Starting Businesses and Educating Oneself

Happy Monday everyone! We're now less than one week away until Arizona's own Cardinals win their first Superbowl. Positive thinking has won out the past three games, so I'm not stopping now!

First, a quick update on my entrepreneurial endeavor - I successfully applied for my LLC status with the state's Corporation Commission on Friday and am nearly complete with my web site. As soon as I have confirmation of the LLC's establishment, I'll post my web address and start the process of marketing. Thanks to Brad Cea for walking me through this process and assisting with a variety of tax related questions over the past week. We'll give Brad's LLC, AZ Biz Kit some more press down the road.

Here's a link to a wonderful article that is close to my heart right now...........
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/Features/Columns/?article=CanMBADown&gt1=27001

This deals with the question of whether an MBA is worth the total investment necessary to obtain it. Now, I was not in a position to obtain my degree through the distinguished Wharton School of Business, but Arizona State University has a very strong business program, so I feel that I can still hold my head high for my achievements. Here are my thoughts:

1. I did not pay anything near the costs listed in this article. Had I, there is a good chance you could find me huddled in the back of my closet crying on most days. On the flip side, I did not have a guaranteed job waiting for me either, so take your pick. In any event, with a family and two kids, I can't imagine how long it would take to pay that tab even if the mid-six-figure job was waiting for me post graduation.
2. The reality in my mind is that a graduate level degree is the new differentiator when it comes to candidate evaluation. In my field, an MBA and SPHR certification is more likely to get you a look for a department-head level HR position these days. It's an incredibly tough market for applicants and any way to differentiate yourself from the pack is a good thing.
3. If you work for a company that will pay most or all of your education expenses, stop finding excuses why not, and take advantage! I made the mistake of starting my graduate degree after I left the company that would have covered my costs. I got a little bit of help, but not what I would have if I had been more on the ball.
4. When you go back to to school, network the heck out of your program. The professors, your classmates, the school's administrative staff, etc. Not only will you have more resources while you're in school, you'll have more resources for your job search or personal business contacts afterwards. The fact is, most of your business professors are doing research to write articles to get published to move up the ranks. The way a lot of them do this is through consulting with companies. Put two and two together and those are the individuals you want to know.
5. If you are going back to school full-time, investigate the option of becoming a teaching assistant (TA). I recently learned that some schools will not only waive tuition for these positions, but also cover medical and provide a monthly stipend. You may have to assist two or three professors with test grading and class organization, but this is a great way to reduce or even eliminate the most dramatic costs associated with obtaining your degree.

I have a community outreach project coming up in February where several of my MBA classmates and I are going to be conducting a free resume writing clinic at a local business. Once the ads are up online, I'll post them. Those in the AZ area, please share with your friends as anyone is welcome.

Go Cardinals!

The Job Hunt

For my current one follower and the millions to come! First, my endeavors into self-employment are moving at a brisk pace. I've been able to secure my domain name and am well into the process of developing my web site. I hope to have these ready to share with the world within a week. One the other side, I have actually been contacted by several companies, four to be exact, for job interviews as of the first of the year.

I stumbled upon an article at Jobing.com about the frustrations of the online application process. Check it out.
http://phoenix.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=15498&j=18821099&e

The comments listed after the article are what really surprised me. Maybe they shouldn't have. I've heard similar comments through many of the networking groups I've attended in the past 4 months, but I've also learned a lot about how these Applicant Tracking Systems work and I think this author did a dis-service by not expanding on a few items. The answers listed do little to re-tool candidates to conduct an effective modern job search.

Here are a few additions I would have listed as a part of this article:

• Key Word Searches - This can be the single most important variable in an Applicant Tracking System. These systems typically disqualify applicants if they do not meet a high percentage of key work matches that the recruiter has established for the position. For example, a position might require a particular accounting or HRIS system experience. If you only list "accounting system" or "HRIS" experience and not "Peachtree" and/or "SAP", be prepared to be left off the list of qualified candidates. Don't just be thorough, be REALLY REALLY thorough when it comes to your experience. It is now commonplace for a resume to have a dedicated section for key words. Feel free to have a paragraph of specific skills, software and capabilities that you possess. You can label this section "Technical Knowledge & Experience" or some other variation.

• Networking - Most of the respondents mention a familiar cycle......... Blindly apply for a posted position.......wait.......hear nothing........get frustrated. Here's what I've learned through a lot of in depth HR networking over the past several months; 1) A lot of the positions posted on the job boards may not even exist! Some are posted by agency recruiters just trying to enhance their database of candidates. If a posting is confidential, there is a great chance this is the case. 2) The economy has not only caused companies to be extra-cautious when hiring, it has also swelled the applicant pool. Don't be surprised if you are 1 of 300 or 400 applicants for a single posting. 3) The one sure fire way to distinguish yourself from other candidates, or maybe even to get a courtesy look, is NETWORKING! Use the various resources like LinkedIn on the web as well as good old fashion talking to those you know and those you meet. I've heard a lot of figures quoted, but somewhere around 70%+ of those who find employment have done so through some form of networking. Use church, industry groups, the grocery store, the PTA, and talking to neighbors be a part of your networking activities. Find an in with a company and then target your efforts at making contact through your source.

Certainly, be thorough on your application, but don't leave your chances in the hands of a recruiter who doesn't know you from Adam (or Eve). Network hard and be positive. Complaining won't improve the situation and often will keep you from being the best job seeker you can be.

BTW, I love the folks over at Jobing.com (they're the best in the business).

The Start

What better time to start this endeavor than on the eve of a historic inauguration? By now, my situation is but one of many "statistics" in the current economic mess. A small business in the home building subcontractor sector that after 30 years of mostly prosperous dealings has been driven out of business after being squeezed dry between the home builders who stopped paying and the creditors that wanted their money.

I was the HR Manager and found myself the mouthpiece of this news for a large portion of the employee base on September 30, 2008. My check was the last one in the stack, so I packed my box once I had ushered so many others out the door that day. With only 24 hours notice, there was little preparation and support for these employees, many of whom received these words with an almost anti-climatic "I knew this day would arrive" blasé look while others reacted with incredible shock.

At first, the time off was rewarding, healing even. I worked with several of the administrative staff to write resumes in preparation for their job searches. As the holidays fast approached, a bit uncomfortable at the lack of action in the market. I was offered an HR Manager position in the insurance field only to have the economy (poor Q4 earnings) erase this position from the budget. By now, I've realized that I need to take destiny by the hand and start leading rather than continuing to dwell in the assumption that the traditional job market will swoop in to save me yet again. So here I begin, establishing a blog, forming an LLC to operate under and off we go. (I say "we" in hopes that a few souls with too much time on their hands will come along with me!)

While I think that our new president will help bring balance and optimism to our country, I also believe that recovery is still a ways off. I'm hoping that by taking an active role in my future, I can use these down times to make a difference for those in the community who have also been displaced from their employment and to use my expertise to partner with small businesses that need direction and assistance in the Human Resources realm. I plan to share some of these endeavors through this blog and introduce you to some of the individuals that I partner with and others I meet along the way.

Here's hoping for a brighter tomorrow.................