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Fearless Employment Tips
There is one saying about searching for employment that really bugs me -
" The best time to look for a job is when you already have one."
That might work for some occupations, but for contracting professionals, many of the best jobs go unadvertised. It’s virtually impossible to find the time to make and follow-up leads when you are employed full-time. It’s especially difficult keeping your employment search unknown to your present employer.
At the risk of being overly optimistic, one advantage of being between jobs is that looking for a new job can be your temporary full-time job. This section of the NCMA employment website is designed to give you the tools and information needed to make your primary job - finding that new job - a success. In a sense, it should be exciting (terrifying?) to know that while you hopefully won’t be at this temporary job forever, it’s one that should bring you ultimate success rather quickly.
Throughout this section, finding the hidden employment market through networking will be emphasized. Using the NCMA as just one tool in your bag of job-finding tricks is an important element in any job search.
Planning Your Job Search
You’ll want to employ different strategies depending on your employment situation.
If you have a job, it’s been said that is the best time to look for one. But it’s not the easiest time to look for a job. You can search the want ads like everyone else, sneak out to a job fair, and do as much networking on the side as you can. Being employed, there’s less urgency, and you can afford to be choosy. But it’s always a good idea to keep your finger on the pulse of the employment scene, even if you are satisfied with your current position. Knowing what employers expect from new candidates will make you that much more competitive at your present job.
Obviously, being out of work gives you more time to concentrate on looking for a job. One rule of thumb if you are searching full-time for new employment is it will take one month for every $10,000 you will want to make in salary. That is, to land a $40,000/yr job, your search will take about four months, six months for a $60,000 position, and so on. This is not to suggest you should hold out for that $120,000 dream job, unless your background can justify it.
Make looking for a job your new full-time job. Like any job, it will be full of frustrations and successes, good and bad contacts, peaks and valleys. You will have to marshal all the discipline, planning and skill that your last job required. Above all, keep a positive attitude and look at it as a new adventure. It will be a time for self-evaluation and a chance to take some risks. Specifically, I believe the Denver job market for contracting professionals favors the employee.
Unless you can afford a protracted job search, there will be a sense of urgency and a tendency not to be too choosy about your next job. Setting a goal will help focus your search and make your final decision easier. Study the job market and your skills within it, and honestly assess your chances for success at the target salary you’ve picked. Setting a realistic salary goal will make things easier when you get a job offer and have to decide whether to hold out, hoping for something better, or go with a sure thing.
The best of both worlds is when you have been given plenty of advanced warning that you need to look for new employment. As soon as you’ve been notified, or if future prospects look bleak, it’s time to prepare. The very first step should be to update our resume. Hints for resume writing follows this section. It would also be prudent to start finding out as much as you can about the local market. This is where the NCMA is invaluable. Attending NCMA sponsored training and monthly meetings will put you in contact with other professionals both in your field and in others. Don’t feel shy about calling or e-mailing members about general or specific information on their companies. The membership directory is a valuable networking resource, and when you identify yourself as an NCMA member, most people are more than happy to help.
Take advantage of all outsource training and resources offered to you. Some employers will even allow you time off work to prospect or interview.
Perhaps
the most important rule of all is that networking works. I am just
amazed that with the small amount of time I spend searching
on behalf of members, I literally stumble across job openings. I find
them at NCMA meetings, training, e-mailing and talking to NCMA members.
I can only imagine how many others I have missed. The jobs are out
there. It just takes persistence and the knowledge that for every job
lead that doesn’t pan out, it brings you that much closer to
your next job.
The Resume
Your resume, using a familiar cliche, may be your last chance to make that first impression. Busy hiring managers or human resource generalist will want to spend less than a few seconds quickly searching for key phrases or words that match their open position. Even if you pass the first screening, pages of small closely spaced typing will wear a reader down. That’s why it’s important to try to keep resumes no more than two pages long, and preferably one. Resumes must be easy to read, make sense, and have no spelling errors. It’s been said a resume won’t get you a job, but it will get your foot in the door.
