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10:37

Business Producer - Hello chatters, and welcome to this week's Job Doc chat. Elaine Varelas will be here at noon to help with all of your job hunting or work-related issues. You can get your questions in starting now, and Elaine will start answering them at noon.

10:38

Business Producer - Also a scheduling note for our regular chatters: Next week, our chats move back to Mondays at noon. So, adjust your calendars accordingly.

11:58

Elaine Varelas - Hi Job Search Chatters. I hope all is going well for you as you approach the job market and the world of work. I'm happy to answer questions that help you to be as successful as you can in a "challenging" market.

11:59

[Comment From Scott]
When is the right time to follow up with a company? I was told last week that a meeting had been scheduled for yesterday to make a final decision for a role i was a finalist for and that they would be in touch. Should I call today to ask for an update or wait to hear from them? thanks.

11:59

Elaine Varelas - Scott - congratulations for getting this close to an offer, and I do hope it comes through for you.

12:00

Elaine Varelas - When companies tell you what the timeframe is, your follow up questions needs to make arrangements for who will initiate the phone call.

12:01

Elaine Varelas - And you always want that to be you - because it matters most to you! so tyr to keep things in your control. You'd want to say. Ok - you are meeting on Monday to make a final decision. Would Tuesday morning be a good time for me to call you and connect?

12:02

Elaine Varelas - That gives them the chnage to say - no I'll call you Monday night, or yes that would be fine. They have committed to taking your call.

12:02

Elaine Varelas - With the current circumstances as you outline them, make that call now - express your interest , and email us back to let us know what happened!

12:03

[Comment From BG]
How would you recommend best to approach a job search while still on the job. How do you tell the prospective employer that you have not told your current employer that you are looking? I know that many of the available positions are filled before even they are posted on the job sites or career section of the firm's website. What is the best way to hear about those opportunities? When meeting people at the work events, what contact information should you use to contact colleagues for informational interivews, as well as discussing things about your career? This is all very confusing. Thanks for your help.

12:03

Elaine Varelas - Looking for a job is very time consuming, and is a challenge while you are on the job, but it is done every day.

12:05

Elaine Varelas - There are keys words to use to let people know that you have not discussed making a change with your current employer. You need to let them know that you are meeting with them "in confidence", or conducting a "confidential search", or that "this is all informational " at this point.

12:07

Elaine Varelas - Your goal as a job seeker is to find out about openings before they are posted or to have relationships with hiring managers and those close to them so that you can find ways to leapfrog to the top of the resume heap, and move right into screening conversations, or interviews.

12:07

Elaine Varelas - When meeting people at work events, you need to be all about work - no side conversations abouit wanting to leave, or look at other opportunities.

12:08

Elaine Varelas - You can take a card from them and say - I enjoyed talking to you - I'd love to connect offline if that works for you. Primary contacts can go to their work email address, or work phone number, but you should use your personal cell or personal email address. Keep the lines clear for everyones sake.

12:08

[Comment From terry]
how do you keep a positive attitude when you have been unemployed for two years

12:09

Elaine Varelas - First know that you are not alone.

12:10

Elaine Varelas - This market is very difficult, and people who couln't have imagined being out for a day, and now looking for jobs for much longer periods of time.

12:10

Elaine Varelas - Do you have support? Are you part of a job search network or support group? If not find a group.

12:11

Elaine Varelas - Do you have personal support? Friends, family, religious leader? therapist? Seriously - the emotions behind job loss and job search are really powerful, and to be successful you need to portray a positive world view.

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