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When you have insight, you have a feeling, emotion, or thought that helps you know something essential about a person or thing. Understanding isn't based on hard facts or evidence. It has nothing to do with using your senses, such as sight or smell. Making a job change and making the right decision about your next job can be one of the most challenging jobs you will ever have, so approaching it with some career insight is a positive goal.

Needed insights can come from taking an inventory of your current and past job skills. Understanding more about the business you work for help. What is the industry called? What other enterprises service that industry. Who are your company’s suppliers and customers? What direction is your company going? Are the needs for the products growing or shrinking?

“A job for most of us is more than just how we make a living. It shapes how we see ourselves, as well as how others see us. It gives our days structure, purpose, and meaning. But in a rapidly changing marketplace — reshaped in recent years by technology and automation, and devastated in 2020 by a global pandemic that has left millions out of work — finding a job has become exponentially more challenging.”

(Quote above from Work Matters: Insights & Strategies for Job Seekers in a Rapidly Changing Economy)

Get up, give it your 100% effort and find that job but first, ensure your insights into your work are up to date.

#unemployed #unemployment #jobsearch #career #job #employment #findajob #findingwork #jobseekers