The Denver NCMA chapter has available an excellent resume writing guide that you may borrow. Just ask the employment chair for a copy. The National NCMA also has an on-line resume service. Visit it’s website at www.ncmahq.org for more information, or call your employment chair for the appropriate forms.
In general, there are two types of resumes, the functional and chronological. Each should give an opening statement of purpose, that is, why and what you are looking for in your career. The chronological resume should list your experience in descending order and is used if you intend to search for employment in your present career. The functional resume identifies your key skills and experience and is used when wanting to change your career field.
In either case, the resume should be both easy to read and easy to copy and fax. Many companies request resumes be of laser or ink-jet print quality and at least 12 point font so that it may be scanned for digital storage and retrieval. On-line (internet) resume services may require additional formatting. It’s a good idea to test the quality of your resume after it’s faxed, especially when using colored paper.
A good resume gives it’s readers instant information about your past performance, experience, and attitude. Experience should include as many quantity statements as possible, as in how many contracts administered, and at what value. Select key words that are recognizable industry-wide, since a quick reader will likely key off things like “FAR” or “CAS” or “C/SSR.” This will also help the computers find you for companies using computerized “human” resource methods. More likely, a human will also read your resume, so select action verbs that give a sense of ownership and vigilance to your last position. Employees are looking for what will impact the bottom line - efficiency, creativity, and problem-solving.
If your search for employment is broad enough, have at least two versions of your resume developed. Say you are looking at procurement positions along with contract administration (CA). Stress key areas of knowledge in the CA resume, like the number of contracts managed, special reporting or financial duties, or negotiating skills. In the procurement resume, emphasize numbers of vendors managed, special audit reporting skills, and money saved. You can always mention the other experiences you don’t emphasize, if there is room.
References should only be provided upon request, but it’s a good idea to have at least four contacts lined up who would be available to answer questions about you from prospective employers.
The Denver Chapter offers to place members resumes on it’s website as a benefit of membership. See the webpage called Member Resumes for more instructions.
Again, this only scratches the surface, and you can get more detailed resume advice from the NCMA guide, the internet, your company placement/career center, or the library. The most important thing is to get it done. You can’t find a job without one.
The Cover Letter
You will want to prepare a cover letter to attach with your resume. The cover letter represents yet another opportunity to get your perspective employer's attention. This is your first chance to sell yourself, so the letter should be both positive and firm. Describe your strengths relative to the position advertised, matching your capabilities contained within your resume directly to those being sought by the employer. If you were referred by a mutual acquaintance, by all means mention it.
Keep the letter short, no more than two or three paragraphs. Submit references only if requested. If salary must be discussed, give a range and show flexibility, since fringe benefits may vary.
Be careful answering blind ads (ones with a P.O. Box as an address). You never know, it could be your job that's being advertised, or they may want to know if you're looking. I've never seen this actually happen, but there is that chance.
End your cover letter with a call for action, such as "I hope to hear from you soon," or for the more aggressive and optimistic, "I'll call and confirm receipt of my resume and discuss this opportunity with you in a few days."
Preparing for the Interview
Being called for an interview means your qualifications closely match those the employer is looking for. In fact, they probably have at least three other candidates with closely similar qualifications. In preparing for an interview, you must realize this could be the last step in finding your next job. You need an edge over your competitors, the slimmest of which could put you ahead of the rest.
This is your final opportunity to sell yourself. Before the interview, anticipate the questions that you will be asked. It is important to remember that, not only are companies looking for technically competent workers, they seek those who are a "good fit." A "good fit" is defined as someone who will get along within the corporate culture of the company. Deducing a corporate "culture" requires research. Company websites are a good start, as are recent news articles. Ideally, try to find an NCMA member who is either employed or an ex-employee of the company you're interviewing with. No doubt you will get an honest assessment of the corporate culture from those who have worked there.
Common advice says to show up for an interview 5-10 minutes early. Dress appropriately. Friends or NCMA members may be helpful in this regard. Also, don't be shy about doing a "drive by," that is, drive by the office a day or two before the interview. Check out who's coming and going and what they are wearing.
It's been said (perhaps proven) that an impression about a job candidate is made within the first 30 seconds of an interview. It's important, then, to appear calm and relaxed. If nervous, drink some water and breath deep before the interview.
Along the lines of the "good fit" theme, a favorite first interview question is "tell me about yourself." Not only does this tell the interviewer who you are, it may reveal information (age, family status, religion) that the interviewer is prevented by law from asking directly. If asked directly about your age and family status, politely refuse to answer. If asked about reasons for leaving prior employment, remain positive. "Force reduction" as an explanation is neither a stigma nor uncommon in today's job market.
Answer specific questions about your capabilities with specific examples,
using actual figures whenever possible. Have these figures ready before
the interview. Answer all questions truthfully and with confidence,
being mindful not to ramble on. Look the interviewer in the eye, at
least some of the time. Check your body language. You should appear
alert and attentive, not slouching or hiding. Feel free to ask questions
about the company. Salary and benefits should be left until later,
after you receive and offer. More often than not, the interviewer will
reveal this information.
When the interview concludes, try to get an idea of when a decision
will be made. If the stated time passes without hearing back, politely
call and check the status of the opening. Follow up all interviews
with a letter, a call, or a fax, thanking the employer.
Even if you don't get the job, look at an interview as a victory in your search. Not only was someone interested in you, but you got valuable experience in the interview setting that can only make the next interview that much easier. Try to remember which questions you answered the best and which ones took you by surprise. This will increase your preparation for the next interview opportunity.
Company Profiles
Native American Sales, Inc. (NAS)
Haven’t you noticed NAS advertise in the paper from time-to-time? They’re the ones with the buffalo logo. I e-mail an NCMA member there ( a time-honored networking trick), and Shaun Doohan was gracious enough to respond with the following:
NAS is a Systems Integrator to the Federal Government. We provide hardware, software, integration, installation, and consulting services on telecommunication systems, computers ad networking equipment. We also provide Business Process Reengineering and ISO9000 training and certification.
We are always looking for well qualified, and trained additions to our “team.” NAS has grown by over 300% since our inception in 1993, and we continue to grow! As far as a “fit” for someone with contracting experience, our sales department or contract administration areas would likely utilize those skill sets most closely.
Doohan recommended you contact Vice President of Operations Jim Cuckler
via e-mail, jcuckler@nasgsa.com. Their address is 5400 S. Syracuse
St., Englewood, CO 80111.
Foster Wheeler
After months spent dealing with bid protests, the U.S. Army in December announced Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation would be the Program Management Contractor for the $1.2 billion environmental cleanup of the Arsenal just northeast of Denver. The U.S. Army, Shell Oil, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has formed a plan called the Remediation Venture Office (RVO) that, under the Army’s direction, will use Foster Wheeler as the prime contractor to direct 31 on-site remediation projects. The plan calls for Foster Wheeler to subcontract all direct efforts for demolition, remediation, and construction to transition the 17,000-acre site to a national wildlife refuge. Upon completion, the park will be turned over to the USFWS.
After just
three phone calls, I was put in touch with Rick Davidson at his Foster
Wheeler trailer near 72nd avenue and Quebec. He said
the initial task order had been signed by the Army covering Foster
Wheeler’s efforts for this fiscal year. Contracting professionals
have either been transferred from other projects, like he was from
St. Louis, or hired locally. For now, he said, all their needs have
been met.
Foster Wheeler will not perform any remediation activities directly.
Rick said the most recent subcontractor’s fair went well, and
there may be opportunities down the line for contracting professionals
working for those firms winning major projects. Clean-up is scheduled
to continue for 10-14 years.
At his request, I will be sending Rick information about NCMA employment. Rick mentioned Foster Wheeler is in the process of setting up an Arsenal Home Page. The Army already has one at www.pmrma-www.army.mil/ that has vast amounts of good information on the project and its progress to date. If you are interested in cracking the employment scene at the Arsenal, this would be a great place to start for detailed contracting information.
